Dr. Jeffrey Turnbull will share his expertise at MacEwan’s second Chancellor Speaker Series event on November 8. Dr. Turnbull co-founded and was until recently the  medical director of Ottawa Inner City Health Inc. (OICH), which supports vulnerable populations in accessing quality health care.

The Chancellor Speaker Series was created to highlight the interests and expertise of the sitting chancellor, currently Dr. Anthony Fields. Dr. Fields says Dr. Turnbull’s extensive work with homeless populations, and his passion for helping everyone in his community made him a natural choice.

“Proper health care is a necessity for everyone, regardless of the situation they find themselves in,” says Dr. Fields. “Dr. Turnbull’s unique experience in providing care for society’s most vulnerable demonstrates his commendable dedication to Canadian health care and the people who need it most.”

Dr. Turnbull – who has received the Order of Canada, Order of Ontario and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal – has always had a passion for ensuring everyone has access to quality health care. When he began working in hospitals, he noticed that some people were returning again and again with the same conditions, despite being prescribed antibiotics and being given instructions for recovery. He took the time to accompany one of his patients back to the shelter they were staying in so that he could better understand what was happening.

“I started to see life from their perspective, and why, for example, they couldn't take antibiotics – because they didn't have the money to buy them,” says Dr. Turnbull. “That gave me a better understanding that our health-care system just does not suit them at all. It's not accessible, and nobody takes the time to really design a health-care system that is for them and meets their needs.”

In 2017, after an impressive career in traditional health care, Dr. Turnbull stepped down from his position as chief of staff at The Ottawa Hospital to focus on OICH full time. Since its inception, the organization has grown from just six health-care providers operating three programs in Ottawa’s major adult shelters, to a large team of both paid and volunteer workers with programs in all shelters across the city. In addition, OICH collaborates with partners in  five residential apartment buildings for those in need, offers day clinics and has a focus on community outreach.

“We’ve grown, because the community around us has changed dramatically. It used to be the domain of the adult, male alcoholic. Then it was cocaine, then prescription opioids and now fentanyl,” says Dr. Turnbull. “The addictions have changed, the mental health has changed and the needs of the community have changed. We've had to adjust to and accommodate those changing needs. We have never been steered wrong by listening to the community and what they felt they needed.”

When he comes to Edmonton this fall, Dr. Turnbull will share what he’s learned from those experiences. Though his work has been focused in Ottawa, the knowledge he’s gathered is just as applicable to Edmonton as it is to the nation’s capital.

“There are commonalities and generalities that underlie all of our work – listening to patients, bringing care to them on their terms, truly understanding what it's like to be addicted and the challenges of a fentanyl addiction. Those things are all common everywhere,” he says. 

Despite those commonalities, Dr. Turnbull notes that attendees shouldn’t be expecting a one-size-fits-all solution to the issue. He says each case requires an individualistic approach, and often a mix of harm reduction and active treatment is necessary.

“I see it as a continuum. I don't see it as one versus the other,” he says.

Dr. Christy Raymond, dean of MacEwan’s Faculty of Nursing, says that health-care students and professionals can benefit from the compassionate approach that Dr. Turnbull takes in his work. 

“Dr. Jeffrey Turnbull's notable work addresses many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which intersect directly with the aims of our baccalaureate, psychiatric and post credential nursing programs,” says Dr. Raymond. “The ability for students and faculty to interact with Dr. Turnbull during this series will inspire further innovation and facilitate better health care for vulnerable populations with addiction and mental health challenges. This will be an exciting series which addresses a very salient topic for all students and faculty in health education programs.”

Dr. Turnbull encourages attendees – regardless of their profession – to keep an open mind, and to understand that their unconscious biases might be challenged.

“I would hope that this would resonate with everyone, and that they would understand that there are misconceptions that we might have about those people who are experiencing homelessness,” he says. “These are individuals within our community that have the same rights to health care, safety, security and nutrition that everyone else has. We all have an obligation. We should all be held accountable for improving their quality of life and engaging them as members of our community.”

To learn more about the event or to purchase tickets, visit MacEwan.ca/Chancellor.