2025 INDUCTEE Geoffrey T. Fong, PhD Pioneers, Leaders, Scholars and Change Makers, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, Health Policy

Geoffrey T. Fong inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Hamilton (Ontario)

Dr. Fong appointed as Vice-Chair of the Article 2.1 Expert Group for the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)

The FCTC is the first-ever WHO treaty, adopted at the World Health Assembly in 2003. It obligates 183 countries, including Canada, to adopt evidence-based policies to combat tobacco use, the number one preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the world, according to WHO.

Appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada

“Dr. Fong founded the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (ITC), a global initiative that is informing tobacco control policies throughout the world. His innovative surveys, notably on the impact of policies related to graphic warning labels, standardized packaging and smoke-free public places, have led to significant change and cemented Canada’s reputation as a leader in public health research.”

Received the Governor General’s Innovation Award with Mary E. Thompson and David Hammond

“This pioneering research - of the ITC Project has led Canada and many other countries to strengthen their tobacco control efforts, improving the health of millions of people worldwide.”

Presented an address to the China Tobacco Control Leadership Program in Chongqing on The Impact on Tobacco Use and Public Health of Implementation

Over 300 Chinese government health authorities, researchers, advocates, and other stakeholders met to discuss the importance of stronger implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to achieve China’s health objectives.

Gave the keynote address to the European Conference on Tobacco or Health in Porto, Portugal

Presented findings from the ITC/EUREST-PLUS Six European Country Project to an audience of researchers, advocates, and political leaders, including Queen Letizia of Spain and President Rebelo de Souza of Portugal.

Selected by WHO and the US National Cancer Institute to serve as one of the three scientific editors of a landmark monograph, The Economics of Tobacco and Tobacco Control

This monograph was the first comprehensive review of the research on the economics of tobacco and tobacco control in 15 years.

Received the global Luther Terry Award at the World Conference on Tobacco or Health for Outstanding Research Contributions

Of the eight Luther Terry Research Awards ever conferred, ITC researchers have received five.

Served as a key expert witness for Uruguay and Australia to successfully defend policies against legal challenges from the tobacco industry

Australia’s successful defense of plain packaging was the largest challenge in the history of the World Trade Organization. Dr. Fong was the Australia expert who reviewed the scientific evidence showing the benefits of plain packaging and rebutting claims by tobacco company experts that plain packaging was not effective.

As the Technical Coordinator of WHO’s Expert Group, Dr. Fong led the evaluation of the FCTC's first decade, publishing the group’s findings in The Lancet Public Health.

The findings showed a dose-response effect of FCTC policy implementation in reducing smoking prevalence across 126 countries. This demonstrated that the FCTC could lead to immense public health gains, but also that there was a need to address gaps in implementation.

ITC Project releases landmark report on tobacco use in the Kingdom of Bhutan

Professor Fong and the Health Minister of Bhutan released the ITC Bhutan Report, which presented ITC findings on tobacco use in a country that had banned tobacco.

China Chronic Disease Seminar at the University of Waterloo

which was organized by the ITC Project at Waterloo and the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), brought together the directors of chronic disease prevention from six cities in China

Dr. Fong founded the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project

which later expanded from 4 countries to 31 countries, covering more than half the world's population by 2010 - the largest and most productive tobacco research program in the world. It has published over 800 journal articles, presented over 1500 papers at scientific meetings, and produced over 200 reports, government submissions, and other dissemination products

Conducted seminal research on behavioural interventions to reduce risky sexual behaviour among minority youth in the United States

partnered with Professors John Jemmott and Loretta Sweet Jemmott on creating, implementing, and evaluating the impact of behavioural interventions to reduce risky sexual behaviour among African American and Latino youth.

Completed his PhD in Social Psychology at the University of Michigan