features & news public health leaders: heather munroe-blum

Success is a team effort Advises first female principal of Montreal’s McGill University

Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum hen UNC School of Public Health alumna When asked about Carolina, Munroe- Blum says, “I chose to come to UNC-Chapel Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum talks about Hill because it had the first-ranked epide- “I’ve been blessed with great students, Leonard Blum, Munroe-Blum and her hus- Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum, the first woman to hold W miology program in the world in 1978–79. the position of principal and vice-chancellor of McGill and she’s one,” he says. “Heather knows band have a 22-year-old daughter, Sydney, an leadership, she speaks of “team effort,” “principles,” The quality of the graduate education and herself and knows how to be prepared. She environmental economics master’s student University in Montreal, speaks to students on McGill’s campus. Munroe-Blum is a graduate of UNC-Chapel doctoral program at Chapel Hill remains is very creative. She brings her unique gifts at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. and “new possibility.” Hill’s doctoral epidemiology program. today a gold standard for what graduate to all relationships and responsibilities. She Munroe-Blum is passionate when speak- “Look for people who bring different things the country’s “most influential spokesper- education should be.” is an exceptional leader who is sensitive to ing about the role that universities play in to the table than you do,” she advises young sons for universities in matters of research The supportive mentoring Munroe-Blum others’ feelings and needs.” the development of communities. leaders. “Bring together people who add strategy and policy.” received at Carolina had lasting impact on Munroe-Blum’s character may have been “Universities fuel our social, cultural and deeper meanings and deeper resolutions.” experience that you don’t have, but who Prior to accepting the position of princi- her, she says. developed, in part, by a challenging child- economic institutions, and they help design When speaking about the way education share your values and principles, your sense pal and vice-chancellor at McGill, she served “The best thing that a great teacher and hood. Her mother was left to care for her the shape of our communities,” she said in can change lives, Munroe-Blum is equally of where you’re going and of new possibility. at the University of Toronto as professor, great educational experience can give to a and her older brother alone shortly after her a speech at her installation as principal of passionate. It’s a topic that has affected her Success is a team effort. I believe you’ll al- governor, dean of social work and finally as student is to help them see talent and pos- birth in Montreal. At age 3, after some time McGill in 2003. “Universities promote the in a personal way. Her mother, Dorothy, won ways have a smarter plan working with oth- vice-president of research and international sibility in themselves that they would other- in foster care with her brother, Munroe- free exchange of ideas and encourage open a scholarship to McGill years ago — an honor ers than thinking it through by yourself.” relations. Earlier in her career, she was cli- wise not see,” she says. “Dr. Bert Kaplan, my Blum contracted polio and had to be placed and meaningful debate. The health of demo- that her Irish Catholic immigrant father did Aspiring leaders may want to heed this nician, lecturer and assistant professor in doctoral supervisor, did that for me. He said, on an iron lung. Doctors were unsure if she cratic society, our society, depends on that not allow her to accept. advice. Munroe-Blum knows a thing or the Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical ‘You’re going to be president of a university would walk again. With the help of a family debate and exchange. Universities wrestle “She was an extremely bright woman who two about the topic. As the 16th principal Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster some day.’ His philosophy was that he was friend, Munroe-Blum’s mother arranged for with our most difficult problems, and for- thought that education was a powerful vehicle and vice-chancellor of McGill University in University in Hamilton, Ontario, and before learning as much from us (the students) as her to live with and receive physical therapy mulate solutions to dilemmas across the for transforming lives,” Munroe-Blum says. Montreal and the first woman to hold the that, at York University in Toronto. we were learning from him. I have tried to from a retired British physiotherapist. The spectrum of human activity: Who controls “She never did go to university because that’s position, Munroe-Blum, 57, has been hold- On May 10, Munroe-Blum, who holds a practice this in every role I’ve been in ever therapy was contrary to the prescribed treat- the media? How do we sustain a life-giving not what women did then, in her circum- ing leadership positions for the better part PhD in epidemiology from Carolina’s School since, with everyone I interact with.” ment of the times which advocated bed rest. environment? What is the role of the free stances. Her father was very traditional. She of her career. of Public Health, will give the commence- Kaplan, professor emeritus of epidemiol- But when Munroe-Blum came home just be- market? How can we cure cancer? Universi- went to secretary school instead. By being at In 2003, she was awarded Canada’s high- ment address for the School’s graduation ogy at Carolina, describes Munroe-Blum as fore her fourth birthday, she was able to walk ties have become the defining institutions McGill now, I take great satisfaction in some est civilian honor by being named an Officer ceremony at 5 p.m. in Memorial Hall on the “a natural leader, distinguished scholar and with braces, and later fully recovered. of modern life — because universities devote completion of that cycle on her behalf.” n of the Order of Canada and cited as one of UNC campus. eloquent teacher.” Married for 37 years to screenwriter themselves to finding deeper definitions, – By Emily J. Smith

38 | spring 2008 carolina public health | 39 features & news public health leaders: heather munroe-blum

Success is a team effort Advises first female principal of Montreal’s McGill University

Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum hen UNC School of Public Health alumna When asked about Carolina, Munroe- Blum says, “I chose to come to UNC-Chapel Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum talks about Hill because it had the first-ranked epide- “I’ve been blessed with great students, Leonard Blum, Munroe-Blum and her hus- Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum, the first woman to hold W miology program in the world in 1978–79. the position of principal and vice-chancellor of McGill and she’s one,” he says. “Heather knows band have a 22-year-old daughter, Sydney, an leadership, she speaks of “team effort,” “principles,” The quality of the graduate education and herself and knows how to be prepared. She environmental economics master’s student University in Montreal, speaks to students on McGill’s campus. Munroe-Blum is a graduate of UNC-Chapel doctoral program at Chapel Hill remains is very creative. She brings her unique gifts at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. and “new possibility.” Hill’s doctoral epidemiology program. today a gold standard for what graduate to all relationships and responsibilities. She Munroe-Blum is passionate when speak- “Look for people who bring different things the country’s “most influential spokesper- education should be.” is an exceptional leader who is sensitive to ing about the role that universities play in to the table than you do,” she advises young sons for universities in matters of research The supportive mentoring Munroe-Blum others’ feelings and needs.” the development of communities. leaders. “Bring together people who add strategy and policy.” received at Carolina had lasting impact on Munroe-Blum’s character may have been “Universities fuel our social, cultural and deeper meanings and deeper resolutions.” experience that you don’t have, but who Prior to accepting the position of princi- her, she says. developed, in part, by a challenging child- economic institutions, and they help design When speaking about the way education share your values and principles, your sense pal and vice-chancellor at McGill, she served “The best thing that a great teacher and hood. Her mother was left to care for her the shape of our communities,” she said in can change lives, Munroe-Blum is equally of where you’re going and of new possibility. at the University of Toronto as professor, great educational experience can give to a and her older brother alone shortly after her a speech at her installation as principal of passionate. It’s a topic that has affected her Success is a team effort. I believe you’ll al- governor, dean of social work and finally as student is to help them see talent and pos- birth in Montreal. At age 3, after some time McGill in 2003. “Universities promote the in a personal way. Her mother, Dorothy, won ways have a smarter plan working with oth- vice-president of research and international sibility in themselves that they would other- in foster care with her brother, Munroe- free exchange of ideas and encourage open a scholarship to McGill years ago — an honor ers than thinking it through by yourself.” relations. Earlier in her career, she was cli- wise not see,” she says. “Dr. Bert Kaplan, my Blum contracted polio and had to be placed and meaningful debate. The health of demo- that her Irish Catholic immigrant father did Aspiring leaders may want to heed this nician, lecturer and assistant professor in doctoral supervisor, did that for me. He said, on an iron lung. Doctors were unsure if she cratic society, our society, depends on that not allow her to accept. advice. Munroe-Blum knows a thing or the Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical ‘You’re going to be president of a university would walk again. With the help of a family debate and exchange. Universities wrestle “She was an extremely bright woman who two about the topic. As the 16th principal Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster some day.’ His philosophy was that he was friend, Munroe-Blum’s mother arranged for with our most difficult problems, and for- thought that education was a powerful vehicle and vice-chancellor of McGill University in University in Hamilton, Ontario, and before learning as much from us (the students) as her to live with and receive physical therapy mulate solutions to dilemmas across the for transforming lives,” Munroe-Blum says. Montreal and the first woman to hold the that, at York University in Toronto. we were learning from him. I have tried to from a retired British physiotherapist. The spectrum of human activity: Who controls “She never did go to university because that’s position, Munroe-Blum, 57, has been hold- On May 10, Munroe-Blum, who holds a practice this in every role I’ve been in ever therapy was contrary to the prescribed treat- the media? How do we sustain a life-giving not what women did then, in her circum- ing leadership positions for the better part PhD in epidemiology from Carolina’s School since, with everyone I interact with.” ment of the times which advocated bed rest. environment? What is the role of the free stances. Her father was very traditional. She of her career. of Public Health, will give the commence- Kaplan, professor emeritus of epidemiol- But when Munroe-Blum came home just be- market? How can we cure cancer? Universi- went to secretary school instead. By being at In 2003, she was awarded Canada’s high- ment address for the School’s graduation ogy at Carolina, describes Munroe-Blum as fore her fourth birthday, she was able to walk ties have become the defining institutions McGill now, I take great satisfaction in some est civilian honor by being named an Officer ceremony at 5 p.m. in Memorial Hall on the “a natural leader, distinguished scholar and with braces, and later fully recovered. of modern life — because universities devote completion of that cycle on her behalf.” n of the Order of Canada and cited as one of UNC campus. eloquent teacher.” Married for 37 years to screenwriter themselves to finding deeper definitions, – By Emily J. Smith

38 | spring 2008 carolina public health | 39