CMA's New Era: Historic Leadership Tackles Health and Climate Crises

OTTAWA, ON – May 29, 2026 – The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) marked a pivotal moment in its 158-year history today, introducing a new leadership team poised to confront Canada's most pressing health challenges with a fresh, multifaceted vision. Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi, a dermatologist from St. John's, N.L., was installed as the organization's first-ever Black president, while Dr. Courtney Howard, an emergency physician from Yellowknife, stepped into the role of president-elect.

The appointments signal a significant shift for the national body representing Canada's physicians, pairing a focus on systemic healthcare reform with an urgent mandate to address the health impacts of climate change. Dr. Ogunyemi, noted as one of the CMA's youngest presidents, brings a deep commitment to equity and system modernization, while Dr. Howard brings world-renowned expertise in planetary health.

A Historic Appointment and a Vision for Systemic Change

Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi’s presidency is a landmark achievement, breaking a significant barrier in Canadian medical leadership. An accomplished dermatologist and clinical associate professor at Memorial University, his career has been defined by a powerful blend of clinical practice and staunch advocacy for a more equitable and efficient healthcare system. His priorities for the CMA are clear and direct: strengthening primary care, slashing the administrative burden that plagues physicians, and championing community-based models of care.

His perspective is shaped by extensive work in social accountability, including serving as the inaugural Assistant Dean of Social Accountability at Memorial University's Faculty of Medicine. This background informs his belief that a diverse medical leadership is not just symbolic but essential for effective policy.

"As the primary spokesperson of the CMA, I hope to use this position not only to influence policy but to promote understanding that diverse backgrounds make policy and advocacy efforts more inclusive and more effective," Dr. Ogunyemi stated following his introduction. He emphasized a philosophy of care that extends beyond hospital walls, a concept born from both his academic work and his hands-on experience providing specialist care in remote communities like Labrador City.

"Patients heal from illness in a hospital, but they truly become well in their communities," he said. "We need greater support for community‑based practice to enable doctors to meet patients where they are."

This vision of a more accessible and representative health system is one Dr. Ogunyemi has promoted for years through his writing in national publications and his work with organizations like the Black Physicians of Canada, making his ascent to the CMA presidency a natural, if historic, progression.

Confronting Canada's Ailing Primary Care Backbone

Dr. Ogunyemi's focus on primary care and administrative relief arrives at a critical juncture for Canadian healthcare. The system is currently straining under immense pressure, a reality reflected in stark statistics. As of 2024, an estimated 22% of Canadian adults—nearly 6 million people—do not have a regular family doctor or primary care provider. This deficit forces millions to rely on overburdened emergency rooms for basic health needs and creates significant gaps in preventative care and chronic disease management.

The crisis is particularly acute for younger Canadians and racialized populations, who report lower rates of access to a consistent provider. Even for those with a family doctor, securing a timely appointment is a widespread challenge, with only about a third of Canadians able to see their provider on the same or next day for an urgent issue.

Compounding this access crisis is the crushing administrative burden placed on physicians. Doctors across the country report spending an estimated 18.5 million hours annually on paperwork and administrative tasks—time that equates to over 55 million potential patient visits. This 'red tape' is a leading driver of physician burnout, with nearly 60% of doctors reporting that it directly harms their mental health and 75% stating it interferes with their ability to provide quality patient care. Dr. Ogunyemi's commitment to tackling this issue head-on is a direct response to a top concern for his colleagues and a major impediment to improving patient access.

From the ER to the Environment: A Planetary Health Mandate

While Dr. Ogunyemi focuses on the internal architecture of the healthcare system, President-Elect Dr. Courtney Howard brings an equally urgent, and inextricably linked, external focus: the planet itself. An emergency physician in Yellowknife, Dr. Howard has witnessed the health consequences of environmental degradation firsthand, from the respiratory impacts of wildfire smoke to the food insecurity driven by a changing climate.

Dr. Howard is a global leader in the field of planetary health. She is the founder of POWER (Planetary-health Organizations for Wellbeing, Equity & Regeneration) and chairs the Global Climate and Health Alliance. Her work connects the dots between environmental policy and human well-being, advocating for everything from fossil fuel divestment and carbon pricing to active transport and plant-rich diets as public health imperatives.

Her experience is extensive, from serving as the first woman president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) to her policy work with the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. Her recent Master of Public Policy from Oxford University focused on using a planetary health lens to transition toward a well-being economy. The installation of a leader with such a profound and specific expertise in this area signals the CMA's recognition that climate change is a public health emergency. Dr. Howard's role ensures that the voice of Canadian physicians will be central to policy discussions on climate action, framing it not as a distant environmental issue but as an immediate threat to the health of their patients.

A New Generation of Leadership for Evolving Challenges

The dual appointments of Dr. Ogunyemi and Dr. Howard represent more than just a routine change of leadership; they signal a generational and philosophical evolution for the Canadian Medical Association. Together, they embody a modern, holistic understanding of health that is simultaneously local and global, systemic and environmental. Their combined expertise equips the CMA to advocate for a future where the health of a patient in a downtown clinic is understood to be connected to the administrative efficiency of the system, the strength of their community, and the stability of the global climate.

With one of its youngest and first Black presidents focused on rebuilding the foundational pillars of the domestic healthcare system, and a globally recognized expert on planetary health as president-elect, the CMA is positioning itself to lead on multiple critical fronts. This new leadership team reflects the growing diversity within the medical profession and a readiness to confront complex, interconnected challenges. Their tenure promises a dynamic period of advocacy, aiming to build a health system that is not only more equitable and efficient but also resilient and sustainable in a rapidly changing world.