John F. Hamm is Premier of Nova Scotia, President of the Executive Council and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. His roots are in Nova Scotia's Pictou County. He attended the University of King's College in Halifax and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1958. In 1963, he left Dalhousie University with a medical degree and returned home to begin his practice.
Over the next 30 years, Dr. Hamm worked as a family doctor. He served as president of the Nova Scotia Medical Society and the College of Family Physicians of Nova Scotia. He was also a member of the Provincial Medical Board. Dr. Hamm was president of the Aberdeen Hospital medical staff and the Pictou County Medical Society.
In 1993, Dr. Hamm was elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Pictou Centre and he became leader of the Progressive Conservative party of Nova Scotia in 1995. He served as leader of the official Opposition from 1995 to 1998 and was re-elected in March 1998. In 1999 Dr. Hamm was sworn in as Nova Scotia's 25th Premier.