We are excited to present this short interview with Dr. Tarr from his clinic in Osoyoos, BC, and his reflections on rural practice, community, and mentorship.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Garnett Tarr

Garnett’s journey to Osoyoos and Oliver began in South Africa’s Western Cape region at Stellenbosch University, followed by a decade-long tenure rural Saskatchewan before landing in the South Okanagan 25 years ago, where he has lived and practiced ever since. In a practice which has spanned emergency care, long-term care, and family practice from the hospital to the clinic to home visits, Garnett describes his approach as rooted in Ubuntu.

“We’re all part of this community. We look different, and we speak different, and we may behave differently, but we have a place in community and our place is no more or less than anyone else.” Ubuntu is an African-born values system emphasizing shared humanity, interconnectedness, and community. “Rural physicians do have a significant role in community, and it’s hard not to be part of community when you’re responsible for the health of a large sort of swath of your community.”

“Dr. Tarr’s influence extends beyond his own practice,” said Dr. Kirk Dixon in his nomination letter. “He is deeply committed to the growth and development of his colleagues in the rural communities of Oliver and Osoyoos. He provides invaluable mentorship, guidance, and support. He is very approachable and maintains an open mind for both his patients and colleagues. He exemplifies a patient-centred approach to care.”

In discussing mentorship, Garnett highlights a bidirectional approach, “I think they might have mentored me on a few things. I always tell them I’ve learned as much from them as they might have learned from me. I think it’s a great experience. They keep your practice young, they come with new ideas, new knowledge.” As a long-time advocate of mentorship, Garnett has fostered a culture among his colleagues of welcoming students and residents into his community and clinic and is excited to share that a large number of those doctors have chosen rural practice.

“We we need a broad breadth of knowledge. It’s hard to have a niche practice in a rural community. And I think I would like to see that aspect of medicine bolstered as trainers sniff out the students who might be interested in rural medicine, pairing them with mentors and not necessarily full practicing mentors. Sometimes it might be people like myself who are coming up to that point of where you might be retiring, but you’ve still got that capability to be a mentor to a young student that can make an enormous difference.”