Whither (wither) Healthcare?

Date

Thursday January 22, 2026
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Location

Robert Sutherland Hall Room 202

ABSTRACT: Canada 91Ƭ ’s vaunted social program, “Healthcare”, underperforms, is structurally misaligned to purpose, is expensive and requires a new foundation. Current geopolitical and economic realities will challenge our ability to adapt.

DAVID WALKER is Professor Emeritus, Emergency Medicine, and former Dean of Health Sciences at Queen's University. He is cross-appointed to the School of Policy Studies, where he is a Matthews Fellow in Global Public Policy. He is also a member of the consultant staff at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC). Born in England, Dr. Walker attended Harrow School then immigrated to Canada. He graduated with an MD from Queen 91Ƭ ’s and was certified in internal medicine. He was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 1975. A career in academic emergency medicine at Queen 91Ƭ ’s and KHSC led to roles as department head, associate and vice-dean. From 1999 to 2010, he was Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, director of the university 91Ƭ ’s School of Medicine and CEO of the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization (SEAMO). Dr. Walker has been President of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, President of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and Chair of the Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine. He has served government (by Order in Council) as Chair of the Expert Panel on SARS and Infectious Disease Control. He served as inaugural Board Chair of the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario), and as an advisor to ministers of health on policy areas concerning public health and ageing, and more recently to the Auditor General of Ontario and Ontario 91Ƭ ’s Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission. At Queen 91Ƭ ’s, Dr. Walker chaired the Principal 91Ƭ ’s Commission on Mental Health as well as the coordination and planning for the university 91Ƭ ’s 175th anniversary, served for three years as interim executive director of the School of Policy Studies and, most recently, was Special Advisor to Principal Patrick Deane on COVID-19. He chairs the Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Ontario Health Team 91Ƭ ’s Transitional Leadership Collaborative and teaches in the schools of medicine and policy studies at Queen 91Ƭ ’s.

David Walker Poster