London, ON –  After a national search, the Middlesex-London Board of Health announced today that it has selected a new Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer for the Middlesex-London Health Unit. Health Board Chair Marcel Meyer introduced Dr. Christopher Mackie as the recommended successor to Dr. Graham Pollett, who retired at the end of September, 2012, after 18 years at the Health Unit’s helm. Dr. Mackie has served as Associate Medical Officer of Health for the City of Hamilton for the last four-and-a-half years and is a part-time Assistant Professor at McMaster University. He has been on secondment to Public Health Ontario as a Public Health Physician, focusing on health promotion, and chronic disease and injury prevention since July, 2012.

“Today’s announcement marks a very significant step in the Board’s process to recruit a new Medical Officer of Health. We’re looking forward to having Dr. Mackie begin in this key leadership role at the Middlesex-London Health Unit,” says Marcel Meyer, Chair of the Middlesex-London Board of Health. “We’re confident the experience and skills Dr. Mackie has gained in his career will serve our residents and our communities well for years to come.”

In addition to his work with the City of Hamilton, Public Health Ontario and McMaster University, Dr. Mackie has worked with the Capital District Health Authority in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

To ensure a complete and thorough process, the Board of Health, through its search committee, hired the Four Corners Group, a leading Canadian professional services firm specializing in executive search and recruitment in the healthcare field. The company assisted the committee in identifying and connecting with potential candidates for this important role.

The final step in the process of naming the new Medical Officer of Health rests with Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, who must approve the Board of Health’s recommendation. It is expected Dr. Mackie will begin in his new capacity at the Middlesex-London Health Unit in May. In the interim, Dr. Bryna Warshawsky will continue to serve as the Acting Medical Officer of Health.

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit 519-663-5317 extension 2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell.)

Spokesperson:
Marcel Meyer, Chair, Middlesex-London Board of Health