Item - 2024.HL18.1

Over the past several months, the Medical Officer of Health Hiring Committee has been working alongside Phelps Group to find Toronto’s next Medical Officer of Health in preparation for Dr. Eileen de Villa’s departure at the end of this year. After an extensive search and interview process, we are bringing forward a recommendation to appoint the new Medical Officer of Health.

A report on the appointment of the recommended Medical Officer of Health will be submitted for consideration to the November 18th meeting of the Board of Health.

The Medical Officer of Health Hiring Committee recommends to the Board of Health that:

1.    City Council appoint the candidate identified in the Confidential Attachment 1 to the position of Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto Health Unit effective on January 1, 2025 or on the date the appointment is approved by the Minister of Health, whichever is later.

2.    City Council transmit the appointment of the Medical Officer of Health to the provincial Minister of Health for approval.

3.    In the event that the Minister of Health has not approved the appointment of the Medical Officer of Health by January 1, 2025, City Council appoint the candidate identified in the Confidential Attachment 1 to the position of Acting Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto Health Unit effective January 1, 2025, until such time that the Medical Officer of Health appointment is approved by the Minister of Health.

4.    City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to take the necessary action to give effect thereto, including the introduction in Council of the necessary bills to appoint the approved candidate as the Medical Officer of Health and to appoint the Acting Medical Officer of Health under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c H.7 (“HPPA”).

5.    City Council authorize the public release of the name and Curriculum Vitae summary of the Medical Officer of Health contained in Confidential Attachment 1 upon City Council's approval of the appointment.

The purpose of this report is to recommend to the Board of Health an appointment to the position of Medical Officer of Health (MOH).