Obituary: Dr. John Premi was an innovator in teaching family medicine
Dr. John Premi probably had no idea he was onto something when he met with eight of his fellow family physicians to talk about a new learning approach to help their practices.
It was 1986 and he was the project leader of the group to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of using a case-based, self-directed approach. They began meeting twice a month and, talking with a physician facilitator, they examined clinical problems from their practices and medical literature that might help them.
A year later, it was determined the project had greatly helped the doctors deal better with their patients and their problems rather than going to traditional continuing medical education programs. The concept, called practise-based small group learning program, has since spread throughout the world and about 25 per cent of Canadian family doctors are in it. Premi's son, David, said his dad travelled to such countries as England and New Zealand to help get the concept off the ground there.
Premi, who died Feb. 19 at the age of 89, was an innovator in other areas. While teaching family medicine residents at McMaster, he encouraged the video recording of encounters with patients to let the resident see if their bedside manner needed improvement. His son said he also brought in one-way mirrors for residents to view the examination of a patient in the next room.
In 1989, the former west Mountain resident was awarded the Professional Association of Internes and Residents of Ontario (PAIRO) excellence in clinical teaching awards. In 2003, he received the John Ruedy Award for Innovation in Medical Education from the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada.
Premi's family has been overwhelmed by expressions of condolences since his passing. Both David and his sister, Nora, said their father was very humble.
I always knew he did some innovative stuff, but there's been people who have come forward and said he changed my life," said David, the well-known Hamilton architect.
Dr. Allyn Walsh, professor emeritus in the Department of Family Medicine, worked with Premi in the late 1980s at the family practice unit at the former Henderson General Hospital.
He was certainly the wise elder of the physicians there at the time," Walsh said in a release from the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University. If I needed advice on how to handle a problem, be it clinical, or educational, John was who I sought out."
Dr. Jacqui Wakefield, professor emeritus in the Department of Family Medicine, said Premi's influence was so profound many of the early members called the program The Premi Groups."
Premi was born Sept. 25, 1931 in Port Colborne to barber, Gaetano, and his homemaker wife, Mary. His father had two shops, one in Port Colborne and one in Humberstone Township. A career in hair cutting, however, was not in the cards for Premi.
He was the oldest boy," explained David. In an Italian family, the resources go to the oldest boy. He was pegged to be a doctor." (Premi's younger brother, Julius, became a barber).
Premi graduated in 1955 with his medical degree from the University of Toronto and interned at the Hamilton General Hospital. His Charlton Avenue East practice was across the street from St. Joseph's Hospital.
In the 1970s, he became a full-time faculty member at McMaster and later served as the first director of the family practice unit affiliated with St. Joseph's. He moved to Burlington in about 1997 and retired in 2002, but continued to do some consulting.
Premi was also a role model for his three children. Nora is a family doctor with a practice near St. Joseph's Hospital and daughter Anne Premi is a civil servant with the Ontario government.
Our dad was always a presence in our family," said Nora. He was always home for dinner and aware of what was going on in our lives as we grew up. He took his responsibility as a role model very seriously."
Outside of medicine, Premi liked to make wine, cook and bake bread. He liked to ski and golf and was an avid outdoorsman who took his family camping regularly. Each summer, David recalled he took them to The Turtle Club, a fishing lodge in the middle of Algonquin Park.
Premi also had a wood shop where he made furniture.
He used to spend hours in the basement making furniture," said David. Half the house had furniture he made."
Premi is survived by son David, daughters Anne and Nora, six grandchildren, two great grandchildren and brother Julius. He was predeceased by his wife Muriel, brother Angelo and sister Loretta.
Daniel Nolan can be reached at dannolanwrites@gmail.com