Message from the Interim Division Head

Welcome to the Division of Public Health and Preventive Medicine

For the first time, public health physicians in the Maritime provinces have a true academic home at Dalhousie. This division brings public health and preventive medicine more fully into the university environment, supporting longstanding interest among physicians, learners, and faculty who want to engage in teaching, research, and academic leadership in this field.

Public health and preventive medicine is a specialty rooted in prevention, equity, and population level impact. By establishing this division within Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine, in partnership with Nova Scotia Health, we are creating the right environment for public health physicians to grow, collaborate, and lead—while strengthening learning and research opportunities for students at all stages of training.

I am genuinely excited about what is ahead. As the division grows, it will open new doors for community driven research, support ideas that have been waiting for the right conditions to take shape, and bring renewed energy to public health education and practice. The planned launch of a Public Health and Preventive Medicine residency program will further strengthen this momentum, helping to energize the public health system and build capacity for the future.

Dalhousie is an incredible place to learn and grow, and the enthusiasm around this division is real. I look forward to working together with learners, faculty, and staff as we build something meaningful for our region and the communities we serve.

Dr. Gaynor Watson‑Creed 
Interim Division Head 
Division of Public Health and Preventive Medicine