U of T Celebrates

The University of Toronto is home to some of the world’s top faculty, students, alumni and staff. U of T Celebrates recognizes their award-winning accomplishments.

Susan Chatwood recieves Polar Prize from Governor General Julie Payette

(Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor General)

Research & Innovation

Susan Chatwood receives Governor General's 2019 Polar Medal

Published: October 30, 2019

Susan Chatwood, an associate professor at U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, has received the Governor General’s 2019 Polar Medal for a lifetime of work on public health in the Arctic. Her work has focused on improving access to culturally appropriate care.

Chatwood says understanding Indigenous perspectives about health means looking at wellness holistically. It means not only treating diabetes, but also looking at food security and asking, for example, if the caribou decline has affected community health. At an international level, Chatwood also shares research and information related to climate change and public health among the eight Arctic states.