Welcome Dr. Jaime Kaufman, Director, Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships

The O’Brien Institute for Public Health is pleased to welcome Dr. Jaime Kaufman, PhD, as our new Director, Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships.

Dr. Kaufman joins the Institute after more than a decade of advancing health systems innovation at the University of Calgary. Since 2014, she has played a central leadership role at the W21C Research and Innovation Centre, most recently as Director, where she helped shape organizational strategy, build high-impact partnerships, and lead multidisciplinary teams focused on improving patient safety and healthcare quality.

In her new role with the O’Brien Institute, Dr. Kaufman will support the implementation of the Institute’s 2022–2027 Strategic Plan, foster key partnerships across the university, health system, government, and community, and help advance emerging priorities such as health equity and women’s health. Her experience in research leadership, strategic planning, innovation governance, and collaborative partnership development positions her strongly to contribute to the Institute’s mission and broaden its impact locally and nationally.

“I’m excited to be stepping into this role and for the opportunity to contribute to the highly impactful work being done by the O’Brien Institute,” Dr. Kaufman says. 

“I am looking forward to working with the incredible leadership team in supporting the Institute’s strategic priorities, as well as those of the Cumming School of Medicine. As I learn more about the work underway, I’m eager to see how I can contribute to growing our impact through strong partnerships and by supporting key strategic initiatives.”

Dr. Kaufman holds a PhD in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases from the University of Calgary, with expertise spanning bacterial genetics, large-scale human microbiome research, and innovation leadership. She has also completed professional training in innovation governance, leadership, and reconciliation, reflecting her commitment to inclusive and forward-thinking research leadership.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Jaime Kaufman to the O’Brien Institute team.