Shared on behalf of Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre; CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Christopher Mushquash has accepted the position of Vice President (VP), Research and Chief Scientist effective March 15, 2022.
In this position, Dr. Mushquash will have dual reporting to both the President & CEO of TBRHSC and the CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI). The VP, Research and Chief Scientist is a member of the Senior Leadership Council (SLC) of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and provides leadership, oversight and strategic direction to a diverse portfolio of health professionals and scientists in the area of research and development. This role also provides scientific research leadership and strategic direction for TBRHSC and TBRHRI, as well as scientific advice and expertise to SLC, the TBRHRI Executive Management Team, the Boards and other scientific committees. Dr. Mushquash will champion scientific direction at conception and through implementation of a strategic plan based on those directions, the recruitment and retention of scientific staff, and for the overall success of the research agenda.
Dr. Mushquash is a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health and Addiction. His primary academic affiliation is as Professor in the Department of Psychology at Lakehead University. He is the Director of the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research at Lakehead University. He also holds an appointment in the Division of Human Sciences at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. He has served as the Interim Executive VP Research at TBRHSC and Chief Scientist at TBRHRI since November 2021. In addition to his academic appointments, Dr. Mushquash is a Registered Clinical Psychologist providing assessment, intervention, and consultation services for First Nations children, adolescents, and adults at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care.
In 2017, Dr. Mushquash was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. He is currently the vice-chair of the Institute Advisory Board for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health.
Dr. Mushquash is Ojibway and a member of Pays Plat First Nation. He is an Indigenous scholar who was born and raised in rural Northwestern Ontario.
Dr. Mushquash’s esteemed educational background includes earning his Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) from Dalhousie University, a Pre-Doctoral Residency (Clinical Health Psychology) from the University of Manitoba, and a Master of Arts (Experimental Psychology) and an Honours Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from Lakehead University.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Mushquash on his appointment.