Surgeon General / Commander Canadian Forces Health Services Group
Major-General A.M.T. Downes, OMM, CD, QHP
Military unit
The Canadian Forces Health Services Group (CF H Svcs Gp) is a formation of the Canadian Forces within the Military Personnel Command. It includes personnel from both the Royal Canadian Medical Service and the Royal Canadian Dental Corps, fulfills all military health system functions from education and clinical services to research and public health, and is composed of health professionals from over 40 occupations and specialties in over 120 units and detachments across Canada and abroad.[1][2]
In May 2017 the group's national headquarters (CF H Svcs Gp HQ) moved from the former National Defence Medical Centre to the new NDHQ Carling Campus, in Ottawa, Ontario. It has two subordinate regional headquarters 1 Health Services Group with its headquarters located in Edmonton, Alberta (responsible for all health services units from Thunder Bay, Ontario, to the west coast) and 4 Health Services Group with its headquarters in Montreal, Quebec (responsible for all health services units in the remainder of Ontario to the east coast. 1 Health Services Group is commanded by Colonel John Crooke and 4 Health Services Group is commanded by Colonel Manon Asselin. Each Health Services Group is made up of CF Health Services Centres and Field Ambulances (Regular and Reserve).
The national headquarters is composed of several functional directorates reporting to the Surgeon General/Commander through one of:
Deputy Commander:
Director Health Services Operations
Director Health Services Reserves
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A number of national elements report directly to the Deputy Commander and not to either of the regional headquarters including:[3][4]
Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre
Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment
1 Canadian Field Hospital including Detachment Ottawa (formerly known as the Canadian Forces Health Services Primary Reserve List)
1 Dental Unit
Deputy Surgeon General
Director Medical Policy
Director Force Health Protection
Director Mental Health
Chief of Staff
Director Health Services Personnel
Director Health Services Delivery
Chief Dental Officer/Director Dental Services is a direct report to the Surgeon General.
Each Service Chief has a senior medical advisor: Royal Canadian Navy Surgeon, Canadian Army Surgeon, and Royal Canadian Air Force Surgeon. There is also a Canadian Special Forces Command Surgeon.
Training
School of Operational Medicine (SOM)
The School of Operational Medicine (SOM) in Toronto, Ontario forms a part of the Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment. In turn the Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment is the military component of the Defence Research and Development Canada. The School of Operational Medicine (SOM) conducts all Flight Surgeon training. In addition, it offers courses at various levels in Diving Medicine, to Physicians, Medical technicians and Physician Assistants.[5]
Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training
The Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training (CFSSAT) in Winnipeg, Manitoba provides initial and continuation training for all CF aircrew. The training covers diverse topics including life support equipment and human factors, search and evasion as well as disorientation and night vision.[5]
