Dr. Supriya Sharma’s professional journey diverges from the more traditional paths in medicine: clinical practice, research or teaching. As chief medical advisor to the deputy minister in the Health Products and Food Branch at Health Canada, Dr. Sharma, a 1994 uOttawa MD program graduate, helps shape Canada’s public health policies.
“I am happy and proud of the choice I made,” says Dr. Sharma, reflecting on her medical career since graduation. “Every day, I have the privilege to work to improve the health of Canadians.”
Dr. Sharma’s journey is not only an inspiration for any student who aspires to make a difference through their medical knowledge and passion for the common good, but it also demonstrates how steering federal health programs impacts the lives of tens of millions of Canadians.
After her time at uOttawa, Dr. Sharma completed pediatric training in Calgary and Australia. She also worked in hematology research, including on international clinical trials in collaboration with the University of Oxford. In 2001, she earned a master’s in public health in international health from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Following her academic career, Dr. Sharma had numerous professional opportunities, but she was most drawn to the broad impact that public service offered.
“I was told by a no-nonsense physician at Health Canada: ‘A doctor has a place here. Come see what we do and how we do it,’” Dr. Sharma recalls. She joined Health Canada in 2002 as director of the Marketed Biologics and Biotechnology Products Division. She later served as associate director general before being appointed director general of the Therapeutic Products Directorate. Now she serves a double role as chief medical advisor to the deputy minister and senior medical advisor for the Health Products and Food Branch at Health Canada.
Serving in this critical position within the Canadian health system, Dr. Sharma possesses tremendous medical knowledge, which, combined with her passion for the public good, is a significant asset.
“I have seen how essential a doctor’s perspective is in making informed public health decisions.”
Dr. Supriya Sharma
Indeed, her medical training has given her a practical understanding of the challenges patients face daily and the constraints of the health system. “We can identify the strengths and weaknesses of this system, assess the impact of new technologies and treatments, and propose innovative solutions to improve the quality of care.”
This medical expertise, coupled with an in-depth knowledge of the health system’s workings, makes doctors key players in public policy development. She points to the COVID-19 pandemic as an example.
“Just like in an emergency room, where you must act rationally and stay calm in a situation that can quickly become chaotic, medical practice allows you to face crises with the necessary perspective to make the right decisions,” says Dr. Sharma. “It is then easier to develop and implement the policies to address such unprecedented situations [like the COVID pandemic] not only for the immediate crises, but more sustainably for the long term.”
Dr. Sharma also knows that beyond their technical expertise, physicians must also have strong communication skills. “How do you convey complex medical concepts in a simple and understandable way for the general public?” she asks.
It’s a relevant question for challenges such as gaining acceptance for the COVID-19 vaccination. “Communication is crucial to gain public trust in systems and equipping people with accurate information to empower them to make the best choices for their own health.”
Dr. Sharma is grateful to her education for preparing her for the challenges she faces. “The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa does not just train competent practitioners,” she says. “It also instills in its students a keen sense of social responsibility and a commitment to improving the health of the population.”
This model of education is important in the context of increasing complexity across health systems, systems that are also facing uncertainties such as climate change and an aging population. But as Dr. Sharma shows, with their skills, physicians can play a vital role designing health policies to address the biggest issues of our time.