Calgary doctor selected to lead national committee on preventive health services
The Public Health Agency of Canada has appointed Dr. David Keegan, a Calgary-based family physician, as chair of the new National Advisory Committee on Preventive Health Services (NACPHS), replacing a 2009 task force criticized for outdated guidelines. Keegan has pledged to prioritize urgent topics like breast cancer screening, including revisiting recommendations to lower mammogram ages to 40, and improve transparency and frequency of guideline updates.
The federal government has appointed Dr. David Keegan, a Calgary-based family physician and professor at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, as chair of the newly formed National Advisory Committee on Preventive Health Services (NACPHS). The committee replaces a 2009 task force that faced criticism for relying on outdated research and slow updates, particularly regarding breast cancer screening guidelines. Keegan emphasized the need for a ‘laser-focused’ approach to maximize public health outcomes, stating the committee will re-examine methodologies and prioritize pressing issues within the first month. Breast cancer screening is expected to be a top priority, with Keegan acknowledging the urgency of reviewing recommendations, including lowering mammogram eligibility to age 40—a change already adopted by some provinces and set to take effect in Alberta in April 2027. The 14-member committee includes experts in family medicine, cancer specialists, and Indigenous and Black health, ensuring diverse perspectives. Keegan highlighted the importance of transparency and a ‘nimble’ process for frequent guideline updates, contrasting the previous task force’s five-year review cycle. The goal is to ensure Canadians can track progress and challenge decisions. Critics had argued the old task force delayed updates despite growing evidence supporting earlier screening. Alberta’s recent decision to lower mammogram access to age 40 reflects provincial responses to national inaction. Keegan’s committee aims to address such gaps while maintaining rigorous standards for evidence-based recommendations. The federal government framed the new committee as an opportunity to modernize preventive health strategies, with Keegan stressing collaboration across disciplines. Public engagement will be key, as the committee prepares to outline its first priorities in the coming weeks.
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