James Orbinski

Dr. James Orbinski is a Professor and the inaugural Director of York University’s Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research. He holds a BSc from Trent University, an MD from McMaster University, and an MA in International Relations from the University of Toronto. As a physician, humanitarian leader, and author, his career focuses on global health equity, humanitarian action, and the intersection of climate change with health. He served as International President of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF), accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of MSF in 1999, and co-founded initiatives like the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative and Dignitas International.

Leadership & Affiliations:

• Board Member, Grand Challenges Canada
• Member, Global Alliance for TB Drug Development
• Member, Davos World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Health Care Systems

Research Focus: The Dahdaleh Institute’s core themes under his direction include Global Health and Humanitarianism, Planetary Health, and Global Health Foresighting. His work emphasizes transdisciplinary research addressing climate change health impacts, health equity, and humanitarian innovation.

Awards: Officer of the Order of Canada, Meritorious Service Cross (for leadership during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide), and author of the award-winning An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarianism in the 21st Century.

Recent Projects: Includes modeling climate change’s health impacts in Malawi, advancing digital technologies for food security, and advocating for global solidarity in pandemic responses. He also spearheaded the Safe Water Optimization Tool project and collaborated with the Rainmaker Enterprise to address water scarcity in South Sudan.