Michael Graham Saunders


Michael Graham Saunders, M.D. was a Neurophysiologist, Medical Doctor, and Medical Researcher who was fundamental in the development of the Electroencephalography, as well as a strong advocate for the advancement of computer use in medicine.

Early years

He was born in London, England to Eric Graham Saunders and Rose Kate Gasson, and received his early education at Launceston College, Cornwall. He then attended Victoria University of Manchester, attaining a B.Sc. in 1940 in anatomy and physiology ]; M.B.. Ch.B. 1944; M.Sc. 1944 in physiology and M.D. in 1964.

Career

Dr. and Mrs. Saunders left England and came to Winnipeg, Manitoba in April 1949. He was appointed Assistant professor of Physiology specializing in Neurophysiology at the University of Manitoba, and also Director of the Electroencephalography Departments of the Winnipeg General Hospital and Children's Hospital and consultant EEG Services to the Department of Health, Province of Manitoba and to the St. Boniface General Hospital.
As his wife was a graduate physiotherapist, Dr. Saunders' early interests in this area led to an appointment as Director of the Electromyography department of the Manitoba Rehabilitation Hospital.
In 1941 he was a founder member of the EEG Society ; a member of the Neurological Club, National Hospital, Queen's Square, London; and upon settling in Winnipeg he joined the comparable societies in Canada and the United States, being a founder member of the Canadian Society of EEG. He held executive positions in several organizations. He was an honorary member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association; the Canadian Association of EEG Technicians; a member of the University of Manitoba Committee for Safety in Experimental Deprivation; a member of the Council and an examiner for the American Board of Registration of EEG technologists; examiner for the Board of Qualification, American EEG Society; secretary and later president, Canadian Society of Electroencephalographers; president and member of Council of the Central EEG Society ; president and delegate of the Computer Society of Canada. He was also Procedural Counselor, delegate-at-large, and Chairman of the Rules Committee for the Vienna meeting of the International Federation of Societies for Encephalography and Clinical Physiology. Saunders was also a founding member of the Canadian Board of Registration of Electroencephalograph Technologists, founded in 1972.
He died on April 4, 1975.