He later went at Harvard University and obtained a master's and a doctor's degree in public health.
After being a director for the faculty of department of social medicine at Laval, Rochon was the head of a major report on the state of health and social services in the provinces from 1985 to 1987 when the Liberals and then-Premier Robert Bourassa were in power.
He tabled several propositions in order to reform the health care system including faster health care service by introducing what was called the "Virage ambulatoire" which saw the increase of home health care services.
He adopted several of those proposals when he was named the Minister of Health following his election in the Charlesbourg district in the 1994 elections.
His measures were heavily criticized as several hospitals and beds across the province were closed and several doctors positions were lost during the PQ reign.
After the 1998 elections, he was named Minister of several other portfolios until his retirement in 2003.