Every developed country with a universal healthcare system provides universal pharmaceutical drug coverage…except Canada. The problems associated with Canada’s incomplete patchwork of private and public drug plans – including widespread barriers to accessing prescribed medicines, significant financial burdens on patients with chronic disease, and much higher drug costs than comparable countries – have received considerable attention in recent years.
The best solution to these problems for Canada is a universal, comprehensive, public drug plan that is appropriately integrated into our universal system of hospital and medical insurance. This form of universal « pharmacare » – working in conjunction with our « medicare » system – has been repeatedly recommended by commissions on Canada’s healthcare system dating all the way back to the 1960s. Despite this, Canada has not yet established such a policy.
The change in government at the federal level, combined with supportive governments in many provinces, create a window of opportunity for this long awaited reform to occur.
As such, physicians involved with Canadian doctors for Medicare and researchers involved with Pharmacare 2020 collaborated with myself and Dr. Danyaal Raza, in drafting a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau asking him to put this reform at the top of the agenda for federal, provincial and territorial negotiations on improving the quality of Canada’s healthcare system.
We thought perhaps a few of our peers would want to join their efforts. We were wrong.
Over the course of just seven days, our letter to the Prime Minister had been circulated to health professionals and policy experts across Canada. By the time we sent the letter this week, over 300 health professionals and policy experts had joined as signatories.
The list of signatories includes:
- Signatories from every province
- More than 150 physicians, pharmacists, and nurses
- 10 recipients of the Oder of Canada
- 11 Canada Research Chairs
- Over 225 signatories are professors from 34 universities across Canada
Here’s the letter — full list of signatories at the bottom:
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau:
Congratulations on becoming Canada’s 23rd prime minister.
Over the course of the election campaign and in the weeks following your victory, there have been many important discussions about Canadian identity and our core values. Among the values that Canadians most support in poll after poll are those embodied in our medicare system: particularly, a belief that all residents of Canada should have access to quality health care.
We are health professionals and health policy researchers concerned, as you are, with the state of Canada’s universal health care system. Soon, your government will be engaging Canada’s premiers and ministers of health in discussions about a new health accord. We hope universal pharmacare will be at the top of your agenda for those discussions.
Here’s why.
Pharmaceuticals are so essential to health and well-being that the World Health Organization has declared that all nations should ensure universal access to necessary medicines. Consistent with that recommendation, every developed country with a universal health care system provides universal coverage of medically necessary prescriptions except Canada.
Unlike any comparable country, Canada’s universal public health care system effectively ends as soon as a patient is handed a prescription to fill.
Millions of Canadians have no drug coverage at all and millions more have coverage that is inadequate to ensure access to medicines. As a result, almost one quarter of Canadians report they or members of their household have not taken medicines as prescribed because of costs.
It is well documented that financial barriers to necessary medicines result in worse health for patients. They also result in unnecessary increases in the use of hospital and medical care.
National standards for universal coverage of medically necessary prescription drugs would therefore satisfy a central goal of pharmaceutical policy: ensuring all Canadians have equitable access to necessary care. Instituting such standards would bring Canada up to par in the developed world. Guided by best available evidence, such coverage would also foster safer, more appropriate use of medicines – potentially making Canada a world leader in the quality of medicine use.
Ensuring universal access to medically necessary prescription drugs is not only the ethical thing to do, it can also be the economically responsible thing to do. Research shows that a universal, public pharmacare system – one coordinated across provinces in ways similar to how federal, provincial, and territorial governments purchase vaccines and blood supply products – would achieve equity of access goals while saving Canadians between $4-billion and $11-billion per year.
Indeed, comparable countries that integrate drug coverage into their universal, public health care system achieve more equitable access to medicines at far lower total cost than Canada spends on our system today.
Canadians support public coverage for medicines of proven value-for-money in our health care system. A recent national survey by the Angus Reid Institute found that a vast majority of Canadians (87%) support adding prescription medicines to Canadian medicare. This support exists “across the board” in terms of regions, age groups, incomes, and education levels. Universal, public pharmacare is also supported by health professions, unions, policy experts, businesses, citizens groups, health charities, health executives, municipalities, and provincial governments.
Your campaign promised a better Canada including a federal government that will not let problems of the past persist when there is an opportunity to improve the lives of Canadians.
Pharmacare is the unfinished business of the Canadian healthcare system. Your government is in the fortunate position to expand medicare’s public mandate to include prescription drugs, and ensure a sunnier future for all Canadians as a result. You can count on our support as you plan a course for doing so.
Yours sincerely,
Julia Abelson, PhD
Professor, Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Elia Abi-Jaoude, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Staff Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Tracie Afifi, PhD
Associate Professor, Departments of Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Farah Ahmad, MBBS, MPH, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Health Policy and Management
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Silvia Alessi-Severini, PhD
Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Sara Allin, PhD
Assistant Professor, Status-Only, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Aslam Anis, PhD, FCAHS
Director, Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care; Professor, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Kelly Anthony, PhD
Teaching Fellow, Applied Health Sciences
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Paul Antze
Associate Professor emeritus, Department of Social Science
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Pat Armstrong, PhD
Professor, Department of Sociology
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Yukiko Asada, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Peri Ballantyne, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
Trent University
Peterborough, Ontario
Morris Barer, PhD
Professor, Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Maude Barlow
National Chairperson
The Council of Canadians
Ottawa, Ontario
Steve Barnes, MA
Director of Policy
Wellesley Institute
Toronto, Ontario
Jan Barnsley, PhD
Associate Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Francoise Baylis, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Bioethics and Philosophy, Faculties of Medicine & Arts and Social Sciences
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Ahmed Bayoumi, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Professor, Department of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Michaela Beder, MD, FRCPC
Psychiatrist, St Michael’s Hospital; Lecturer, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
François Béland, PhD
Professor, Department of Health Administration, Ėcole de santé publique
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Warren Bell, MDCM, CCFP, FCFP
Family Doctor
Salmon Arm
Salmon Arm, British Columbia
Philip Berger, O.ONT, MD, CCFP, FCFP, FRCPC (Hon)
Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Anne-Emanuelle Birn, ScD
Professor of Critical Development Studies and Social and Behavioural Health Sciences
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Pierre Biron, MD, MS
Honorary professor of medical pharmacology
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Lise M. Bjerre, MD, PhD, MCFP
Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Charlyn Black, MD, PhD
Associate Director, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Regis Blais, PhD
Professor, Department of Health Administration, School of Public Health
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Gary Bloch, MD
Assistant Professor
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Katherine Boothe, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Roxane Borgès Da Silva, PhD
Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Stephen Bornstein, PhD
Director, Centre of Applied Health Research
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Ivy Bourgeault, PhD
Professor, Telfer School of Management and Institute of Population Health
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Mylaine Breton, PhD
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
University of Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Québec
Marni Brownell, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Mariana Brussoni, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Stirling Bryan, PhD
Director, Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Evaluation
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Toba Bryant, PhD
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Oshawa, Ontario
Michael Butler
National Health Campaigner
The Council of Canadians
Ottawa, Ontario
John Calvert, PhD
Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia
Debra Cameron, PhD, MEd, BScOT, OT Reg.
Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Bruce Carleton, PharmD
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Nicholas Carleton, PhD, RD Psych
Department of Psychology
University of Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Alan Cassels, CD, MPA
Adjunct Faculty, Faculty of Human and Social Development
University of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Timothy Caulfield, LLM, FRSC, FCAHS
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Health Law & Policy, Faculty of Law
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Roger Chafe, PhD
Director, Janeway Pediatric Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
An-Wen Chan, MD, DPhil, FRCPC
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Ben Chan, MD, MPH, MPA
Assistant Professor, Institute for Health Policy, Management & Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Fiona Chan, BScPharm, RPh, MSc Cand.
Pharmacist; Graduate Student
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Neena Chappell, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS
Canada Research Chair in Social Gerontology
University of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Claudia Chaufan, MD, PhD
Fulbright Research Chair 2015
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Vaughn Chauvin, BScPhm, CGP, RPh
Lecturer, Pharmacist, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Helen Chen, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Public Health and Health Systems
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Robert Chernomas, PhD
Professor, Department of Economics
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Niteesh Choudhry, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School
Harvard University
Boston, USA
Jon Church, PhD
Professor, Faculty of Medicine
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Donna Ciliska, RN, PhD
Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Eyal Cohen, MD, MSc
Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
André-Pierre Contandriopoulos, PhD
Professeur émérite, Département d’administration de la santé
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Damien Contandriopoulos, PhD
Professor, Faculty of Nursing
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Yves Couturier, PhD
Professeur titulaire, École de travail social
Université de Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Québec
Tony Culyer, CBE, BA, FRSA, FMedSci
Adjunct Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Tamara Daly, PhD
CIHR Research Chair in Gender, Work & Health, Faculty of Health
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Jamie Daw, MSc
Doctoral Candidate
Harvard University
Boston, USA
Raisa Deber, PhD
Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Nicole Dedobbeleer, ScD
Professor honoraire, Département d’administration de la santé
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Dianne Delva, MD, CCFP, FCFP
Chair, Department of Family Medicine
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Avram Denburg, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Pediatric Oncologist, Hospital for Sick Children; and 2015 Trudeau Scholar
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Michael Dettman, MD, ABEM, FRCP(C)
Physician, Vancouver Hospital Emergency Department, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
PJ Devereaux, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Professor, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Livio Di Matteo, PhD
Professor, Department of Economics
Lakehead University
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Alba DiCenso, CM, RN, PhD, FCAHS
Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing and Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Lisa Dolovich, PharmD, BScPhm, MSc
Professor and Associate Chair, Research, Department of Family Medicine
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Katie Dorman, MD, MSc, CCFP
Family Physician
Weeneebayko General Hospital
Moose Factory, Ontario
Naheed Dosani, MD, CCFP
Palliative Care Physician, William Osler Health System; and Assistant Clinical Professor
McMaster University
Toronto, Ontario
Jocelyn Downie, SJD, FRSC, FCAHS
Professor, Faculties of Law & Medicine
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Michelle Driedger, PhD
Canada Research Chair in Environment and Health Risk Communication
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joel Dubin, PhD
Associate Professor, Statistics & Actuarial Science and School of Public Health & Health Systems
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Isser Dubinsky, MD,CCFP(EM)
Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Monika Dutt, MD, MBA, MPH, CCFP, FRCPC
Adjunct Professor
Cape Breton University
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Brenda Elias
Associate Professor, College of Medicine
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Rachel Engler-Stringer, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Mahyar Etminan, PharmD, MSc
Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
David Feeny, PhD
Professor of Economics and Member of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Katherine Fierlbeck, PhD
McCulloch Chair of Political Science, Department of Political Science
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Colleen Flood, LLB (Hons), LLM, SJD
Director, University of Ottawa Centre for Health Law, Policy & Ethics
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Conchita Fonseca, MD, BSc, CCFP-EM
Family Physician
Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Lisa Forman, LLB, MA, SJD
Canada Research Chair in Human Rights and Global Health Equity
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Katherine Frohlich, PhD
Professeure Titulaire, Département de médecine sociale et préventive
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Marc-André Gagnon, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration
Carleton University
Ottawa, Ontario
JM Gamble, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Denise Gastaldo, BScN, MA, PhD
Associate Professor, Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and Dalla Lana School of Public Health
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Robert Gendron, PhD
Professor, BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Elaine Gibson, LLB, LLM
Associate Professor of Law
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Frédéric Gilbert, PhD, MBA
Professeur, Département d’Organisation et ressources humaines, École des sciences de la gestion
Université du Québec à Montréal
Québec, Québec
Sarah Giles, MD, CCFP(EM), DTM&H
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Liane Ginsburg, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Health Policy & Management
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Rick Glazier, MD, MPH
Professor, Family and Community Medicine
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Ritika Goel, MD, MPH, CCFP
Lecturer, Department of Family and Community Medicine
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Paula Goering, RN, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychiatry
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Laurie Goldsmith, PhD
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia
Rachel Gorman, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Health Policy and Management
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Carolyn Gotay, PhD, FCAHS
Professor and Canadian Cancer Society Chair in Cancer Primary Prevention, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Daniel Grace, PhD
Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Janice Graham, PhD
Professor, Faculty of Medicine
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Michael Green, MD, MPH, CCFP
Associate Professor, Departments of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences
Queen’s University
Kingston, Ontario
Samantha Green, MD, CCFP
Family Physician and Lecturer, St. Michael’s Hospital
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Devon Greyson, MLIS, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pediatrics
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Allan Grill, MD, MPH, CCFP
Assistant Professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Jeremy Grimshaw, MBChB, PhD, FRCGP, FCAHS
Professor, Department of Medicine
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Paul Grootendorst, PhD
Associate Professor, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and School of Public Policy and Governance
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Quinn Grundy, RN, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher, Faculty of Pharmacy
University of Sydney
Sydney, Australia
Doug Gruner, MD,CCFP,FCFP
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Emmanuel Guindon, PhD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Gordon Guyatt, OC, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Distinguished Professor, Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Michael Hadskis
Assistant Professor, School of Health Administration & Schulich School of Law
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Jeannie Haggerty, PhD
McGill Research Chair in Family & Community Medicine at St. Mary’s Hospital
McGill University
Montreal, Québec
Trevor Hancock, Hon FFPH
Professor and Senior Scholar, School of Public Health and Social Policy
University of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Gillian Hanley, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Rhona Hanning, PhD, RD, FDC
Professor, School of Public Health & Health Systems
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Lori Hanson, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Community Health &Epidemiology
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Lisa Hartling, PhD
Director, Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Linda Haslam Stroud, RN
ONA Provincial President
Ontario Nurses’ Association
Toronto, Ontario
Marie Hatem, PhD
Professeure titulaire, École de Santé Publique-Département de médecine sociale et préventive
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Michael Hayes, PhD
Director, School of Public Health and Social Policy
University of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Kate Hayman, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Physician
University Health Network
Toronto, Ontario
Brian Haynes, OC, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Professor, Departments of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Medicine
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Janet Hazelton, BScN, RN, MPA
President
Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Réjean Hébert, MD, MPhil
Professeur titulaire, Département d’administration de la santé École de santé publique
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
George Heckman, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Schlegel Research Chair in Geriatric Medicine, School of Public Health and Health Systems
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
David Henry, MB ChB, MRCP, FRCP
Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Marjolaine Héon, PhD
Professeure adjointe, Faculté des sciences infirmières
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Matthew Herder, LLM, JSM
Associate Professor, Faculties of Medicine and Law
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Matt Hiltz, BSc, LLB
Executive Director
New Brunswick Nurses’ Union
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Steven Hoffman, MA, JD, PhD
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Corinne Hohl, MDCM, MHSc, BS, FRCPC, CCFP
Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Anne Holbrook, MD, PharmD, MSc, FRCPC
Director, Division of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology; Professor, Department of Medicine
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Aidan Hollis, PhD
Professor, Department of Economics
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
Matthew Hunt, PhD, PT
Assistant Professor and Director of Research, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy
McGill University
Montreal, Québec
Jeremiah Hurley, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Economics
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Winston Husbands, PhD
Director of Research
AIDS Committee of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Brian Hutchison, MD, MSc, FCFP
Professor Emeritus, Departments of Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Stephen Hwang, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Director, Division of General Internal Medicine
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Alistair Ingram, MD, FRCPC
Professor of Medicine and Chief of Medicine, St. Joseph’s Healthcare
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Noah Ivers, MD, PhD, CCFP
Scientist, Women’s College Research Institute
Women’s College Hospital
Toronto, Ontario
Robert James, MD, FCFP
Adjunct Professor, Graduate Program in Health Policy and Equity
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Craig Janes, PhD
Professor and Director, School of Public Health & Health Systems
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Joy Johnson, PhD, RN, FCAHS
Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia
Marcella Jones, MPH, MD Candidate 2017
Medical Student
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Jill Kambeitz, MD, CCFP
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Nick Kates, MB.BS FRCPC
Professor & Chair, Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Alan Katz, MBChB, MSc, CCFP
Director, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Stephen Katz, PhD
Professor, Department of Sociology
Trent University
Peterborough, Ontario
Arminee Kazanjian, DrSoc
Professor, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Claire Kendall, MD, PhD, MSc(Public Health)
Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Nadia Khan, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Professor of Medicine
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Kapil Khatter, MD
Family Physician and Lecturer
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Rutherford Kimberly, MD, MSc, CCFP
Family Physician, Spectrum Health; Medical Coordinator, Primary Outreach Services, Vancouver Coastal Health; Clinical Instructor, Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Carol Kitai, MD, FCFP, PhD
Family Medicine, Women’s College Hospital
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Mieke Koehoorn, PhD
Professor and Head, Occupational and Environmental Health Division, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Jillian Clare Kohler, PhD
Associate Professor, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, Munk School of Global Affairs & Dalla Lana School of Public Health
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Jacek Kopec, MD, MSc, PhD
Professor and Head, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health Practice
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Udo Krautwurst, PhD
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
University of Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
I fan Kuo, PharmD, BSc (Pharm), MSc, ACPR, RPh
Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Ronald Labonté, PhD, FCAHS, HonFFPH
Professor and Canada Research Chair, School of Epidemiology
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Ismail Laher, PhD
Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Susan Law, PhD
Associate Professor, McGill Family Medicine
McGill University
Montreal, Québec
Isabelle Leblanc, MD, MSc, CQMF
Assistant professor, Family medicine
McGill University
Montreal, Québec
Richard Lee, PhD, FRSC
University Professor Emeritus, Department of Anthropology
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Brenda LeFrançois, PhD
Professor, School of Social Work and Division of Community Health and Humanities, Faculty of Medicine
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Pascale Lehoux, PhD
Researcher, Institute of Public Health Research
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Trudo Lemmens, LicJur, LLM, DCL
Professor and Scholl Chair in Health Law and Policy, Faculty of Law, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and Joint Centre for Bioethics
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Christine Leong, PharmD
Assistant Professor and FMC Clinical Pharmacist, College of Pharmacy
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Grigorios Leontiadis, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Joel Lexchin, MSc, MD
Professor, School of Health Policy and Management
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Lisa Lix, PhD, PStat
Professor and Manitoba Research Chair, Department of Community Health Sciences
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Stan Lubin, MD, MPH
Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Practice
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Sharon Macdonald, MD, FRCPC
Associate Professor, Dept of Community Health Sciences
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Ellen MacEachen, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Health Systems
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Constance MacIntosh, BA, MA, LLB
Director, Dalhousie Health Law Institute
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
André Magnan, PhD
Associate Professor, Sociology and Social Studies
University of Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Sally Mahood, MD, CCFP, FCFP
Associate Professor, Family Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Abeer Majeed, MD, CCFP
PGY3 Fellow, Clinical Environmental Health
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Dee Mangin, MBChB, DPH, FRNZCGP
David Braley Nancy Gordon Chair in Family Medicine
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Sharon Manson Singer, MSW, PhD
Professor (retired), School of Public Policy
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia
Greg Marchildon, PhD, MA, LLB
Ontario Research Chair in Health Policy and System Design, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Danielle Martin, MD, CCFP, MPP
Vice President, Medical Affairs and Health System Solutions, Women’s College Hospital
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Ruth Martin Misener, RN-NP, PhD
Professor, School of Nursing
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Allan Maslove, PhD
Professor, School of Public Policy & Administration
Carleton University
Ottawa, Ontario
Louise Masse, PhD
Professor, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Maria Mathews, PhD
Professor, Faculty of Medicine
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Chris McCabe, PhD
Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Patrick McGowan, PhD
University of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
David McGrane, PhD
Associate Professor of Political Studies
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Margaret McGregor, MD, MHSc
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Tom McIntosh, PhD
Professor, Politics and International Studies
University of Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Vicki McKenna, RN
ONA 1st Vice President
Ontario Nurses’ Association
Toronto, Ontario
Ian McKillop, PhD, FRSPH
Director, Professional Practice Centre in Health Systems
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Logan McLeod, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Economics
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario
Bob McMurtry, CM, MD, FRCSC, FACS
Professor Emeritus, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University
London, Ontario
Chetan Mehta, MD, MA, CCFP
Family Physician
Central Toronto Community Health Centre
Toronto, Ontario
Tushar Mehta, MD, CCFP
Emergency Physician
Brampton Civic Hospital
Brampton, Ontario
Ryan Meili, MD, CCFP
Head, Division of Social Accountability
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Colleen Metge, PhD
Director, Evaluation Platform, George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Fiona Miller, PhD
Associate Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Barbara Mintzes, PhD
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Pharmacy
University of Sydney
Sydney, Australia
Craig Mitton, PhD
Professor, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Michael Moffatt, MD, Msc, FRCPC
Professor, Departments of Community Health Sciences and Paediatrics and Child Health
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
David Moher, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
William Montelpare, PhD
Professor; Margaret and Wallace McCain Chair in Human Development and Health
University of Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Steve Morgan, PhD
Professor, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Kathy Moscou, RPh, MPH
Doctoral candidate, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and Dalla Lana Faculty of Public Health
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Stephen Moses, MD, MPH
Professor and Head, Department of Community Health Sciences
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Eric Mykhalovskiy, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Vic Neufeld, MD, MA, FRCPC
Professor Emeritus, Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Sarah Newbery, MD, CCFP, FCFP
Chief of Staff
Wilson Memorial General Hospital
Marathon, Ontario
Melissa Newitt, MPPPA
National Coordinator (Interim)
Canadian Health Coalition
Ottawa, Ontario
Manon Niquette, PhD
Professeure titulaire, Département d’information et de communication
Université Laval
Québec, Québec
Stephanie Nixon, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Tom Noseworthy, CM, MD, MSc, MPH, FRCPC, FACP
Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, O’Brien Institute for Public Health
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
Ubaka Ogbogu, LLB, BL, LLM, SJD
Assistant Professor and Katz Research Fellow in Health Law and Science Policy
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Catherine Oliver, MD
Family Doctor
Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
James Orbinski, OC, MD, MSC, Bsc, MA
CIGI Research Chair & Professor in Global Health
Balsillie School of International Affairs
Waterloo, Ontario
Anita Palepu, MD, MPH
Professor, Department of Medicine
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Karen Palmer, MPH, MSc
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia
Michael Paterson, MSc
Assistant Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Amelie Perron, RN, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Nav Persaud, MD, MSc
Associate Scientist, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Kevin Peters, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
Trent University
Peterborough, Ontario
Andrew Pinto, MD, MSc, CCFP, FRCPC
Assistant professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Jenny Ploeg, RN, PhD
Professor and Scientific Director, Aging, Community and Health Research Unit
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Marie-Pascale Pomey, MD, Msc, PhD
Professor, Department of Health Administration
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Elaine Power, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies
Queen’s University
Kingston, Ontario
Nicole Power, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Marie-Claude Prémont, PhD
Professor
École nationale d’administration publique
Québec, Québec
Dorothy Pringle, OC, RN, PhD, FCAHS
Dean Emeritus & Professor Emeritus, LS Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Eva Purkey, MD, MPH, CCFP
Assistant Professor and Global Health Director, Department of Family Medicine
Queen’s University
Kingston, Ontario
Hude Quan, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
Amélie Quesnel-Vallée, PhD
Canada Research Chair in Policies and Health Inequalities, Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, and Sociology
McGill University
Montreal, Québec
Michael Rachlis, MD, MSc, FRCPC, LLD (Hon)
Adjunct Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Nanky Rai, MD, MPH
Family medicine resident
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Dennis Raphael, PhD
Professor of Health Policy and Management
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Meb Rashid, MD
Medical Director, Crossroads Clinical
Women’s College Hospital
Toronto, Ontario
Colette Raymond, PharmD, MSc, ACPR, FCSHP
Research Scientist, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Ayesha Raza, MD
PGY1, Family Medicine
St. Joseph’s Health Centre
Toronto, Ontario
Danyaal Raza, MD, MPH, CCFP
Staff Physician, St. Michael’s Hospital; Lecturer, Department of Family & Community Medicine
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Lynette Reid, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Bioethics
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Ali Reza Meghji, BSc(Pharm), RPh
Lecturer, Pharmacist, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Marcia Rioux, CM, PhD
Distinguished Research Professor, School of Health Policy and Management
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Paula Rochon, MD, MPH
Senior Scientist, Women’s College Research Institute; Professor, Department of Medicine
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg, MDCM, FRCPC, FCCMG
Distinguished Professor, Depts. of Pediatrics and Child Health & Biochemistry and Medical Genetics
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Scott Ronis, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Noralou Roos, CM, PhD
Professor, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Harriet Rosenberg, PhD
Professor Emerita, Health and Society Program, Department of Social Science
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Paul Rosenberg, MD
Physician Associate, Medical Oncology
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Peter Ruben, PhD
Burnaby Mountain Professor, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia
Jalil Safaei, PhD
Professor, Department of Economics
University of Northern British Columbia
Prince George, British Columbia
Anne Sales, PhD
Professor, School of Medicine
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, USA
Rosana Salvaterra, MD, CCFP, MSC, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health
Peterborough County-City Health Unit
Peterborough, Ontario
Arthur Schafer, BLitt (Oxford)
Director, Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Ted Schrecker
Professor of Global Health Policy, School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health
Durham University
Stockton-on-Tees, United Kingdom
Michael Schull, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Michael Schwandt, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Assistant Professor, Community Health and Epidemiology
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Fran Scott, MD, MSc, CCFP, FRCPC
Associate Professor, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Louise Séguin, MD, MPH
Researcher and honorary professor, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Stuart Shanker, DPhil
Distinguished Research Professor
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Malika Sharma, MD, FRCPC
Infectious Diseases/HIV Physician, Maple Leaf Medical Clinic; Research fellow, Wilson Centre for Research in Education
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Osmaan Sheikh, MD, BSc, CCFP
Family Physician
Department of Defence
Esquimalt, British Columbia
Sam Sheps, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Professor, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Brendan Shields, BMT, MTA
Music Therapist
Vancouver Coastal Health
Vancouver, British Columbia
Adrienne Shnier, MA
Doctoral Candidate
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Jean Shoveller, PhD, FCAHS
Professor, School of Population & Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Claude Sicotte
Professor, Department of Health Administration
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Linda Silas, RN, BScN
President
Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
Ottawa, Ontario
Sergio Sismondo, PhD
Professor, Department of Philosophy
Queen’s University
Kingston, Ontario
Amanda Slaunwhite, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Kate Smolina, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Jerry Spiegel, PhD
Professor, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Matthew Stanbrook, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FACP
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
John Staples, MD, FRCPC, MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine (2016)
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Jocelyne St-Arnaud, PhD
Professeure associée, Département de médecine sociale et préventive
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Carol Strike, PhD
Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Erin Strumpf, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health
McGill University
Montreal, Québec
Therese Stukel, PhD
Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Robyn Tamblyn, CM, PhD
Professor, Department of Medicine and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
McGill University
Montreal, Québec
Cara Tannenbaum, MD, MSc
Professor, Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Valerie Tarasuk, PhD
Professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dalla Lana School of Public Health
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Amardeep Thind, MD, PhD
Canada Research Chair in Health Services Research, Departments of Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Family Medicine
Western University
London, Ontario
Alison Thompson, PhD
Associate Professor, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, Dalla Lana School of Public Health & Joint Centre for Bioethics
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Jim Thorsteinson, MD, CCCP, FCFP
Physician, Three Bridges CHC; and, Clinical Professor, Family Practice
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Sarah Tuck, MD, CCFP
Family Physician
Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre
Ottawa, Ontario
Peter Tugwell, OC, MD, FRCPC
Canada Research Chair in Health Equity
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Fernand Turcotte, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Professeur émérite, Dépt. de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de médecine
Université Laval
Québec, Québec
Robin Urquhart, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Cathy Vakil, MD, CCFP, FCFP
Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine
Queen’s University
Kingston, Ontario
Bilkis Vissandjee, PhD
Professeure titulaire, Faculté des sciences infirmières
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Stephane Voyer, MDCM, MEd, FRCPC
Clinical Assistant Professor, General Internal Medicine
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Rebecca Warburton, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Public Administration
University of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Duff Waring, LLB, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Fiona Webster, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Leah Welsh, B.Sc, B. Sc (pharm), RPh
Pharmacist
Victoria, British Columbia
Robin Whitaker, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Sheila Wildeman, MA, LLM
Associate Professor, Schulich School of Law; Associate Director, Dalhousie Health Law Institute
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Bryn Williams-Jones, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Québec
Brenda Wilson, MSc, MB, ChB
Professor, School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Michael Wilson, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
Michael Wolfson, PhD, CRC, CAHS
Canada Research Chair in Population Health Modelling/Populomics
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario
Bob Woollard, MD, CCFP, FCFP
Professor Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
James Wright, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Professor, Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Terry Wuerz, MD, FRCPC, DTMH
Internal Medicine & Infectious Disease, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority; and Assistant Professor
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Edward Xie, MD, CCFP(EM), DTM&H
Clinical Lecturer, Department of Family and Community Medicine
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Annalee Yassi, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Global Health and Capacity Building
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Photo: Sean Nel / Shutterstock.com
