David Ponka

Dr. David Ponka is a full professor and assistant dean, Global Health, at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine. His clinical, teaching, research, and policy work focuses on strengthening primary care for underserved populations, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and integrating mental health services. As director of the Besrour Centre for Global Family Medicine, he helped advance family medicine in Guyana, Indonesia, and Madagascar, and now applies global lessons in Canada. He is an associate editor of Canadian Family Physician and the 2026 recipient of the Calvin L. Gutkin Family Medicine Ambassador Award.