Mustard C
Dr. Cameron Mustard
President and Senior Scientist
Doctor of Science, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University
Although Dr. Cameron Mustard is quite busy in his role as president of the Institute for Work & Health, he still finds the time to conduct research related to labour market experiences and their health consequences.
In particular, Dr. Mustard has recently wrapped up a study that examined the ways in which disability income security programs are set up and administered. Such programs provide financial support to those who cannot work. They include the Canada Pension Plan, provincial social assistance plans, provincial workers’ compensation agencies and employment-based disability plans.
Among the results, Dr. Mustard notes, is that “disability income security programs in Canada are poorly coordinated, benefit amounts differ substantially among programs, and there appears to be significant inconsistencies in program coverage.”
Dr. Mustard and colleagues are also completing a study of the causes of death by occupational group in Canada. “There has been limited information available in Canada describing differences in mortality across occupations,” he says. “The results of this work will inform public health and occupational health prevention priorities.”
The study design is based on a unique linkage of 15 per cent of respondents to the 1991 Census to records in the Canadian Mortality Database. The record linkage was performed by Statistics Canada. The resulting database consists of records for about 4.5 million people, followed up over 10 years. “The results will be relevent in policy settings that are concerned with protecting and improving the health of the population,” says Dr. Mustard.
Bio Sketch
Dr. Cameron Mustard is the president and a senior scientist at the Institute for Work & Health. He is also a professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto.
Mustard completed his doctoral training in epidemiology, health policy and behavioural sciences at The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in 1990. Prior to joining the Institute in 1999, he was a member of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation at the University of Manitoba.
Mustard's current research interests include work environments, labour market experiences and health, the distributional equity of publicly funded health and health care programs in Canada, and the epidemiology of socioeconomic health inequalities across the human life course.
Current Projects
Work injury by time of day
Repeat workers’ compensation claims
Examining trends in the incidence and cost of workers compensation claims in the Ontario and British Columbia long-term care sectors 1998-2007
Supporting implementation of the Advisory Panel recommendations
Support to the funding review, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
Work incapacity and vocational rehabilitation
Benefit adequacy and equity in Ontario, 1999-2005
Selected Publications
Mustard CA, Bielecky A, Etches J, Wilkins R, Tjepkema M, Amick BC, et al. Suicide mortality by occupation in Canada, 1991-2001. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 2010; 55(6):369-376.
Mustard CA, Bielecky A, Etches J, Wilkins R, Tjepkema M, Amick BC, et al. Avoidable mortality for causes amenable to medical care, by occupation in Canada, 1991-2001. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2010; 101(6):500-506.
Mustard CA, Kalcevich C, Steenstra IA, Smith P, Amick B. Disability management outcomes in the Ontario long-term care sector. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 2010; 20(4):481-488.