CPHA Salutes Dr. Theresa Tam
The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) extends its gratitude to Dr. Theresa Tam as she concludes her tenure as Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO), capping a distinguished career dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of all people in Canada.
Dr. Tam has served the country with dedication, integrity, and humility throughout her more than three decades of public health service. From her early work as a pediatric infectious disease specialist to her appointment as the nation’s top public health advisor, she has consistently brought scientific excellence, principled leadership, and deep compassion to every role she has held.
Appointed as CPHO in 2017, Dr. Tam’s leadership has been defined by both unprecedented challenges and transformational contributions. She guided Canada through the COVID-19 pandemic with a steady, science-based voice amid uncertainty and fear. In the face of a global public health emergency, she became a trusted source of information for millions of Canadians, exemplifying the calm, clarity, and commitment that public health leadership demands.
But Dr. Tam’s legacy extends far beyond crisis response. She has been a tireless advocate for a strong, integrated, and equity-focused public health system—one that addresses the root causes of poor health and centres the needs of populations facing structural disadvantage. Through her annual reports as CPHO, Dr. Tam elevated critical issues such as health equity, mental health, climate change, the toxic drug crisis, and the urgent need to modernize Canada’s public health infrastructure. She brought forward frank analyses that pushed governments, institutions, and public health professionals to think beyond the clinical and embrace the social and structural determinants of health.
Dr. Tam has also been a national voice for Truth and Reconciliation in public health, calling on governments and the sector as a whole to support Indigenous-led solutions and uphold Indigenous rights to health and self-determination. Her leadership helped create space for respectful dialogue and accountability in a system that must continue to confront its colonial foundations.
As the first woman of colour to serve as Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Tam has broken barriers and inspired countless professionals across the country and around the world. Her commitment to mentorship, inclusive leadership, and advancing women in science and public health has left a lasting impact on the field.
On behalf of our members, Board of Directors, and staff, the Canadian Public Health Association thanks Dr. Theresa Tam for her service to the people of Canada and her contributions to the advancement of public health.
We wish Dr. Tam the very best in her next chapter and look forward to the continued influence of her voice and vision in public health.