Biography - Heather Munroe-Blum

Heather Munroe-Blum received her B.A. and B.S.W. from McMaster University, M.S.W. from Wilfred Laurier University and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Between 2003 and 2013, Dr. Munroe-Blum served as McGill University’s Principal, the first woman to occupy this position. Prior to this appointment, she was a professor at York University, McMaster University and the University of Toronto, where she also served as the Vice-President of Research and International Relations. She is a member of McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health.

Trained as an epidemiologist, Dr. Munroe-Blum has led large-scale epidemiological studies related to psychiatric disorders. She has authored and co-authored more than 60 scholarly publications, including four books. She also authored “Growing Ontario’s Innovation System: The Strategic Role of University Research,” a report that led to the creation of Ontario’s framework of science policies and programs.

Dr. Munroe-Blum serves on numerous non-profit and private boards, including the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and the Association of American Universities (AAU). She has served on the Board of Governors of the Council of Canadian Academies and as a member of Canada’s Science, Technology and Innovation Council and was a lead contributor in the development of its State of the Nation Report. She was a founder and founding director of the Medical and Related Sciences Discovery District in Toronto and Genome Canada.

Dr. Munroe-Blum is an Officer of the Order of Canada, an Officer of the National Order of Quebec, and a Specially Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.