Dr. Chris Simpson, MD FRCPC FACC FHRS FCCS FCAHS (born 1967) is a Canadian cardiologist who served as the 147th President of the Canadian Medical Association (2014–2015). During his tenure, he championed seniors' care, arguing that a more comprehensive and integrated approach to the care of seniors would serve as a foundation for improving the Canadian healthcare system as a whole. Other issues during his term included a national discussion on end of life care (that coincided with a Supreme Court of Canada ruling that struck down the ban on medical aid in dying (MAID) and new legislation allowing MAID), as well as issues around the public health implications and possible medicinal utility of cannabis. Dr. Simpson served as the Chair of the Wait Time Alliance – a federation of 18 national medical and surgical specialty societies, the Canadian College of Family Physicians and the Canadian Medical Association that monitored and published report cards on the state of medical wait times in Canada. He also chaired the Task Force on CMAJ that was tasked with revamping the governance structure of the

Canadian Medical Association Journal The ''Canadian Medical Association Journal'' (French ''Journal de l'Association Médicale Canadienne'') is a peer-reviewed general medical journal published by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). It publishes original clinical research, anal ...

. In 2020-21, he served as President of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. He served as Vice-Dean (Clinical) in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen's University in Kingston as well as the medical director of the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization (SEAMO) from 2016 to 2021. He served as a Canadian Medical Association representative to the

World Medical Association The World Medical Association (WMA) is an international and independent confederation of free professional medical associations representing physicians worldwide. WMA was formally established on September 18, 1947 and has grown to 115 national m ...

(2017–2019). Currently, he serves as Executive Vice President (Medical) and Chief Medical Officer at Ontario Health - the Crown agency that oversees the health care system in Ontario.

Education and training

A native of

Nackawic Nackawic is an unincorporated community in New Brunswick, Canada. It held town status prior to 2023. It is approximately 65 km west of the city of Fredericton on the east bank of the Saint John River. Nackawic, from the Malecite Nelgwaweeg ...

, New Brunswick, he received his MD from

Dalhousie University Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the fou ...

in 1992 after having completed an undergraduate degree (BSc) at the

University of New Brunswick The University of New Brunswick (UNB) is a public university with two primary campuses in Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick. It is the oldest English-language university in Canada, and among the oldest public universities in North Ameri ...

. He then completed Internal Medicine and Cardiology training at Queen's University, followed by a Heart and Stroke Foundation Fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology at the

University of Western Ontario The University of Western Ontario (UWO), also known as Western University or Western, is a Public university, public research university in London, Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by resident ...

in 1999. He is a Professor in the Department of Medicine and in the School of Policy Studies at Queen's University and completed a 10-year term as Chief of Cardiology and medical director of the Cardiac Programs at

Kingston General Hospital The Kingston General Hospital (KGH) site is an acute-care teaching hospital affiliated with Queen's University located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Along with the Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH) site, these hospitals deliver health care services to ...

and Hotel Dieu Hospital in 2016.

Clinical and research work

Dr. Simpson practices clinically as a specialist in heart rhythm disorders. His clinical and research interests include health policy (particularly access to care, wait times, seniors' care and health human resources), medical fitness to drive, catheter ablation, atrial fibrillation, inherited heart rhythm diseases, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and leadless pacemaker technology.

Honours, awards and elected positions

2004: Canadian Medical Association Award for Young Leaders 2004-2006: President, Canadian Heart Rhythm Society 2012-2015: Board of Governors, American College of Cardiology 2014-2015: President, Canadian Medical Association 2014: Osler Lecturer, Vancouver Medical Association 2015: Fellowship in the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences 2015: Queen's Department of Medicine Distinguished Service Award 2015: Medical Post Power List 2017: Kingston Health Sciences Centre Medical Staff Association Outstanding Clinician Award 2017: Joseph Greenblatt Lectureship, University of Ottawa Department of Medicine 2017:

Alumni Award of Distinction 2017-2019: Canadian Medical Association Representative to the World Medical Association 2020-2021: President, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences 2021: Medical Post Power List 2022: Queen's Faculty of Health Sciences Ron Wigle Mentorship Award 2022: Duncan Sinclair Lecturer, Queen's University School of Policy Studies

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Chris Canadian cardiologists 1967 births People from York County, New Brunswick Living people Dalhousie University alumni Queen's University at Kingston alumni Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table