Joseph Kaufert, BA (Hon), MA, PhD

Dr. Joseph Kaufert is a professor emeritus in community health sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba.

As a social scientist his research has been focused in the fields of medical anthropology, public and population health, Indigenous health, disability studies, health communication and biomedical and research ethics.

His research in Indigenous health has documented barriers to health service access and proposed models for decolonizing communication and overcoming structural barriers to equitable care in urban hospitals and First Nation and Inuit communities.

This research documented the impact of interpreters and cultural mediators in culturally safe communication, advocacy and community empowerment.

The research has influenced Indigenous and multicultural program models for language interpretation, cultural mediation and policy development in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, US and Europe.

His research on Indigenous health policy has focused on transfer of governance of health programs, social determinants of health, medical relocation, end of life care, renal care, tele-health, transfer of health governance and the development of the Regional Health Survey in First Nation communities.

Over the past decade he has been involved in research and policy development focusing on ethical issues including informed consent, organ donation and transplantation and end of life care for Indigenous communities

Education

• PhD, Northwestern University (1973)
• CAAS, Northwestern University (1972)
• Master of arts, Northwestern University (1968)
• Bachelor of arts (hons), University of Minnesota (1966)

Awards

• Council Member, Public Health Ethics Consultative Group, Public Health Agency of Canada (2014 – 2016)
• Member, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada (2010 – 2013)