James Blanchard

University of Manitoba, College of Medicine, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Dr. Blanchard is a professor of Community Health Sciences and Medical Microbiology in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. He recieved his Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in epidemiology and global public health in 2004. Dr. Blanchard's research aims to better understand the underlying determinants of epidemics, and ultimately develop effective public health strategies to better allocate health services, and reduce disease spread. He studies the local and global distribution of communicable and non-communicable diseases like HIV in India, and diabetes mellitus and inflammatory bowel disease in Canada.

After receiving his MD from the University of Manitoba in 1986 and completing an internship with the Manitoba Teaching Hospitals, Dr. Blanchard worked as a general practitioner for the University of Manitoba's Northern Medical Unit in Fisher Branch, Manitoba for two years. He then pursued education in epidemiology and public health at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, recieving his master's in public health in 1990 and his PhD in epidemiology in 1997. Dr. Blanchard's research interests include epidemiology and control of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, HIV transmission dynamics, social and behavioral aspects of HIV, and inflammatory bowel diseases etiology. He has recieved numerous awards, including the Frederick G. Banting Award from the Canadian Diabetes Association and the 2006 Rh Award for Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba from the Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation.