Name:
Alexander Graham 
Location served:
Chatham, Ridgetown  
Years in Practice:
1960 to 2000
Area of Specialization:
Family Medicine  

Biography:

Dr. Alexander Graham was born in Clarkston, Scotland on the 17th of May, 1931.  Dr. Graham was the second of two children born to George Sharp Graham and the former Elizabeth Greer Thompson.  He had a sister named Margaret Graham.  Dr. Graham attended school at Vale of Leven Academy in Scotland. After he became a physiotherapist, Dr. Graham immigrated to Canada in 1953 and he worked with children who had cerebral palsy with the Ontario Society for Crippled Children. He was sent to Kenora, Ontario in the fall of 1953 to treat polio victims.

The following year, Dr. Graham began his medical studies at the University of Western Ontario. He became a member of the Medical School Honor Society and he was awarded the Hippocratic Society Gold Key for his four years of service on the Hippocratic Council.   Dr. Graham was also the Class President.  He graduated M.D. in 1960.

Dr. Graham interned for 1 year at Montreal General Hospital.  He assisted Dr. Harold Orr in Ridgetown for 6 months, before doing post-graduate studies in Obstetrics at the Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland.

Dr. Graham returned to Chatham-Kent in 1962.  According to the 1963 Vernon’s City of Chatham Business Directory, his medical office was located at 225 Queen Street.  Eventually Dr. Graham joined a medical practice with Dr. Blake Barlow, Dr. Jim Jenkin, Dr. Thomas L. Walker and Dr. Austin MacDonald to form the first group practice in Chatham.

Dr. Graham married Joan Eleanor Playfair in Ottawa on the 7th of June, 1958.  Mrs. Graham was born in Ottawa on the 25th of August, 1937.  She was the youngest of 2 daughters born to Walter Keith Playfair and the former Zella Amelia Morgan.  Her father was a funeral director and her sister’s name was Ann Elizabeth Playfair.  Mrs. Graham graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a B.A. in secretarial sciences in 1958.

Dr. and Mrs. Graham had 3 children; Keith, Robin and Bradley.

During his tenure in Chatham-Kent, Dr. Graham was Chief of Emergency Services at the Public General Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital, Chief of Family Practice and in 1975 he was the President of the Kent Medical Society.

Dr. Graham moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1978 where he continued to have a family medical practice.

Mrs. Joan Graham died on the 7th of July, 1980.  Mrs. Graham was buried at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham.

Dr. Graham became the Medical Director of the Outpatient Chemical Dependency Program and 2 years later, he became affiliated with The Careunit Hospital of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.

Dr Graham married Hilda Mary (Enright) Echlin in 1989.  Mrs. Graham was raised in Windsor, Ontario, the daughter of Harry Enright and the former Louise Ann Paré.  Her father was a machinist and her siblings were; Geraldine, Lloyd and Shirley.

Mrs. Graham died in Chatham on the 31st of August, 1999.

Dr. Graham retired from the practice of medicine in 2000. He enjoyed playing golf, tennis, skiing and dramatic arts.

In 2005, Dr. Graham was married to Janice Balfour of Cherokee, Oklahoma and they enjoyed travelling together.

Dr. Graham died on the 12th of February, 2016.  Dr. Graham was buried at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham.

*Dr. Harold Orr, Dr. Blake Barlow, Dr. James Jenkin, Dr. Thomas L. Walker and Dr. Austin MacDonald also appear on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.