Dr. Linda Garand obtained a medical degree from the Université de Montréal in 1983. She served for three years in the Canadian Forces (CF) where she obtained her qualifications in aviation medicine. She subsequently worked as a family physician and as a civil aviation medical examiner.
Upon her return to the CF in 1999, she held a variety of positions, including medical director of aviation hyperbaric and hypobaric chambers training, and was an expert member of the Aerospace and Undersea Medical Board.
As senior medical consultant at the Directorate of Medical Policies, she created a new risk analysis matrix for the evaluation of medical employment limitation, which has remained in ongoing use.
Following her release from the CF in 2012, Dr. Garand was a consultant in occupational and aviation medicine in a wide range of positions. She was a consultant at Transport Canada (as regional aviation medical officer), Health Canada, Air Canada, Rolls Royce Canada Aviation and chief medical officer of CN in 2018.
Dr. Garand was a course lecturer at McGill University, member of the Board of Directors of the Occupational and Environmental Medical Association of Canada, and a judge at the Tribunal administratif du Québec. She is the recipient of a Task Force Commander’s Commendation and a Canadian Forces Chief of Defence Staff Commendation.