Duncan Saunders

Duncan Saunders is an Adjunct Professor and Director of Professional Programs and Accreditation (2024-25) at Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Health Sciences. Previously, he held roles at the University of Alberta, including Chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences within the School of Public Health until his retirement in 2016. His career spans epidemiology, global health, and public health leadership.

Education:

• MBBCh, University of the Witwatersrand
• Diploma in Tropical Public Health, University of London
• Ph.D., University of the Witwatersrand
• Epidemic Intelligence Officer, CDC, Atlanta (1985–1987)

Research & Expertise: Saunders’ work focuses on global health, including HIV/AIDS treatment in rural Uganda, public health systems, and evidence-based medicine. He has conducted research on hypertension management in Soweto and led projects in Western Uganda. His expertise extends to curriculum development, notably redesigning MPH programs in Ghana.

Awards & Recognition:

• Recipient of university, faculty, and department-level teaching awards at the University of Alberta

Professional Contributions: He served on the Board of the Canadian Society for International Health (2010–2016), advised AMREF Health Africa’s research strategy, and collaborated with Academics Without Borders. He has taught globally in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Ghana.

Leadership & Mentorship: Supervised 22 PhD, 31 MSc, and 34 MPH students. Spearheaded academic program redesigns and contributed to pandemic research initiatives.