Robert Tanguay, MD

Commissioner Robert Tanguay is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in addiction and pain medicine.

He serves as Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of The Newly Institute, co-chair of the Alberta Pain Strategy, and leads implementation of the Alberta Virtual Pain Program.

He brings deep expertise addressing complex pain and addiction. He launched the Opioid Deprescribing Program and the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinics with Alberta Health Services, and co-created the Transitional Outpatient Pain Program for Spine (TOPPS) clinic with the University of Calgary.

Recognized as an early-career leader, he received the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Early Career Leadership Award (2021), the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, and induction into the University of Lethbridge Alumni Honour Society.

An accomplished health-policy leader, he co-chairs Alberta’s Psychedelic Legislative Committee and Safe Supply Legislative Committee, and advises provincial policy through the Alberta Recovery Expert Advisory Panel, the Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel, and the Supervised Consumption Review Committee.

At the University of Calgary, he contributes to research at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education.

He earned his Doctor of Medicine and Bachelor of Science (Hons), and holds fellowships in addiction and pain medicine.

Commissioner Tanguay has been a member of the Commission since April 2023.