Dr. McDonald-Blumer completed her internal medicine and rheumatology training at the University of Toronto. Following initial community rheumatology practice, she transitioned to a full-time academic appointment at the University of Toronto in 2004 where she is a member of the Division of Rheumatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital/University Health Network. Her clinical interests include osteoporosis and inflammatory joint disease. She is the associate director of the Osteoporosis Program at UHN and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee and chair of the Guidelines Committee for Osteoporosis Canada.
Dr. McDonald-Blumer has been an active member of the rheumatology community locally and nationally and is known as a passionate teacher and educator. She served as the University of Toronto program director for rheumatology for 6 years, developed/implemented the National Rheumatology Residents Weekend and has been chair of the Specialty Committee in Rheumatology and chair of the Examination Board for Rheumatology for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Her work has advanced rheumatology training across the country through collaborative curricular innovations. In recognition of these contributions, she was awarded the Royal College Program Director of the Year Award as well as the inaugural Canadian Rheumatology Association Teacher/Educator of the Year Award.
From 2009-2016, Dr. McDonald-Blumer was the program director for Internal Medicine for U of T. She was awarded the William Goldie Travel Prize and Award for Medical Education and the Teacher of the Year Award to recognize the impact of her work and leadership within the internal medicine program. Since completing her term as the program director, Heather has returned to her rheumatology roots and is currently the Division Director for Rheumatology at the University of Toronto.