Primary Care Diabetes Support Program

Physician:  Dr. Stewart Harris

This program is funded by the Ontario Diabetes Strategy, delivered by a team that includes a physician, nurse practitioner, diabetes educator and a dietitian and has been designed to support primary care diabetes by offering:

• comprehensive diabetes care for those without a family doctor
• diabetes case management, in partnership with  family physicians,  for individuals experiencing complex self-care challenges
• diabetes capacity support for primary care providers

Dr. Stewart B. Harris, MD, MPH, FCFP, FACPM

Dr. Harris is a professor at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario (Western). He holds the Canadian Diabetes Association Chair in Diabetes Management as well as the Ian McWhinney Chair of Family Medicine Studies, and has appointments in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the Department of Family Medicine.

Dr. Harris received his medical education and family medicine training from the University of Calgary, Alberta. He obtained further training at Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, completing a master’s degree in public health and a fellowship in preventive medicine.

With a research focus on type 2 diabetes in high-risk populations including Aboriginal Canadians, new immigrant groups, patients with mental health conditions, and the application of clinical practice guidelines for the management of diabetes in primary care, Dr. Harris has published over 177 articles in major peer-reviewed journals.

He has served as a board member of numerous national and provincial diabetes-related committees including the Northern Ontario Diabetes Network, the National Diabetes Surveillance System, the Ontario Ministry of Health Task Force for Diabetes Management, and the Canadian Diabetes Association. For the Canadian Diabetes Association he served as chair of the 2003 Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee and as both chair and vice-chair of the clinical & scientific section.

Dr. Harris has received numerous awards for teaching, health care research, and service including an Ontario Ministry of Heath Career Scientist award, and the Dr. Gerald S. Wong Service Award of the Canadian Diabetes Association in recognition of his significant contribution to the diabetes community.