Joanne Liu
Humanitarian Physician and Pediatric Emergency Specialist
Honorary Doctorate in Medicine
Joanne Liu is an outstanding physician who has dedicated her career to protecting vulnerable populations and promoting universal access to healthcare. Her unwavering commitment and inspiring leadership have left a profound mark on modern humanitarian medicine and influenced the international medical community.
A native of Québec City, she earned her medical degree from McGill University, followed by a specialization in pediatrics at Université de Montréal and a pediatric emergency fellowship at New York University. In 1996 she joined Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and participated in missions across major crisis zones for over two decades before being elected International President in 2013.
Under her leadership MSF played a decisive role in combating the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, advocating for rapid and effective humanitarian responses. Her courage and determination to protect the principles of neutrality and independence earned her global recognition.
Beyond her humanitarian work, Dr. Liu is a prominent voice in global health. She has served on numerous advisory committees on pandemics and health governance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her expertise was sought at the national and international level to help shape crisis preparedness and response strategies.
Today she practices as a pediatric emergency physician at Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine in Montréal and continues her work as a professor at McGill University, where she leads the Pandemic and Emergency Response Laboratory. Her dedication inspires a new generation of health and humanitarian professionals to successfully combine scientific expertise, compassion, and responsibility. Carrying forward a vision rooted in courage and solidarity, she continues to shape the future of humanitarian medicine.
Université Laval is proud to award an honorary doctorate in medicine to Joanne Liu in recognition of her outstanding commitment to global health, her visionary leadership, and her pivotal role in advancing medical practices during a crisis.