Patrick Parfrey
Encyclopedia
Patrick Parfrey, OC
(born 1950) is a Canadian physician, specialized as nephrologist and epidemiologist. Parfrey is an internationally known scientist and clinical epidemiologist. In addition, he has provided leadership to the sport of rugby union
, coaching teams at the local (Swilers RFC
), provincial (Newfoundland Rock
) and national (Canada
) levels and serving as president of Rugby Canada
.
After working in Cork
, London
and Montreal
, Parfrey and his family eventually settled at Memorial University of Newfoundland
. In 1984 he was appointed assistant professor of Medicine. He became chief of the Division of Nephrology in 1987, chief of the division of Clinical Epidemiology and professor of Medicine in 1993. His research interests include the genetic and clinical epidemiology of inherited diseases, patient-related problems in nephrology and healthcare delivery research. He has published over 200 original articles and contributed to many books.
Parfrey received the Canada Institute of Health Research Distinguished Scientist Award in 2000 and the Medal for Research Excellence from the Kidney Foundation of Canada in 2002. He was named an Officer to the Order of Canada in 2004.
, Montreal Irish and Swilers RFC
. Between 1970-77 he played in all of Munster's games, including the game when Munster
drew 3-3 with the New Zealand All-Blacks
in 1973; he also won a cap for Ireland
as a wing against them in 1974. He was the coach who lead London Irish
to the club’s first ever Cup Final in 1980. He left London Irish in 1982 and moved to Montreal, where he coached Montreal Irish. He then become coach of the Canadian National side and led them to the 1999 Rugby World Cup. He also led Canada to victory in the Pacific Rim championship in 1997 and 1998. He later became the President of the Canadian RFU, and is still a Director. More recently he coached the Newfoundland Rock team and won the Rugby Canada Super League.
His honours are Munster Cup with UCC (1976), County Championship with Middlesex, Canadian National Championships 2005, 2006 and 2008 with the Newfoundland Rock
as coach.
In order to improve Canadian Rugby Parfrey trained an under 19 team in 1987 and toured London. The team won 5 out of 6 games including the London Irish under 19 team.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born 1950) is a Canadian physician, specialized as nephrologist and epidemiologist. Parfrey is an internationally known scientist and clinical epidemiologist. In addition, he has provided leadership to the sport of rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, coaching teams at the local (Swilers RFC
Swilers RFC
The Swilers are a Canadian rugby union team based in St. John's, Newfoundland. The team plays in the Newfoundland Rugby League and draws most of its players from the Newfoundland Rugby Union....
), provincial (Newfoundland Rock
Newfoundland Rock
The Newfoundland Rock are a Canadian rugby union team based in St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador. The team plays in the Rugby Canada National Junior Championship and draws most of its players from the Newfoundland Rugby Union, one of fourteen Rugby Unions that have representative teams in the...
) and national (Canada
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
) levels and serving as president of Rugby Canada
Rugby Canada
Rugby Canada, is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in Canada. Rugby Canada was incorporated in 1974, and stems from the Canadian Rugby Football Union, a body established in 1884 that now governs amateur Canadian football as Football Canada; and the now-defunct Rugby Union of...
.
Academics
Parfrey graduated from University College Cork in 1975 with a first class honours degree in Medicine. He was awarded an MD in 1980.After working in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Parfrey and his family eventually settled at Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
. In 1984 he was appointed assistant professor of Medicine. He became chief of the Division of Nephrology in 1987, chief of the division of Clinical Epidemiology and professor of Medicine in 1993. His research interests include the genetic and clinical epidemiology of inherited diseases, patient-related problems in nephrology and healthcare delivery research. He has published over 200 original articles and contributed to many books.
Parfrey received the Canada Institute of Health Research Distinguished Scientist Award in 2000 and the Medal for Research Excellence from the Kidney Foundation of Canada in 2002. He was named an Officer to the Order of Canada in 2004.
Rugby Union
Parfrey started playing rugby at age 13 at the CBC in his native Cork. He played his club rugby for University College Cork R.F.C., London IrishLondon Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
, Montreal Irish and Swilers RFC
Swilers RFC
The Swilers are a Canadian rugby union team based in St. John's, Newfoundland. The team plays in the Newfoundland Rugby League and draws most of its players from the Newfoundland Rugby Union....
. Between 1970-77 he played in all of Munster's games, including the game when Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
drew 3-3 with the New Zealand All-Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in 1973; he also won a cap for Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
as a wing against them in 1974. He was the coach who lead London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
to the club’s first ever Cup Final in 1980. He left London Irish in 1982 and moved to Montreal, where he coached Montreal Irish. He then become coach of the Canadian National side and led them to the 1999 Rugby World Cup. He also led Canada to victory in the Pacific Rim championship in 1997 and 1998. He later became the President of the Canadian RFU, and is still a Director. More recently he coached the Newfoundland Rock team and won the Rugby Canada Super League.
His honours are Munster Cup with UCC (1976), County Championship with Middlesex, Canadian National Championships 2005, 2006 and 2008 with the Newfoundland Rock
Newfoundland Rock
The Newfoundland Rock are a Canadian rugby union team based in St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador. The team plays in the Rugby Canada National Junior Championship and draws most of its players from the Newfoundland Rugby Union, one of fourteen Rugby Unions that have representative teams in the...
as coach.
In order to improve Canadian Rugby Parfrey trained an under 19 team in 1987 and toured London. The team won 5 out of 6 games including the London Irish under 19 team.