Background

Over four and-a-half years ago, over twenty National Health Organizations met to discuss the merits of establishing a national process that would consider and reflect on the future mission and mandate, roles and responsibilities of Canada's Academic Health Sciences Centres (AHSCs).

Canada's AHSCs - which refers to a partnership between Universities and the Faculties of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry and the Health Sciences and their affiliated Research and Teaching Hospitals - are responsible for the integrated activities of providing complex care patient care, teaching the next generation of health care providers, and conducting and applying innovative and evidence-based research.

More recently, in February 2008, these same National Health Organizations met to review the workplan and budget that was developed to support the activities of the National Task Force.  They also agreed to the creation of a Steering Committee - which is Co-Chaired by Mr. Glenn Brimacombe, President & CEO of the Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations, and Dr. Nick Busing, President & CEO of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada.

With unanimous support, and from these formative discussions, a National Task Force on the Future of Canada's Academic Health Sciences Centres - comprised of two Co-Chairs (Mr. Jeffrey Lozon, President & CEO of St. Michael's Hospital, and Dr. Jean Rouleau, Dean of Medicine from the Université de Montréal) and 18 individuals - was formed in late 2008.

The National Task Force held its inaugural meeting on December 5, 2008, and its subsequent meetings on February 20, 2009, April 17, 2009, and July 28, 2009.  More information on the discussions of the National Task Force will be forthcoming.