Ottawa, March 2, 2009 — Dr. Jeffery Turnbull, former chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa, has been elected to become president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). The nomination will be confirmed during the CMA annual meeting in Saskatoon this August.
His election marks a break from recent CMA presidents, who have favoured a larger role for private health care in the Canadian system. Dr. Turnbull has pledged unequivocal support for a publicly funded health care.
Dr. Turnbull has designed special care facilities for the homeless in Ottawa, including a “wet shelter” for alcoholics and a palliative hospice. He has been involved in education and health-services initiatives to strengthen community and institutional capacity and to promote sustainable development in Bangladesh, Africa and the Balkans. In addition to his post at the Ottawa Hospital, he has headed major departments at the University of Ottawa and has won many teaching awards. Dr. Turnbull is also a member of the Order of Canada.
