Join us in honoring #WorldFamilyDoctorDay by recognizing exceptional efforts of all of our rural and remote family doctors like SRPC Member Dr. Onuora Odoh of Houston, BC.

Dr. Odoh is well known for his community health advocacy efforts and is a columnist on health topics for the local newspaper, Houston Today. He anchored the establishment of Narcotics Anonymous in Houston, leading the community to fight against drug addiction and related deaths. He attended both Narcotics and Alcohol Anonymous to provide support to participants. In partnership with Metabolic Syndrome Canada, he led the development of the Houston CHANGE BC program, an excellent, innovative primary care lifestyle support program for metabolic syndrome patients. CHANGE BC program won several awards, including from the BC College of Physicians, the Rural Coordinating Committee of BC, and the Canadian College of Family Physicians.

Recognizing the impact of poverty and the high burden of dental disease in rural children, Dr. Odoh developed a collaborative partnership with the UBC’s Faculty of Dentistry and Houston public elementary school to provide school-based oral health education to rural school children. Dr. Odoh led the Houston Walk and Group Exercise Program; and hosted Doctors of BC’s “Walk With Your Doc” program in Houston to encourage and promote physical activity. He regularly volunteers at the Houston Soup Kitchen, serving the most vulnerable individuals at risk of homelessness and food insecurity.

As part of his effort to improve rural health, he led the development of a rural pulmonary rehabilitation model to optimize the care of COPD patients in rural communities. At an international level, Dr. Odoh leads a UBC-affiliated global health project on malaria control program and a health charity Foundation that provides free and accessible rural primary health care services and school health programs in Africa. 

Dr. Odoh has won several awards for his outstanding innovative work in medical practice. He is an active and dedicated vice chair of the Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice, a role he embraced as an opportunity to advocate for advancing primary care in British Columbia and beyond.

Dr. Odoh's efforts are emblematic of the exceptional work done by family rural physicians everywhere, and we congratulate them on their far-reaching impact and contributions to their communities.