Robert Tanguay, MD

Commissioner Robert Tanguay is a psychiatrist with subspecialty training in addiction medicine and pain medicine.

He is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Calgary, the Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of The Newly Institute, co-chair of the Alberta Pain Strategy, and co-lead of the Alberta Virtual Pain Program implementation.

Commissioner Tanguay brings a wealth of experience in addictions treatment. He founded the Opioid Deprescribing Program with Alberta Health Services, the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic with Alberta Health Services, and the Transitional Outpatient Pain Program for Spine (TOPPS) clinic with the University of Calgary. He is well known for his innovation in creating clinical programs for complex chronic medical and psychiatric illnesses.

For his work, Commissioner Tanguay was the 2021 Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recipient of the Early Career Leadership Award, was inducted into the University of Lethbridge Alumni Honour Society, and was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.

He is an expert in health policy and is helping to lead the Alberta Psychedelic Legislative Committee and the Alberta Safe Supply Legislative Committee. He is also a member of the Alberta Recovery Expert Advisory Panel, Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel, and was a member of the Supervised Consumption Review Committee.

Academically, Commissioner Tanguay is involved in research. He is a member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education at the University of Calgary.

He holds a Doctor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree, as well as numerous advanced medicine specializations.

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