Robert George Ferguson, OBE, (12 September 1883 – 1964) was a pioneer in North America's fight against tuberculosis who worked for the introduction of free medical treatment.

[1][2] As Medical Director, and later as General Superintendent of the Saskatchewan Anti-Tuberculosis League Canada, he achieved many firsts for the province, including: Furthermore, Ferguson was a pioneer in long-term BCG vaccine research, quite controversial at the time.

The couple had moved from Kincardine township in Ontario, Canada to North Dakota, USA in 1881, in part due to concerns about Margaret's health.

After traveling to Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton, George recommended the purchase of already cultivated land near downtown Yorkton, a town by a railway line.

[1]: 29 In his final year of medical school Ferguson worked part-time in the laboratory of S. J. S. Pierce, making typhoid vaccine for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).

[10][needs independent confirmation] His two youngest brothers, Vernon Stewart and Frank Willard had by then enrolled at the same University and subsequently left school to join the CEF.

Frank flew a Sopwith Dolphin and was shot down by Bavarian Ace, Michael Hutterer, near the German-Canadian lines (Marcoyne) on the evening of September 3, 1918.

[1]: 21–22  They had seven children: Robert Ross, Helen (Hart), Margaret (Love, later Fallis), Patricia (Motherwell, later Dyck), Sheelagh (Barrable), John Vincent, and David.

[11] His son in law, Major John Vernon (Jack) Love of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, was killed leading D company of the Regina Rifles Regiment onto Juno Beach at Normandy France, June 6, 1944 (D-Day).

[14] His granddaughter, Sheelagh Cooper (nee Barrable), an entrepreneur and social activist, also received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in King Charles III first New years Honours list in 2023. https://tnnbda.com/his-majesty-the-kings-new-years-honours-list-2023/ Following graduation Ferguson worked under A.

In June 1917, he was hired by Maurice Macdonald Seymour[3] to become the acting medical superintendent of the new Fort Qu'Appelle Sanatorium, which was opened on October 10, 1917.

He was a skilled administrator with a knowledge of economics and the ability to analyze the dire challenge presented by rampant tuberculosis infection in the community.

Another 1000 people per year were estimated to "break down" with the disease, and far more were infected and became contagious, often before realizing that they were ill.[1]: 42 Native populations were (and continue to be) particularly affected,[17] as was documented by Peter Bryce as early as the 1900s,[18] and again by Ferguson himself.

[19] Ferguson saw quickly that the only way to break the recurrent cycle of exposure, illness and death was to provide diagnosis, treatment and hospitalization at no cost to the patient.

Ferguson persisted in his efforts, working patiently to gain support from people with tuberculosis, the public, members of the medical profession, and, last but not least, politicians, throughout his career.

[1] Ferguson recognized that education was an essential step: he saw the need to develop broad public understanding of tuberculosis disease transmission and support for measures to reduce it.

The patterns he saw in his data suggested that resettlement in houses and on reserves was followed by an epidemic rise in tuberculosis cases affecting the entire native population.

Later on the same trip he attended the Council of the International Union Against TB where the double barred cross of Lorena was adopted as a symbol of the worldwide fight against tuberculosis.

[1]: 82  As of 1930, Ferguson became director of medical services and general superintendent for all three of the Saskatchewan sanatoria (Fort Qu'Appelle, opened in 1917; Saskatoon, 1925; Prince Albert, 1930).

Ferguson achieved substantial decreases in tuberculosis-related deaths through the work of visiting nurses, the isolation and hospitalization of active tuberculosis cases, and measures to improve living conditions, housing, water, and diet.

Ferguson and Simes' work continues to be cited as a well-designed and rigorous study of the effectiveness of BCG vaccine against pulmonary and pleural TB.

During that time, each successive exposure contributed to the cumulative risk for infection, one reason why it was so important to segregate active cases from those who were not yet ill.[35][36] With their National Research Council funding, Ferguson and Simes were able to carry out a long-term study of families of equal status with respect to living, social and economic conditions likely to impact health outcomes.

The brothers developed methods to photograph radiographic images, and travelled to communities and schools with a portable generator and x-ray machine to screen people for tuberculosis.

In 1935, one of his contemporaries Norman Bethune, who himself had contracted tuberculosis, attempted unsuccessfully to organize a Montreal Group and extend this concept and introduce a free health care system across Canada.

Tommy Douglas, who had been both Premier and Minister of Public Health from 1944–48, said of Ferguson: "Not before in the history of this province has there been such a universal expression of regard for one man.

Still fewer would be so successful in rising to the opportunity.”[40]Paradoxically, Ferguson's legacy was articulated as early as 1917 in his speech on the opening of the Fort Qu'Appelle Sanitorium: "When we think of the future of this institution we do not think of its building and equipment, but rather of an idea, a force, a group of associations and a locality with its hopeful traditions, glowing with prestige and confidence in the cure of the disease.

We would like to think of it as a medical centre, where is available every facility for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, where a sick man may get every chance to regain his broken health and return to a sphere of usefulness as a citizen.

[50][15] On June 3, 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the Sanatorium at Saskatoon where they were met by Ferguson and Veterans of the First World War who had also survived tuberculosis.