Steven J. Hoffman

Steven Hoffman’s research focuses on global health decision-making and international strategies for optimally addressing global health threats and inequalities, particularly in the context of health systems strengthening, access to medicines, health security and knowledge translation. He teaches two B.H.Sc. courses co-sponsored by the McMaster Health Forum, on global health advocacy (HTH SCI 4ZZ3) and global health governance, law and politics (HTH SCI 4LD3). 

In spring 2012, Steven earned two significant honours. He was named a Trudeau Foundation Scholar and was selected to work as a fellow in the executive office of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York City, from June to August. Trudeau Scholarships are valued at up to $180,000 over three years, and awarded each year to support research of compelling present-day concern, touching upon one or more of the four themes of the foundation. Steven’s work is based within the theme Canada in the World. At the UN office, he will be working on new initiatives to promote options for universal health coverage, supporting stakeholder engagement with respect to the secretary-general’s maternal and child health strategy, and providing overall communications and policy support to the office.

Steven is licensed to practice law in both Ontario and New York, and recently worked at a Toronto-based law firm specializing in cross-border intellectual property litigation, product regulation and government relations for health-related industries. He previously worked for the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Health Human Resources Strategy Division and managed the World Health Organization’s global programme on interprofessional education and collaborative practice. He continues to consult for the WHO’s Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research on their development of a global strategy for health systems research. Steven sits on the board of directors of the International Association for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice, chairs that association’s Global Affairs Committee, convenes an academic advisory committee on science reporting for Maclean’s magazine, edits the global health section of the Journal of Interprofessional Care, and serves as a political advisor on the management team of Incentives for Global Health (a Yale University-based NGO devoted to improving access to medicines around the world).

Steven holds a B.H.Sc. degree from McMaster University, and both a MA in political science and a JD from the University of Toronto.