Friday January 18, Noon to 1:45 pm
Speaker: Dr. James Orbinski
Admission: $85 per person
Purchase tickets online.
Sponsored by Swiss Chalet & Harvey’s

In an increasingly global economy, when environmental degradation, war, international terrorism and poverty in one part of the globe impact all others, through what lens should we be looking to set priorities for action? Access to health care, medicines, essential health technologies are critical global health issues today, especially for poor people. Dr. Orbinski shares his vision for how we can shape the world we live in to create a humane, global future.

James Jude Orbinski, MD is Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Toronto and a Fellow at the Munk Centre for International Studies. He was the President of Médecins Sans Frontières (French "Doctors Without Borders") at the time the organization received the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize. James Orbinski is the co-founder and Chair of the Board of Directors of Dignitas International, a medical humanitarian organization working with communities to dramatically increase access to life-saving treatment and prevention in areas overwhelmed by HIV/AIDS.

He is closely associated with the University of Toronto's Massey College where he is a Senior Fellow and was the founding Saul Rae Fellow.

Among other things, he is an out-spoken advocate for increasing the availability of anti-retroviral drugs to combat AIDS in poor countries. He is considered a brilliant orator. In 1998, Dr. Orbinski received the Governor General's Meritorious Service Cross for his work as the MSF chef de mission to Rwanda during the 1994 civil war. Medecins Sans Frontieres has currently served over 70 nations in their efforts.

Dr. Orbinski continues to work abroad as well as at home, as a senior fellow with the Munk Centre for International Studies and as a research scientist and associate professor of family and community medicine at the University of Toronto Centre for International Health, St. Michael's Hospital. He remains outspoken, passionate and deeply committed to the core principles of volunteerism, impartiality, and a belief that everyone deserves both medical assistance and the recognition of his or her humanity. "We have a duty and responsibility as human beings to try and make our world more tolerable and to relieve the suffering of others."

To request tickets, please call (416) 323-6000 or via email.