New director appointed to Canadian Blood Services board

Every director who sits on Canadian Blood Services board of directors is appointed by the provincial and territorial ministers of health (except Quebec). Directors are typically appointed for four-year terms and generally serve a maximum of up to two terms. As such, new members are regularly appointed when terms come to a close.

In September 2023, Gertie Mai Muise (Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario), completed her time serving on Canadian Blood Services board. We remain grateful for the leadership, guidance and governance she provided to our organization.

Following Gertie Mai’s departure, in December 2023, we were pleased to welcome Dr. Catherine Cook as the newest director on our board. She is based in Manitoba, where she recently retired from a tenured career in healthcare and Indigenous health.

Dr. Catherine Cook (Manitoba)

Dr Catherine Cook standing against a white background, looking at the camera smiling

Throughout her decades-long career, Dr. Cook (MD, MSc, CCFP, FCFP) has been focused on improving health outcomes for people facing inequities in our care systems. She is a respected healthcare leader in both academic and public health settings, working closely with First Nations, Métis, Inuit, provincial, and federal governments, and several community organizations. Before her recent retirement, she served as the first-ever vice-president (Indigenous) at the University of Manitoba, acting as a champion for health services on behalf of all Indigenous Manitobans.

Understanding the unique medical needs of those living in rural communities is something Dr. Cook grasped very early in her career as a primary care physician in remote nursing stations in northern Manitoba. As a Métis woman, Dr. Cook looks forward to sharing her insights on the realities and challenges that some Indigenous and rural communities face in their health journeys during her term with Canadian Blood Services.

In addition to acting as a director on our board, Dr. Cook has a wealth of experience serving national and regional boards, committees and community groups across Canada. Her contributions have earned her many accolades and awards, including the Indspire Award for Health, Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal and the Vanier Medal, to name a few.

Canadian Blood Services is grateful to welcome Dr. Catherine Cook as a valuable new member of the board. We look forward to learning from her expertise and insights as we continue to work with all directors of the board to achieve great things for patients.