Famous doctor feted by U of M 33 years after graduating

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This article was published 08/06/2023 (863 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A wave of nostalgia washed over Dr. Jennifer Gunter as she stood behind the podium at the University of Manitoba spring convocation three decades after graduating.

“I never thought, as a medical student waiting for my degree, that this was where my life would take me,” the famous gynecologist, who is also an author and public speaker, said in her address to the graduating class Thursday.

Six individuals were awarded honorary degrees from the University of Manitoba, considered the highest possible honour awarded by the institution, this week. The U of M awards three types of honorary degrees: Doctor of Laws, Letters and Science.

The recipients included social entrepreneur Wayne Suk-Wing Chiu, world-renowned scientist Thomas Quinn, comedian Lara Rae, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and wine industry mogul Donald Triggs.

Gunter received an honorary Doctor of Laws for her extraordinary contributions to the field of gynecology and her tireless advocacy for women’s health.

Now residing in northern California, Gunter spends her time managing a chronic pelvic pain and vulvo-vaginal disorders clinic and working on her forthcoming book.

When she’s not in the operating room, she debunks medical misinformation on her social media handles. Gunter views it as an integral part of her role as a medical professional and public figure.

“We see people in the office all the time who’ve been misled and gone down pathways that were not medically good for them,” Gunter told the Free Press. “I get responses from people, pretty much daily, about how the information I provided, either in my book, on my blog, or on my social media account, really changed things for them.”

Returning to her Prairie roots to speak to the graduating class of 2023 was gratifying for Gunter, who received her MD from the U of M in 1990.

“It was also a great honour to give the convocation speech for all these amazing graduates. Seeing all these people starting the next phase of their lives was just great.”

At a time when trans rights have been put at stake through the introduction of anti-LGBT bills in the U.S., Rae, who transitioned in 2015, feels the timing couldn’t be better.

“This honour comes obviously at an important time, not just for me, but for the trans and the LGBT community,” Rae said. “I think there are a lot of brilliant people in the world who maybe just don’t fit in in ordinary ways, and they often get overlooked and missed. It was in that spirit that I took it.”

Rae’s comedy career was marked by a creative writing class field trip to the world-renowned YukYuks comedy club. That night, Rae knew she wanted to pursue comedy.

Rae’s career took her to many comedy showcases, writing rooms and university lecture halls. Alongside Tom Anniko, Rae founded the Winnipeg Comedy Festival in 2002. Witnessing the festival enter its second decade has brought her unbridled joy.

“I really, from the beginning, have been such a curious person. It was a very good coincidence that very early on, we were able to partner with people who were just as invested in opening up comedy to all sorts of people,” Rae said.

Each recipient of an honorary degree spoke to, or will speak to the university’s graduating class.

“There’s so much work to do on reconciliation, on helping people, and lifting people out of poverty,” Rae said during her convocation speech. “We need your brains, we need your minds, and we need your diversity.”

cierra.bettens@freepress.mb.ca