James Blanchard, MD, MPH, PhD

Research summary

Dr. Blanchard is an epidemiologist and public health specialist focusing on global health. His research focuses on how the characteristics of individuals, communities and large populations contribute to the local and global distribution of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Over the past twenty-five years he has also provided leadership to applying research to improve the design and implementation of large public health programs related to sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS and maternal, neonatal and child health focused in south Asia and Africa.

Research themes

• Global public health
• Epidemiology

Research interests

• Program science
• Epidemiology of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections
• Reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health
• Public health surveillance
• Epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease
• Health equity

Keywords

• Global public health
• Epidemiology
• Program science
• HIV and sexually transmitted infections
• Reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health
• Non-communicable disease surveillance

After receiving an MD and BSc (Med) from the University of Manitoba, Dr. Blanchard worked for two years as a physician in rural Manitoba for the University of Manitoba’s Northern Medical Unit. Subsequently, he pursued further studies in public health, receiving an MPH and PhD in Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins University.

After returning to Manitoba and serving for several years as Manitoba’s Provincial Epidemiologist, he transitioned to focus primarily on global public health. He is currently the Executive Director of the University of Manitoba’s Institute for Global Public Health and holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Epidemiology and Global Public Health.

He is actively engaged with policy makers and public health leaders in diverse global settings to translate scientific knowledge and approaches to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public health programs, with an emphasis on improving the health of disadvantaged populations. In this regard he has focused on the development of “program science”, which is an initiative to bring together global leaders in public health programs and academia to improve the scientific basis of public health programs.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins University (1997)

Master of Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University (1990)

Bachelor of Science in Medicine, University of Manitoba (1986)

Doctor of Medicine, University of Manitoba (1986)

Awards

Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Epidemiology and Global Public Health (2015-present)

Doctors Manitoba Scholastic Award, for scholarly activity in the health professions (2013)

Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Epidemiology and Global Public Health (2004-14)

University of Manitoba Rh Award for Health Sciences, for outstanding contribution to scholarship and research in the health science (2006)

Frederick G. Banting Award, Canadian Diabetes Association (2001)