Hastings Prince Edward Board of Health Chair Maureen Piercy announcing the new management plan, with Medical Resident Dr. Piotr Oglaza in line as Medical Officer of Health, May 5, 2017 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health has a new leadership plan, putting an Acting Medical Officer of Health in place for more than a year, and hiring a new Medical Officer of Health
The acting Medical Officer of Health is Dr. Ian Gemmill, recently retired after 35 years in public health, who will serve in the post until July first of 2018.
Public health Board Chair Maureen Piercy also announced during Wednesday’s board meeting that Dr Piotr Oglaza will continue as Medical Resident for the coming year as he completes specialized training in public health and preventive medicine at Queen’s University.
Oglaza will then be appointed the local Medical Officer of Health effective July first, 2018.
Oglaza has been serving as a Medical Resident at HPEPH since the retirement of Dr. Richard Schabas at the end of 2016.
Officials say over the next several months, Gemmill and Oglaza will work with the Board and staff to establish a strategic approach to address the modernization of Public Health Standards currently underway by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, while ensuring that
community needs continue to be addressed within the framework of constrained fiscal resources.
Board of Health Chair Maureen Piercy says “the board is very confident that this is an excellent transition plan.”
Piercy says that throughout the search for the next Medical Officer of Health for Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH), it became evident that Dr. Oglaza has not only the professional skills and experience required in this challenging role, but a strong vision focused on improving the quality of health for citizens of the region.
She says it is a win-win situation as the health unit will also benefit from the expertise of Dr. Gemmill, over the coming months in the transition to a new MOH next year.
