Distinguished Service Award

This award is given to a physician who has made an outstanding contribution to the medical profession and to the people of Nova Scotia resulting in raising the standards of medical practice, or an outstanding contribution to the art and science of medicine. The Distinguished Service Award shall represent the highest award that lies within the power of the association to bestow upon a person who is a member of the medical profession.

Community Family Physician of the Year

This award is bestowed upon a rural/non-Halifax based family physician who has made an outstanding contribution to the health of individuals, to various community groups and/or to non-profit organizations in rural communities of Nova Scotia.

Community Specialist of the Year

This award is bestowed upon a rural/non-Halifax based specialist who has made an outstanding contribution to the health of individuals, to various community groups and/or to non-profit organizations in rural communities of Nova Scotia.

Physician Health Promotion Award

This award is given to a physician who has made an outstanding contribution to health promotion, safety and preventative care among Nova Scotians.

Dr. William Grigor Award

This award is given to a physician under the age of 50 who has made an outstanding contribution benefiting the health of Nova Scotians. Dr. William Grigor, the first president of the association, helped establish the Halifax Dispensary and played a major role in convincing authorities to build a public hospital. He also served as a coroner for Halifax County, an examiner for those seeking registration in the medical profession and was Surgeon General of Militia in Nova Scotia.

Doctors Nova Scotia Senior Membership Award

The honour of Senior Membership serves as official recognition of the great respect and high regard these physicians have earned in the medical community of the province.

Any member of the association in good standing for the immediately preceding 10-year period and who has attained the age of 65 years is eligible for the Senior Membership Award. Nominations may be made by any full member or by any branch of the association. This award may only be bestowed by unanimous approval of the members of the Board of Directors present and voting. No more than two members may be elected in any year. 

Senior members will enjoy all the rights and privileges of Doctors Nova Scotia membership. Doctors Nova Scotia covers the cost of dues for the member in the association.

Outstanding Medical Student Award

This award is bestowed upon a Dalhousie University or Université de Sherbrooke medical student who has demonstrated exemplary leadership, commitment, and dedication within and/or outside the medical community, including but not limited to research, patient care and/or medical education.

Outstanding Resident Award

This award is bestowed upon a resident who has demonstrated exemplary leadership, commitment, and dedication within and/or outside the medical community, including but not limited to research, patient care and/or medical education.

Dr. Clement Ligoure Award

This award is named after Dr. Clement Ligoure – Nova Scotia’s first Black physician and an unsung hero of the Halifax Explosion. In the aftermath of the disaster in December 1917, Dr. Ligoure sprang into action, working day and night to treat hundreds of injured patients at his hospital in North Street. This special discretionary award honours a physician for their excellence in guiding Nova Scotians through unprecedented times.

CMA Honorary Membership

Nominees for this honour must have distinguished themselves in their medical careers by making a significant contribution to the community and to the profession. Nominees can be granted CMA honorary membership only on the unanimous vote of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Board of Directors.

Any member in good standing of the CMA for the immediately preceding 10-year period who has attained the age of 65 is eligible to be nominated for honorary membership by an ordinary member of the association. He or she must be approved by the executive body of the division in which he or she practised, but may be elected only by the unanimous approval of the members of the Board of Directors of the association present and voting.

Doctors Nova Scotia is entitled to grant three honorary memberships per year. Honorary CMA members will enjoy all the rights and privileges of the association but shall not be required to pay any annual fee.