Who is Don Ranney? A citizen of the world, a renaissance man, born to wander, who finally found a home at U/Waterloo. The early years were at Toronto, picking up degrees in anthropology and medicine. Then, with my goal to spend a lifetime in India doing reconstructive surgery in leprosy, Great Britain was the logical choice for training. There I obtained not just a Fellowship in the Royal College of Surgeons, but also a wife and family.
India was a great surprise to me in many ways. One was an unexpected apppointment as Chief Surgeon, a chance to do much research and the responsibility for training 5 surgeons. The final surprise was that after 4 years in South India, my services where no longer required. What had been intended as a lifetime of humanitarian service became the forerunner of an academic career that would lead to a teaching position at the University of Waterloo, the production of many scientific publications, and the establishment of a School of Anatomy at U/W. Unfortunately the stress of missionary life in India contributed to the break-up of my marriage. But years later, a second marriage brought happiness, with it success, and a life that continues to be very exciting.
I've written a novel, co-authored by Ray Wiseman, published in 2008, in which I tell of the joys and tribulation of working in India. Click on "Professor writes fiction" to learn more.
Created by: ranney@hsfx.ca 1997/02/11
Revised by: ranney@hsfx.ca 2008/05/09