Bridge for Health welcomes Irving Rootman PhD., a global pioneer & a leader in health promotion research and practice in Canada for over thirty years, as our first Canadian expert advisor on tap!

Dr. Rootman developed the first national health promotion survey; led a national project to develop knowledge in health promotion; was the first Director of the Centre for Health Promotion at the University of Toronto; stimulated the establishment of the Canadian Consortium for Health Promotion Research; and developed a national program of research in literacy and health. He was a member of the U.S. Institute of Medicine Expert Committee on Health Literacy and  Co-Chair of the Canadian Expert Panel on Health Literacy. 

Currently,  Dr. Rootman is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health and Social Policy at the University of Victoria and a Visiting Professor in Gerontology at Simon Fraser University.  He is the Co-chair of the Capacity-Building Committee for the Public Health Association of BC, as well as the Chair of the Steering Committee for the BC Health Literacy Network. 

Those who have been fortunate to work with Dr. Rootman over the trajectory of his career understand that he is a true visionary, enabler, mentor & role-model as he demonstrates through his collaborative style how to support others to reach their own potential to promote health. We are grateful to have Dr. Rootman’s support as Bridge for Health grows!