Heather Munroe-Blum
O.C., Ph.D.

In January 2003, Professor Heather Munroe-Blum became the 16th Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University. She is a member of the Faculty of Medicine and a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

Born in Montreal and raised in Ontario, Professor Munroe-Blum served at the University of Toronto as a Professor, as Vice-President, Research & International Relations (1994 to 2002) and, as a governor of the University of Toronto. She was previously a professor at York University, at McMaster University and at the University of Toronto, where she also served as Dean of Social Work prior to becoming Vice-President. Professor Munroe-Blum holds the following degrees: B.A., B.S.W. (McMaster University); M.S.W. (Wilfrid Laurier University); Ph.D. with distinction (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).

An epidemiologist, Professor Munroe-Blum has specialized in psychiatric epidemiology. She has led large-scale epidemiological investigations of the distribution, prevention, course and treatment of major psychiatric disorders, and has influenced the development of effective mental health policies and practices. She has received major support from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, the Canadian National Health Research and Development Program, the Ontario Mental Health Foundation, and elsewhere. She is the author or co-author of over 60 scholarly publications, including four books.

In recent years, Professor Munroe-Blum has been increasingly active in the development of effective public policy in support of innovation through science, research and higher education. In 1999 she was the principal author of a highly-regarded report on this subject, Growing Ontario's Innovation System: The Strategic Role of University Research, commissioned by the Government of Ontario. She is frequently called upon as a consultant to governments and other bodies at home and abroad.

Professor Munroe-Blum has served as a member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Council on Science and Technology Expert Panel on Canada's Role in International Science and Technology; the Board of Directors of the Medical Research Council of Canada (now the Canadian Institutes of Health Research) and the international review panel of the Medical Research Council of Canada. She has served on international reviews of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Swiss National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health (USA), and served as a member of the International Commission to develop a Framework for an Overarching Policy for Ireland for Research and Technological Development.

Heather Munroe-Blum is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a Specially Elected Fellow in the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada. She is the recipient of numerous other honors including membership in the McMaster Alumni Gallery; recipient of the McMaster University Distinguished Alumni Award, and the Outstanding Alumni Award of the School of Public Health of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an Associate Senior Fellow of Massey College.

Active in her community, Professor Munroe-Blum is a Director of Genome Canada (past Vice-Chair), the NeuroScience Canada Partnership, the NeuroScience Canada Foundation, and the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). Professor Munroe-Blum is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and its Standing Advisory Committee on University Research (SACUR); the American Association of Universities (AAU); la Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des Universités du Québec (CREPUQ); and, Universitas 21. As well she sits on the boards of the McCord Museum; the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews; the Max Bell Foundation; McGill-Queen's University Press; Montreal International; La Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain; Trafalgar School for Girls; La Conférence de Montréal; Four Seasons Hotels Inc. and the Nestlé Canada Advisory Board. She served most recently as Chair of the Industry Canada University Advisory Group; Chair of the Ontario Council on University Research; a director of the Ontario BIOCouncil, of several hospitals and Centres of Excellence, a member of the Board of the Premier's Research Excellence Awards Program (Ontario), the Canadian Genetic Diseases Network and Branksome Hall School for Girls. She also served as a director of Visible Genetics, Inc., and of Hydro One Inc. She was a founding member of the board of MARS (Medical and Related Sciences Discovery District Board), a not-for-profit corporation to develop a major science and technology convergence district in downtown Toronto.

Professor Munroe-Blum and her husband, Len Blum, a screenwriter and graduate of McMaster University, have one daughter.