Dr. Swenson is a psychiatrist working at The Ottawa Hospital, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, former Chief of Psychiatry of the Ottawa Hospital, and a Full Professor of Psychiatry of the University of Ottawa Department of Psychiatry. He trained in internal medicine and psychiatry at the University of Ottawa and University of California, San Diego. His clinical work is focused on outpatient general psychiatry, and he also has a special expertise in the treatment of mental health problems in patients with chronic medical illnesses. His research has involved investigating the links between depression and heart disease, provision of mental health services for primary care and provision of mental health services for rural and remote underserved areas. He is presently serving on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Medical Association as the Academic Representative. In 2005 he was awarded the C.A. Roberts Award by the Canadian Psychiatric Association for clinical leadership and innovative program design and in 2011 he was appointed a Distinguished Fellow of the Canadian Psychiatric Association. He is designated as a Canadian Certified Physician Executive by the Canadian Medical Association and Canadian Society of Physician Leaders.