· A physician, specialist in internal medicine, working at McMaster University

· Internationally renowned medical researcher who has published over 450 peer-reviewed articles in medical journals, many in the most well known and widely read publications

· International leader in evidence-based health care

· Medical educator who, for eight years, directed the residency program at McMaster University that trains physicians to be specialists in internal medicine

· Health policy activist, has been active in health policy debates for over 25 years

· Founding member of the Medical Reform Group, a group of doctors dedicated to improving the health of Canadians

· Has worked hard to preserve universal health care in Canada and to fight for social policies that address the roots of ill health

· A health journalist who for many years has published periodic articles about health issues in newspapers, such as the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and the Hamilton Spectator

· Between 2001 and 2003, published a regular health column in the editorial pages of the Hamilton Spectator

· Currently publishes a regular health column on the editorial pages of the Winnipeg Free Press and in an online news service, Straight Goods

· Lifelong resident of the Hamilton area; currently lives in Dundas with his wife, Maureen Meade, also a doctor, and their three daughters.