# Joanne Liu

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Canadian physician and professor (born 1965)

Joanne Liu OQ FRCPC Liu at Chatham House in 2015 Born 1965 (age 60–61) Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Alma mater McGill University Known for International president of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Awards National Order of Quebec Time 100 Scientific career Fields Pediatrics Emergency medicine Institutions Médecins Sans Frontières Université de Montréal McGill University

Joanne Liu Traditional Chinese 廖滿嫦 Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Liào Mǎncháng Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Liuh Múhn Sèuhng Jyutping liu6 mun5 soeng4

**Joanne Liu** (born 1965)[1] is a Canadian [pediatric emergency medicine](/source/Pediatric_emergency_medicine) physician, Associate Professor of Medicine at the [University of Montreal](/source/University_of_Montreal), Professor of Clinical Medicine at [McGill University](/source/McGill_University), and the previous International President of [Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)](/source/M%C3%A9decins_sans_fronti%C3%A8res).[2] She was elected president during MSF's International General Assembly in June 2013.[3]

## Early life and education

Joanne Liu was born on 4 November 1965, [Quebec City](/source/Quebec_City), Quebec, Canada, the fifth child in [Chinese immigrant](/source/History_of_Chinese_immigration_to_Canada) family from Taishan, [Guangdong](/source/Guangdong) that ran a Chinese restaurant. When she was thirteen, she read *Et la Paix dans le monde docteur*, a book about the experiences of a physician working with Doctors Without Borders during the [Soviet–Afghan War](/source/Soviet%E2%80%93Afghan_War) and decided to become "a doctor without borders" one day.[4]

During junior college, Cegep Champlain St. Lawrence, Quebec City, she travelled to [Mali](/source/Mali) with [Canadian Crossroads International](/source/Canadian_Crossroads_International).[3] Liu graduated from the [McGill University Faculty of Medicine](/source/McGill_University_Faculty_of_Medicine) and completed [pediatric](/source/Pediatric) specialty training at the [Université de Montréal](/source/Universit%C3%A9_de_Montr%C3%A9al)-affiliated [Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine](/source/Centre_hospitalier_universitaire_Sainte-Justine). She then completed a sub-specialty in pediatric emergency care at [Bellevue Hospital Center](/source/Bellevue_Hospital_Center) of the [New York University School of Medicine](/source/New_York_University_School_of_Medicine) and an International Master's in Health Leadership degree at the [McGill University](/source/McGill_University) [Desautels Faculty of Management](/source/Desautels_Faculty_of_Management).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Career

Liu started her career with [Médecins sans Frontières](/source/M%C3%A9decins_Sans_Fronti%C3%A8res), in 1996 when she worked with Malian refugees in [Mauritania](/source/Mauritania). Since then she has provided support through the [2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami](/source/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake_and_tsunami); assisted in controlling a [cholera epidemic](/source/Cholera_epidemic) in [Haiti](/source/Haiti); helped [Somali](/source/Somali_people) refugees in [Kenya](/source/Kenya); and offered medical assistance in many conflict zones, including [Palestine](/source/Palestine), [Central African Republic](/source/Central_African_Republic) and [Sudan](/source/Sudan)'s [Darfur](/source/Darfur) region. She has also helped to develop one of the first programs to offer comprehensive medical care for survivors of sexual violence in the [Republic of the Congo](/source/Republic_of_the_Congo).[5]

From 1999 to 2002, Liu was a programs manager at the Paris office of MSF. She then went on to work as the president of the board of directors of MSF in Canada between 2004 and 2009. She has helped to create and currently co-manages the organization's [telemedicine](/source/Telemedicine) project, which connects MSF physicians in 150 remote sites with a platform of over 300 medical specialists across the globe. By communicating through the specialist network, MSF field doctors can receive critical diagnoses and treatment recommendations for their patients within hours.[6]

From 2002 to 2013, Liu served as a full-time Pediatric Emergency Physician at Ste-Justine Hospital in Montreal and at the Health Travel Clinic of the [Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal](/source/Centre_hospitalier_de_l'Universit%C3%A9_de_Montr%C3%A9al). She is also an associate professor at the [Université de Montréal](/source/Universit%C3%A9_de_Montr%C3%A9al).[7]

From 2013 to 2019, Liu served as International President of [Médecins Sans Frontières](/source/M%C3%A9decins_Sans_Fronti%C3%A8res) (MSF), in Geneva.[8]

On 2 September 2014, Liu gave a briefing to the United Nations General Assembly, urging member states to mobilize against the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.[9]

On 7 October 2015, Liu demanded an independent investigation of the [American bombing of the MSF hospital](/source/Kunduz_hospital_airstrike) in [Kunduz](/source/Kunduz), [Afghanistan](/source/Afghanistan).[10] She denounced the bombing and suggested that it was a [war crime](/source/War_crime).[11]

From 2020 until 2021, Liu served as a member of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPR), an independent group examining how the [World Health Organization](/source/World_Health_Organization) (WHO) and countries handled the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic), co-chaired by [Helen Clark](/source/Helen_Clark) and [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](/source/Ellen_Johnson_Sirleaf).[12]

## Positions

- Virchow Prize for Global Health, Member of the Council (2022–present)[13]

- *[The New Humanitarian](/source/The_New_Humanitarian)*, Member of the Board of Directors (2020–present)[14]

- [Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue](/source/Centre_for_Humanitarian_Dialogue), Member of the Board (2019–present)[15]

- [Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations](/source/Coalition_for_Epidemic_Preparedness_Innovations) (CEPI), Member of the Board (2018–present)[16][17]

- [Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative](/source/Drugs_for_Neglected_Diseases_Initiative) (DNDI), Member of the Board of Directors[18]

- [McGill School of Population and Global Health](/source/McGill_University) (SPGH), Member of the International Advisory Board[19]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Doctor Joanne Liu to be new Cleveringa lecturer"](https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2016/08/doctor-joanne-liu-to-be-cleverina-lecturer). Leiden University. 22 August 2016. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240903044524/https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2016/08/doctor-joanne-liu-to-be-cleverina-lecturer) from the original on 3 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Dr Christos Christou, new International President of MSF, 9 September 2019"](https://www.msf.org/dr-christos-christou-new-international-president-msf). *MSF.org*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231212130453/https://www.msf.org/dr-christos-christou-new-international-president-msf) from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-McGill20130710_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-McGill20130710_3-1) "[Dr. Joanne Liu Elected President of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International](https://www.mcgill.ca/channels/news/dr-joanne-liu-elected-president-medecins-sans-frontieres-msf-international-229069) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180414010707/https://www.mcgill.ca/channels/news/dr-joanne-liu-elected-president-medecins-sans-frontieres-msf-international-229069) 14 April 2018 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)", McGill University: 10 July 2013

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Biography](https://web.archive.org/web/20131216035207/http://drjoanneliu.com/about), drjoanneliu.com

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Dr Joanne LIU new International President of MSF](http://www.msf-seasia.org/news/15082) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140924042058/http://www.msf-seasia.org/news/15082) 24 September 2014 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), www.msf-seasia.org: 10 October 2013

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Learning from Pandemics Past and Present: A Conversation with Dr. Joanne Liu"](https://www.mcgill.ca/channels/channels/event/learning-pandemics-past-and-present-conversation-dr-joanne-liu-328020). *Channels*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211010004651/https://www.mcgill.ca/channels/channels/event/learning-pandemics-past-and-present-conversation-dr-joanne-liu-328020) from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "[Joanne Liu: doctor without borders](http://www.nouvelles.umontreal.ca/udem-news/news/20130904-joanne-liu-doctor-without-borders.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171824/http://www.nouvelles.umontreal.ca/udem-news/news/20130904-joanne-liu-doctor-without-borders.html) 3 March 2016 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)", Université de Montréal: 4 September 2013

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["International President"](https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/international-president). *MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES - DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230407192118/https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/international-president) from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023. Past international presidents of MSF ° 2013-2019 Joanne Liu

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [MSF International President United Nations Special Briefing on Ebola](http://www.msf.org/article/msf-international-president-united-nations-special-briefing-ebola) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151208220441/http://www.msf.org/article/msf-international-president-united-nations-special-briefing-ebola) 8 December 2015 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), www.msf.org: 2 September 2014

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** "[Obama Issues Rare Apology Over Bombing of Doctors Without Borders Hospital in Afghanistan](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/08/world/asia/obama-apologizes-for-bombing-of-afghanistan-hospital.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220421193738/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/08/world/asia/obama-apologizes-for-bombing-of-afghanistan-hospital.html) 21 April 2022 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)", *The New York Times*: 7 October 2015

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Lui presumes bombing a war crime](https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/10/07/bombing-of-afghan-hospital-wasnt-a-war-crime/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170701141430/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/10/07/bombing-of-afghan-hospital-wasnt-a-war-crime/) 1 July 2017 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), *Washington Post*, 7 October 2015

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Stephanie Nebehay and Kate Kelland (3 September 2020), [Pandemic review panel named, includes Miliband, ex Mexican president](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-panel/pandemic-review-panel-named-includes-miliband-ex-mexican-president-idUSKBN25U1RB) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211115022827/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-panel/pandemic-review-panel-named-includes-miliband-ex-mexican-president-idUSKBN25U1RB) 15 November 2021 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) *[Reuters](/source/Reuters)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Council](https://virchowprize.org/council/) Virchow Prize for Global Health.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [The New Humanitarian welcomes Dr. Joanne Liu to the board of directors](https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/content/new-humanitarian-welcomes-dr-joanne-liu-board-directors) *[The New Humanitarian](/source/The_New_Humanitarian)*, press release of 30 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [Dr Joanne Liu and Prof Dewi Fortuna Anwar join HD’s Foundation Board](https://hdcentre.org/news/former-international-president-of-msf-dr-joanne-liu-and-senior-indonesian-scholar-and-political-analyst-prof-dewi-fortuna-anwar-join-hds-foundation-board/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231202133110/https://hdcentre.org/news/former-international-president-of-msf-dr-joanne-liu-and-senior-indonesian-scholar-and-political-analyst-prof-dewi-fortuna-anwar-join-hds-foundation-board/) 2 December 2023 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) [Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue](/source/Centre_for_Humanitarian_Dialogue), press release of 6 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [Board](https://cepi.net/about/whoweare/) [Deprecated link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Archive.today_guidance) archived 11 June 2020 at [archive.today](/source/Archive.today) [Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations](/source/Coalition_for_Epidemic_Preparedness_Innovations) (CEPI).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [CEPI announces new permanent board](https://cepi.net/news_cepi/cepi-announces-new-permanent-board/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200805081454/https://cepi.net/news_cepi/cepi-announces-new-permanent-board/) 5 August 2020 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) [Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations](/source/Coalition_for_Epidemic_Preparedness_Innovations) (CEPI), press release of 24 January 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [Board of Directors: Joanne Liu](https://web.archive.org/web/20160413143849/http://www.dndi.org/about-dndi/our-people/board-directors/joanne-liu/) [Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative](/source/Drugs_for_Neglected_Diseases_Initiative) (DNDI).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** [International Advisory Board: Joanne Liu](https://www.mcgill.ca/spgh/international-advisory-board/joanne-liu) [McGill School of Population and Global Health](/source/McGill_University) (SPGH).

Authority control databases International ISNI National France BnF data Netherlands Other IdRef

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joanne Liu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanne_Liu) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanne_Liu?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.