CAMH President and CEO appointed Officer of the Order of Canada

 

Dr. Paul Garfinkel, CAMH President and CEO

For Immediate Release - December 30, 2008 - (Toronto) Governor-General Michaëlle Jean announced today that Dr. Paul Garfinkel, President and CEO of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.

The Order of Canada is the Canada’s highest civilian honour system, distinguishing people in all sectors of our society who have enriched the lives of others and made a difference to Canada. Dr. Garfinkel’s appointment as Officer of the Order recognizes “a lifetime of outstanding achievement and merit of a high degree”, especially dedication to the community and service to the nation and humanity at large.

“This unique distinction is an extraordinary honour. I am experiencing many strong emotions right now— feeling both extremely proud, and quite humbled to be in such august company as my fellow inductees,” Dr. Garfinkel said today. “I want to express my gratitude to her Excellency the Governor General and the Advisory Council for paying me this tribute, an honour which I share with my family, academic colleagues, and with the clients, staff and Board of CAMH.”

Paul Garfinkel is a nationally and internationally renowned psychiatrist, researcher, academic leader, hospital administrator, humanitarian and advocate, who has given back to the community for more than 30 years. He was President and Psychiatrist-in-Chief of the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto from 1990-2000 (where he still teaches today). As a researcher, most of his more than 150 peer-reviewed scientific papers related to eating disorders; his work in the 1970’s and 80’s made Toronto one of the world leaders in this field.

“I was proud to nominate Paul for the Order based on the undeniable contribution that he has made to the practice of psychiatry as a researcher, teacher and practicing clinician. But it is the role he has played as a leader-- advancing the cause of those with mental illness and addictions-- that truly sets him apart,” said the Honourable Michael Wilson, Ambassador of Canada to the United States of America.

As the founding President and CEO of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in 1998, Dr. Garfinkel oversaw, led, and inspired the creation of Canada’s largest academic health sciences centre devoted to mental illness and addictions—one of the leading such institutions in the world. As CAMH’s ongoing leader, he has broadened the traditional role of the hospital into a centre that influences public policy, challenges social attitudes and stigma, takes a broad view of the determinants of health, and conducts research that transforms the lives of affected individuals. Dr. Garfinkel’s vision of physically transforming CAMH from an antiquated, institutionalized campus into an inclusive “urban village” integrating this new kind of hospital with the community has just completed its first award-winning phase.

“Paul Garfinkel has already changed the way people with mental illness and addictions are viewed, and helped break down the stigma that prevents so many from seeking the care they so desperately need,” said former Senator Michael Kirby, Chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. “The impact that his visionary work will have in the future is even more exciting, once the new model of care and integrated system is finally realized. Canadians owe a great debt to this very humane gentleman who is truly a national asset.”

CAMH Board Chair Paul Beeston, a supporter of the nomination, congratulated Dr. Garfinkel on behalf of the Board and everyone at CAMH: “Paul Garfinkel is more than an innovative administrator and passionate advocate for people with mental illness and addictions-- he is a force for a civil society. I can’t imagine a more fitting recipient of this prestigious honour.”

The ceremony where Dr. Garfinkel and the other new inductees into the Order of Canada will accept their insignias will be held at a later date.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Michael Torres, Media Relations, CAMH at 416 595-6015.

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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world's leading research centres in the area of addiction and mental health. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues.

CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

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