We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Laura McDougall as dean of the School of Public Health, effective July 1, 2025.
Laura brings more than 30 years of experience in public health, including roles in academia, global health, leading implementation science initiatives and overseeing provincial public health services. Laura currently serves as the Senior Medical Officer of Health (SMOH) at Alberta Health Services (AHS), providing strategic direction and oversight for all AHS Zone and Provincial Medical Officers of Health. She also serves as the key liaison with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Alberta Health and the SMOH for the First Nations and Inuit
Health Branch, Indigenous Services Canada. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was integral to the success of AHS’ response. As Scientific and Medical Director of the Alberta Cancer Prevention Legacy Fund, Laura co-managed a multi-million dollar innovation fund for cancer prevention and screening, collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders.
Prior to her time at AHS, Laura spent 10 years working internationally including as a lecturer and acting department head in Public Health & Primary Care, Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. While abroad, Laura also led a regional Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) non-communicable disease and injury program at a specialized PAHO/WHO centre serving 21 Caribbean countries. Prior to her time internationally, Laura served as Assistant Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine at University of Calgary. After working abroad, Laura returned to Canada and is currently a Clinical Adjunct Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, at the University of Calgary.
Driven by a passion for advancing public health innovation, Laura will build on the One University model to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and community impact, integrating upstream health considerations into teaching, research and partnerships across all faculties.
We are grateful to interim dean Dr. Jeffrey Johnson for his leadership since 2023.
Verna Yiu
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
Brenda Hemmelgarn
Dean & Vice-Provost, College of Health Sciences
Dean, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry