SPPH Welcomes New AD Education

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Trevor Dummer will be taking over the position of Associate Director, Education, in the School of Population and Public Health, as our current AD Education Hugh Davies steps down to focus on his research.

Dr. Davies is a renowned expert in occupational and environmental health, and is currently working several projects related to the effects of chemical exposures on workers’ health, including chemical exposure and hearing loss, air quality in overdose prevention sites, and chronic exposure to antineoplastic drugs among health care workers.  His expertise is also sought by international scientific committees. We are grateful for his invaluable contributions to the field and to our School.

Dr. Trevor Dummer brings a wealth of experience in research and administrative leadership to the Associate Director position, being a distinguished health geographer who has dedicated his career to understanding the complex relationship between the environment and human health. Dr. Dummer currently serves as an Associate Professor at SPPH and is also the Canadian Cancer Society Chair in Cancer Primary Prevention, and the National Scientific Co-Director of the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath), which is Canada’s national longitudinal cancer and chronic disease cohort.

Dr. Dummer has played a vital role in advancing knowledge in cancer prevention, having led interdisciplinary studies to evaluate the environmental, behavioural, and social determinants of cancer. His approach is grounded in the understanding that where we live, work, and play is central to prevention.

“My research seeks to understand how potentially modifiable environmental factors, such as arsenic in drinking water, air pollution from vehicles, or other features of our built and natural environment, impact our cancer risk. I work collaboratively to connect research evidence with policy and practice to help reduce the cancer burden,” he explains.

With over a decade of experience in this field, he is committed to translating research into action for change, and his expertise is helping to shape the way we understand and prevent cancer in Canada and beyond.

The AD Education provides leadership to support the School’s educational mission and further enhance the exceptional university experience for students. This includes ensuring provision of relevant and timely training in graduate, residency, undergraduate, and continuing education programming. Dr. Dummer brings a wealth of experience in research and collaboration and plays an active role in training the next generation of cancer prevention researchers as a graduate supervisor, mentor, and instructor at SPPH. His priority as AD Education is to ensure we continue to meet the educational goals of the Schools strategic plan by providing student-centered and innovative educational programs, enhancing engagement with current students and alumni, ongoing indigenization of the curriculum, enhancing administrative systems to support an exceptional student experience and reviewing opportunities for accreditation of programs. We are excited to have Dr. Dummer join our team and look forward to the exceptional leadership and insight he will bring to the role.