Head and shoulders image of Lily M. Turnbull, RN and honourary Doctor of Laws degree recipient; taken possibly near time of presentation.

Bio/Historical Note: Lily Mary Turnbull was born in 1915 at Wolseley, Saskatchewan, and took her public and high schooling at Wolf Creek, Moffat and Wolseley schools. She graduated as a nurse from the Regina General Hospital School of Nursing in 1941. Subsequently she studied at McGill University, De Lee Clinics at the University of Chicago, the University of Toronto, and Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health where she received a master’s degree in public health administration. She received a Kellogg Teaching Fellowship for study at the University of Toronto and a World Health Organization Fellowship for study at Johns Hopkins. As well as working at the Regina General Hospital and Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, she served as a lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, seeing duty in Canada, England and Northern Europe. For 24 years Turnbull was associated with the World Health Organization. She spent 17 years in its Western Pacific Region, five of those years as Team Leader of a field project in Malaysia and 12 years in the Regional Office as Nursing Advisor for an area consisting of over 20 countries and territories. During these years Turnbull assisted with the development of nursing education and nursing service programs. She worked with local folk and with governments, assisting them in identifying and achieving health care goals. Turnbull moved to Geneva in 1969 and took on the position of Chief Nursing Officer for the World Health Organization. Here she coordinated the six regional offices and acted as nursing representative on a host of organizations. Turnbull received honours from professional and community bodies, including the National League of Nurses of the Philippines, the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association, the International Council of Nurses, the YWCA, and was awarded the Centennial Medal in 1967 "in recognition of valuable service to the nation". After retiring from WHO, Turnbull was involved with volunteer work in several organizations, including her church, Home Care, Meals on Wheels and Palliative Home Care. Turnbull received an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1988. Turnbull died in 1991 in Saskatoon.