Ben Chan

Dr. Ben Chan is an affiliate scientist at ICES and assistant professor at the University of Toronto, in the Division of Global Health and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. His current research interests focus on quality improvement in primary care, with a special interest in rural healthcare in First Nations communities and low-income countries. A leading figure in healthcare quality in Canada, Dr. Chan was the inaugural CEO of Health Quality Ontario (formerly Ontario Health Quality Council) from 2007 to 2012, where he oversaw an ambitious agenda to report to the public on the quality of healthcare, support quality improvement activities and make recommendations on healthcare funding. Dr. Chan was also the inaugural CEO of Saskatchewan's Health Quality Council, which won the Saskatchewan Health Excellence Award for its pioneering work to improve chronic disease management, reduce wait times and prevent adverse events. In 2006, he was named Canada's Outstanding Young Health Executive by the Canadian College of Health Service Executives, and in 2005, Alumnus of the Year by Victoria College, University of Toronto. Dr. Chan has practiced primary care in 80 communities in 8 provinces and territories, and has worked in every rural emergency department in Northern Ontario. In 2011, he received the Rural Service Award from the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada for his years of service. Dr. Chan received his BSc and MD from the University of Toronto, Master of Public Health from Harvard, Master of Public Affairs from Princeton, and completed the Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders at Stanford.