Background
Wendy Clay was born on September 27, 1942, in Fort St. John, British Columbia. Her early life is unknown.
2329 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
Wendy Arlene Clay was educated at the University of British Columbia, where she received her medical degree in 1967. In 1995, Clay also "received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia".
Wendy Clay was born on September 27, 1942, in Fort St. John, British Columbia. Her early life is unknown.
Wendy Arlene Clay was educated at the University of British Columbia, where she received her medical degree in 1967. In 1995, Clay also "received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia."
Clay joined the military in 1965, "as a medical student, under the Medical Officer Training Program". In 1967, she was posted to Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario as a general duty medical officer. While there, Clay became the first woman to receive training as a Canadian Forces Flight Surgeon.
In 1970, she was promoted to Major, and the following year was posted as base surgeon to Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. There Clay underwent basic pilot training in 1972.
Clay was next posted in 1973 to Training Command Headquarters as a staff officer, Aviation Medicine in Winnipeg, Manitoba. During this period, she took a six-month study break to complete the advanced aviation medical course with the Royal Air Force in Farnborough, England. In 1974, she became the first woman in the Canadian Air Force to receive her wings.
In 1977, Clay was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and joined the staff of the Canadian Forces Institute of Environmental Medicine in Toronto as the Director of Medical Assessment and Training Division. During this posting, Clay completed a six-month tour of duty with the Canadian United Nations contingent to the Middle East in Egypt.
She was promoted to Colonel and was appointed to the Surgeon General's staff, in Ottawa, as Director of Preventive Medicine from 1982 to 1986, and subsequently posted to Air Command Headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as Command Surgeon.
In 1989, Clay was promoted to Brigadier General and returned to Ottawa as Commandant of the National Defence Medical Centre. She held that appointment until 1992 when she was appointed Deputy Surgeon General.
In 1994, Clay was promoted to Major General and was appointed Surgeon General, the first woman to hold that rank and appointment. She remained in the position until her retirement in 1998. It was during Clay's period in office that the medical and dental branches of the Canadian Forces were united to form a single administrative body, the Canadian Forces Health Services. During the period of amalgamation from 1995 to 1997 Clay's staff authorities were elevated from those of Director General Medical Services to Chief Health Services.
Since retirement Wendy served on the Board of Victoria Hospice Society from 2002 to 2008. She became a member of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires in 2001 and served until 2010, including terms as Chair and Past Chair. She is currently the Secretary of the Vancouver Island Aircrew Association, a position she has held since 2003.