Quick Facts
Biography
Dr. Chris Simpson, MD FRCPC FACC FHRS FCCS FCAHS (born 1967) is a Canadian cardiologist who served as the 147th President of the Canadian Medical Association (2014-2015). During his tenure, he championed seniors' care, arguing that a more comprehensive and integrated approach to the care of seniors would serve as a foundation for improving the Canadian healthcare system as a whole. Other issues during his term included a national discussion on end of life care(that coincided with a Supreme Court of Canada ruling that struck down the ban on medical aid in dying (MAID) and new legislation allowing MAID), as well as issues around the public health implications and possible medicinal utility of marijuana.
Dr. Simpson serves as the Chairof the Wait Time Alliance- a federation of 18 national medical and surgical specialty societies and the Canadian Medical Association that monitors and publishes report cards on the state of medical wait times in Canada. He also chaired the Task Force on CMAJthat was tasked with revamping the governance structure of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
He is currently Vice-Dean (Clinical) in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen's University in Kingston as well as the medical director of the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization (SEAMO). He also serves as the Canadian Medical Association's representative to the World Medical Association (Observer 2017-2019; Official Representative 2019-2021).
Education and training
A native of Nackawic, New Brunswick, he received his MD from Dalhousie University in 1992 after having completed an undergraduate degree (BSc) at the University of New Brunswick. He then completed Internal Medicine and Cardiology training at Queen's University, followed by a Heart and Stroke Foundation Fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology at the University of Western Ontario in 1999. He is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at Queen's University and completed a 10-year term as Chief of Cardiology and Medical Director of the Cardiac Programs at Kingston General Hospital and Hotel Dieu Hospital in 2016.
Clinical and research work
Dr. Simpson practices clinically as a specialist in heart rhythm disorders. His clinical and research interests include health policy (particularly access to care and seniors' care), medical fitness to drive, catheter ablation, atrial fibrillation, sudden death in the young, and cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Honours and awards
2004: Canadian Medical Association Award for Young Leaders
2015: Fellowship in the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
2017: University of New Brunswick Alumni Award of Distinction