Dr. Joan Murphy is a Medical School graduate of the University of Calgary. Following a short career in B.C. as a General Practitioner, she returned home to Vancouver for residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of British Columbia and subsequently fellowship training in Gynecologic Oncology at both UBC and McMaster University. In 1983 she joined the faculty at UBC as a member of the Division of Gyn Oncology and the staff at Vancouver General Hospital and the Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia. She returned to McMaster University in 1985 and in 1988 joined The University of Toronto as a Gynecologic Oncologist at Toronto General and Princess Margaret Hospital, now the University Health Network.

Dr. Murphy holds the academic rank of Associate Professor at U of T and is Division Head of Gynecologic Oncology at the University Health Network. Her current activities include clinical teaching, resident and fellow training, fund raising for gynecologic cancer research, co-directing the UHN multi-disciplinary ovarian cancer research program, participating in ovarian cancer research including the genetics of ovarian cancer, administration at UHN and providing tertiary level clinical care in gyn oncology. Her past activities have included directing the sub-specialty training program in Gynecologic Oncology, chairing the Clinical Quality Improvement Committee at UHN, research in HIV and cervical cancer. She has served as Secretary Treasurer and recently President of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of Canada.

Dr. Murphy is on the Board of Directors of the National Ovarian Cancer Association and recently joined the Board of Trustees of the Genesis Research Foundation, the research fundraising arm of the University of Toronto’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In addition to her medical practice, numerous Board and Committee affiliations and fundraising activities, she has an active family life with a husband, 2 young sons and a large yellow lab (Ace) and still finds time to serve on the Board of Directors of The Sterling Hall School.