The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) is delighted to welcome Dr. Nicole Redvers as the organization’s new Vice President, Research.

Dr. Redvers, ND, MPH, DPhilc, is a member of the Denı́nu Kų́ę́ First Nation (Northwest Territories) and is an Associate Professor, Western Research Chair, and Director of Indigenous Planetary Health at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University.

As part of the AFMC leadership team, Nicole will lead the implementation of the organization’s strategic priorities related to health research and innovation, including supporting AFMC Committees and Networks in this area.

Dr. Redvers has had previous appointments in both the Department of Family & Community Medicine and the Department of Indigenous Health at the University of North Dakota, where she helped co-develop the first Indigenous Health PhD degree program in North America. She has been actively involved at regional, national, and international levels promoting the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in both human and planetary health research and practice. Dr. Redvers sits on the Canada Research Coordinating Committees’ Indigenous Leadership Circle in Research (ILCR) and is a commissioner on the Lancet Commission on Arctic Health, as well as the Lancet Commission on the Prevention of Viral Spillover. She also sits on the steering committee for the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA) based out of John Hopkins, is an advisory member to the World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on embedding ethics in health and climate change and is a member of the Government of Canada’s Strategic Review Committee for the Biomedical Research Fund and Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund.

“Dr. Redvers has been a tremendous force for positive change at our School, tirelessly working to enhance inclusivity and innovation in medical research and education,” says Dr. John Yoo, Dean of Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University. “We are thrilled she is taking on this research leadership role on a national scale, and know she will bring the same commitment and vision to support all of Canada’s medical schools through the AFMC.”

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Redvers joining the team,” says AFMC President and CEO, Dr. Connie LeBlanc. “Her knowledge, perspective and networks will serve Canadian medical schools very well, as we collaborate to move the needle on health research and innovation forward for the benefit of all Canadians.”

Dr. Redvers will begin her work with the AFMC in May 2024.