In Honouring One of Our Very best - Senator, The Honourable, Dr. Rosemary Moodie
In 2018, Jamaican-born, UWI alumna, Dr Rosemary Moodie became the first paediatrician to be appointed to the Senate of Canada—a recognition of her outstanding public service and professional contributions in the field of medicine. A Senior Neonatologist and Full Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto, Dr. Moodie’s professional work has focused on regional health services, health organisation standards and accreditation, and health human resource planning.
Senator Moodie has devoted her career to advocating for women and children, in particular, her work has focussed on reducing health disparities. She has served on not-for-profit boards in health, education, and social development; including as the President and Board Chair of the YWCA Toronto when the Elm Centre was completed (The Elm Centre is Canada’s largest affordable housing project for single low-income women, women with mental health and addiction issues, and families of Indigenous ancestry) and on the inaugural Board of Directors of the largest faith-based health network in Canada. She is a Board Director of Scotiabank Foundation, Jamaica.
In her work as an Independent Senator from Ontario in the Parliament of Canada, Senator Moodie continues to advocate for the rights of women and children and has committed to effecting change and building the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into the culture of the Senate. She introduced legislation for a Federal Children’s Commissioner for Canada to promote and protect children's rights (Bill S-217). In 2020, she sponsored the first emergency debate on racism in the Senate of Canada. She sits on the Standing Committees of Social Affairs, Science and Technology and the Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, and chairs the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the Parliamentary Black Caucus and the African Canadian Senators Group.
As a senator, Dr Rosemary Moodie also maintains strong links with CARICOM countries, strengthening and building linkages between Caricom leaders and Canadian parliamentarians. She was featured in international policy fora including the CARICOM-CANADA Policy Forum and UNICEF Worlds of Influence.
Among Senator Moodie’s numerous awards are the Faculty of Medicine Dean’s Alumni Award – Lifetime Achievement Award, University of Toronto; City of Toronto – Access and Human Rights Constance E. Hamilton Award on the Status of Women; and Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto – Top 10 High Achieving Women.
In 2017, she was awarded the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander Class for outstanding contributions to philanthropy, community development and medicine in the Jamaican Diaspora of Canada. She has also been awarded the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest civilian honour for steering social change and expanding healthcare access for society’s vulnerable.
