Theresa Tam
Dr. Theresa Tam | |
|---|---|
| Chief Public Health Officer of Canada | |
| Assumed office June 26, 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Justin Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Gregory W. Taylor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1965 (age 58–59) British Hong Kong |
| Occupation | Physician |
Theresa Tam (譚咏詩; born 1965) is a Canadian physician and public servant. On June 26, 2017,[1] Tam was appointed to the position of Chief Public Health Officer of Canada and head of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Tam acted as Chief Public Health Officer of Canada after the retirement of Gregory Taylor in December 2016 until her formal appointment by Canadian Minister of Health Jane Philpott in 2017.
Tam, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, held a number of leadership positions at PHAC such as Assistant Deputy Minister of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Branch.[2] She has played a leadership role in Canada's response to public health emergencies including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), pandemic influenza H1N1, Ebola,[1] COVID-19 and the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Canada. As part of an advertising campaign distributed by the Government of Canada, Tam appeared in a series of TV commercial airing on all Canadian television and radio stations urging personal hygiene and social distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19, which began on March 23, 2020 until at least the end of April 2020.[3]
Tam said the opioid crisis, which cost over 2500 lives in Canada in 2016, could be higher than 3000 in 2017 if the current trend continues. "This far surpasses the number of motor-vehicle fatalities." She said overprescription of opioids contributed to this.[4]
Biography
Tam was born in British Hong Kong and grew up in the United Kingdom.[5] She obtained her medical degree at the University of Nottingham, residency at the University of Alberta, and fellowship at University of British Columbia.[6]
References
- ^ a b "Dr Theresa Tam, BMBS (UK), FRCPC: Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 24 November 2018 suggested (help) - ^ Canadian Press (26 June 2017), "Top doctor: Theresa Tam appointed to head Public Health Agency of Canada", The Globe and Mail, archived from the original on 29 June 2017
- ^ "Feds launch ad campaign urging social distancing, hygiene during COVID-19 crisis". ctvnews.ca. March 22, 2020.
- ^
Tumility, Ryan (28 June 2017), "Government allows unapproved drugs into Canada to combat opioid crisis", Metro News, archived from the original on 18 March 2018
{{citation}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 14 March 2018 suggested (help) - ^ McBride, Jason (23 August 2019), "The Canadian Leading The Fight Against Vaccine Skeptics", Chatelaine, archived from the original on 27 January 2020, retrieved 23 March 2020
- ^ "Chief Public Health Officer of Canada – Biography". Government of Canada. 20 March 2019. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.