Ottawa internist Dr. Jeff Turnbull has been selected by Ontario’s 27,000 physicians as their nominee for president of the Canadian Medical Association starting in 2010, in a process as long as U.S. President Barack Obama’s multi-year quest for the White House.
“I’m not sure if I warrant that comparison,” Turnbull said with a laugh yesterday.
His nomination must be confirmed at the CMA’s annual meeting in August in Saskatoon, and he would then assume his presidential duties in August 2010.
Turnbull — chief of staff at the Ottawa Hospital and a specialist who diagnoses and treats nonsurgical
diseases — has become known for treating Ottawa’s homeless people, spending two half-days a week in homeless shelters and being on-call all the time. He also travels overseas to advise and deliver health care in Kenya, Nigeria and Bangladesh.
When his presidential duties eat into his time, he will cut back on his specialty practice but won’t stop helping the homeless and poor.
“I wouldn’t give that up for anything,” he said in an interview. “It’s part of the deal.”
Turnbull has served as past president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and was recently named to the Order of Canada.
On his campaign website, Turnbull promised to ensure the CMA and governments use evidence and best practices when forming health policy.
