James Blanchard (scientist)

Dr. James Blanchard is a Professor of Community Health Science at the University of Manitoba and a Canada Research Chair in Epidemiology and Global Public Health.^[1]

The science of public health is focused on determining why some populations are less healthy than others and devising strategies to improve the health of populations. By studying how the characteristics of individuals, communities, and large populations contribute to the local and global distribution of communicable and non-communicable diseases, Dr. Blanchard is contributing to the development of effective public health strategies for disease prevention. He studies communicable and non-communicable diseases on two continents, paying particular attention to how diverse characteristics of individuals, communities, and large populations contribute to diseases distribution.

Over the past ten years Dr. Blanchard has done extensive research and public health program development related to HIV/AIDS in India and other south Asian countries. Between 2001 and 2007 he was based in Bangalore, India helping to establish and lead the University’s extensive program of HIV research and public health programming. In addition to his research and program leadership, Dr. Blanchard has provided technical advice for national and international organizations, including the national AIDS control programs for India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and the World Bank.

In addition to his research on communicable diseases Dr. Blanchard has also worked with a diverse group of researchers in Manitoba to better understand the extent, distribution and causes of inflammatory bowel disease. In the future, he plans to work with colleagues at the University of Manitoba and in other countries to study the causes of IBD in populations where these diseases are now emerging.

Personal Background

After receiving his M.D. from the University of Manitoba in 1986 and completing an internship with the Manitoba Teaching Hospitals, Dr. Blanchard worked as a general practitioner for the University of Manitoba’s Northern Medical Unit in Fisher Branch, Manitoba for two years.

Dr. Blanchard then pursued education in epidemiology and public health at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health receiving his Masters in Public Health in 1990 and his Ph.D. in Epidemiology in 1997.

Dr. Blanchard is currently a Professor in the Departments of Community Health Sciences and Medical Microbiology and Director of the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Global Public Health. He received his Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Epidemiology and Global Public Health in 2004. During his academic career he has received numerous awards, including the Frederick G. Banting Award from the Canadian Diabetes Association and the 2006 Rh Award for Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba from the Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation.

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