• Faculty Members

Division of Geriatric Medicine

Michelle Gagnon

MD, BSc, MEd, FRCPC, FACP

Educational and Professional Standing

Michelle Gagnon graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Science in 1981.  At that point she worked with children with developmental disabilities for several years before entering McMaster Medical School in 1985.  She then completed a specialty in Internal Medicine and later Geriatric Medicine through McMaster University after spending some time at UCLA.  She obtained her Masters of High Education through Ontario Institute of Studies of Education/University of Toronto. 

Michelle joined the Faculty of McMaster in 1993 where she holds the rank of Professor in Medicine.

During her time at McMaster, she has received numerous Internal Medicine teaching awards.  She has served as Chief Examiner for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Geriatric Medicine Qualification Exams, as well as Chief Examiner in the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examinations for over 10 years.  She has served on the Executive of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Specialty in Geriatric Medicine Committee.

Clinically, she has served as the Head of Service for Geriatrics with the St. Joseph’s Healthcare system for 14 years and is Chair of the LHIN Dementia Network.

Academic Interests

Her interests include the ethical, comprehensive care of the frail elderly, particularly those with cognitive impairment.  Her Cognitive Disorders Clinic assesses individuals’ cognitive abilities and she is also the Medical Director of a Geriatric Assessment Clinic at Norfolk General Hospital, hoping to assist with academic outreach activities. 

She is passionate about the education of medical learners regarding the care of the elderly, in view of this demographic imperative.