Dr. Joseph LeBlanc named Vice-President, Social Accountability of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada

The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) is thrilled to welcome Dr. Joseph LeBlanc, PhD, as the organization’s new Vice-President, Social Accountability. 

Dr. LeBlanc is the Associate Dean, Equity and Inclusion and Assistant Professor, Indigenous Health at NOSM University, roles that he will continue to hold concurrently with his work at AFMC. He is a lifelong Northern Ontarian and member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.  

As a member of the AFMC leadership team, Dr. LeBlanc will spearhead the implementation of the organization’s strategic priorities related to social accountability and ensure that AFMC committees and networks are effectively supported in this work. This includes continued efforts to strengthen anti-racism, Indigenous health, Black health, Francophone representation, and planetary health within Canada’s medical schools. 

Dr. LeBlanc has extensive experience in promoting equity, increasing diversity, and strengthening the approach to social accountability in medical education. He has received several awards including a Top 20 under 40 Northwestern Ontario Visionary Award and a Forty under 40 Northern Ontario Business Award. Dr. LeBlanc is passionate about community health and well-being and is recognized as a leading expert in Indigenous food systems and community development in Canada. 

“Joseph’s contributions in this field are invaluable and we are extremely lucky to have him join our team,” says AFMC President and CEO, Dr. Connie LeBlanc (no relation to Dr. Joseph LeBlanc). “His deep expertise in policy and community health will be instrumental in advancing social accountability within Canadian medical schools, ultimately benefiting all Canadians.” 

“NOSM University is proud of Dr. Joseph LeBlanc and his appointment at this senior level within such an important and influential national organisation,” says Dr. Sarita Verma, President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and CEO. “As a Vice-President in this inaugural role, he brings wonderful interpersonal and organisational skills, wisdom, and true authenticity to issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. He will champion the voice of academic medicine in Canada and help us to meet our collective mandate to be socially accountable.” 

“I am honoured to join the AFMC in this groundbreaking role,” says Dr. LeBlanc. “The leadership and advocacy of this group has helped to pave the way for excellence in medical education in this country. As we all take the next steps toward health equity for every Canadian, I will contribute all I can to the critical, collaborative work being done to move us all forward toward a healthier future.” 

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About NOSM University 

NOSM University is Canada’s first independent medical university and one of the greatest education and physician workforce strategy success stories of Northern Ontario. More than just a medical university, it was purpose-built to address the health needs of the region. While advocating for equitable access to care, the university contributes to the economic development of Northern Ontario. NOSM University relies on the commitment and expertise of the peoples of Northern Ontario to educate health-care professionals to practise in Indigenous, Francophone, rural, remote and underserved communities. With a focus on diversity, inclusion, and advocacy, NOSM University is an award-winning, socially accountable organization renowned for its innovative model of distributed, community-engaged education and research. 

For further information, please contact news@nosm.ca. 

About the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada 

Founded in 1943, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) represents Canada’s 17 faculties of medicine and is the voice of academic medicine in this country. Our member faculties graduate over 2,700 MDs per year; teach over 11,500 undergraduate medical students; train over 15,000 postgraduate trainees; employ nearly 48,000 full and part-time faculty members and undertake over 3 billion dollars of biomedical and health care research annually.