School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) Professor Jean Shoveller has been appointed to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Governing Council.
Dr. Jean Shoveller is one of six leading researchers newly appointed to the Council, which develops CIHR’s strategic directions, goals and policies, approves CIHR’s budget, and evaluates the organization’s overall performance and achievements, Health Canada said in a December release. The Council also provides advice to the Minister of Health and appoints Scientific Directors and Institute Advisory Board members.
Dr. Shoveller’s research addresses social inequalities in health, including research regarding HIV, addictions, mental health, gender-based violence and adolescent health.
Council members are appointed for three-year terms, and Dr. Shoveller said it was encouraging to see six new members appointed, whose research backgrounds reflected the full spectrum of the health sciences.
“I think that this diversity will contribute to rich discussions and to well informed decision making.”
Professor Jean Shoveller
Dr. Shoveller has previously served on several CIHR peer-review panels, on an Institute Advisory Board, and provided CIHR Institutes with strategic advice and input over the years. She will attend her first meeting of the Governing Council in Ottawa next month (February.) Dr. Shoveller said she was a proud member of the Canadian health research community and valued the CIHR model highly. “CIHR has a crucial role to fulfill in developing and supporting scientific expertise to address pressing health issues facing current and future generations.”
Canada is at an important juncture in terms of its capacity to be a world leader in science, she said.
“I think that CIHR can fulfil an important role in supporting excellence across the full-spectrum of science and innovation and it’s exciting to be in a position to contribute to such an enterprise.”
SPPH co-directors Carolyn Gotay and Chris Lovato said they were extremely pleased to hear that Dr. Shoveller had been appointed to this important position.
“Her outstanding research background and experience make her ideally suited to provide this kind of leadership.”
SPPH co-directors Carolyn Gotay and Chris Lovato
Minister of Health Ginette Petitpas Taylor said in the release that she was pleased to announce the appointment of the distinguished men and women to the Governing Council. “They will join other exceptional scientists and researchers responsible for guiding CIHR’s investments in health research and its efforts to strengthen our healthcare system and improve the health of all Canadians.”