News Release

2003-64
August 5, 2003
For immediate release

Dr. Pierre-Gerlier Forest named to post at Health Canada

OTTAWA - Health Canada announced today the appointment of Dr. Pierre-Gerlier Forest to the G.D.W. Cameron Visiting Chair for Health Canada. Reporting to the Deputy Minister, Dr. Forest will provide advice to the Minister, the Deputy Minister and the Department on a wide range of emerging health issues, participate in senior departmental committees and take part in developing policy. His appointment is for one year with the possibility of extending for an additional year.

Dr. Forest is a Professor of Public Policy and Management with the Department of Political Science of Laval University. He is best known for his research and publications pertaining to health policy and health services governance. He is also known for his work as Research Director of the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada (Romanow Commission).

Dr. Forest obtained his Masters degree in Political Science from Laval University in 1984 and his PhD in 1989 from the Université de Montréal in history of science. From 2001 to 2003, he was the regional officer for Quebec for the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation. He is also known for his contributions to the field of aboriginal politics and policy.

The G.D.W. Cameron Visiting Chair was created in 1999 in honour of Dr. George Donald West Cameron who served as Deputy Minister of National Health between 1946 and 1965. The Chair is designed to provide Health Canada with valuable insight and advice from eminent men and women in the health sector. Those appointed to the post must be outstanding health professionals who can make a significant and lasting contribution to the development of policy and knowledge within Health Canada on a wide range of subjects. Dr. Forest succeeds Dr. Robert McMurtry who was the first Fellow to occupy the Cameron Visiting Chair, from October 1999 to July 2000.

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Media Inquiries:
Emmanuel Chabot
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803

Alexander Swann
Office of Anne McLellan
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200