The Interim Medical Officer of Health in Chatham-Kent can't believe there are no permanent medical officers of health in Chatham-Kent or the two surrounding areas of Windsor-Essex and Sarnia-Lambton.
Dr. David Colby, who stepped down as Chatham-Kent's Medical Officer of Health post earlier this year, just returned to his old job because Dr. Mario Kangeswaren resigned as the Acting Medical Officer of Health (MOH) for Chatham-Kent effective October 21, 2022 to "pursue other opportunities." Dr. Kangeswaren had taken over the position in Chatham-Kent at the end of August.
"It is incredible that MOH vacancies remain in Windsor-Essex, Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent. It seems to be mainly a supply issue," Colby told CK News Today. "Recently qualified doctors who have the specialist qualifications to be a medical officer of health are usually more comfortable in an associate role in a larger health unit where they do not have to act alone, at least until they have some experience on the job."
Colby said he is still burning through accumulated holidays until his official retirement on December 31, 2022 and has agreed to handle things in much the same way that Dr. Sudit Ranade is handling things from the Yukon for Sarnia-Lambton. Dr. Ranade left Lambton Public Health for his new job in the Yukon on June 30, 2022 but he is keeping an eye on the Lambton area remotely.
Dr. Colby's current appointment is until December 31, 2022 and noted he has no arrangement that extends beyond that date.
He said the people of Chatham-Kent need Public Health and there was never a question of him not stepping in as needed until a new permanent MOH is found.
"I was surprised by my successor's departure but I cannot really comment on that as I am not privy to the reasons or circumstances," said Colby. "I hope that a new MOH can be recruited in the interim."
Dr. Colby said he agreed to return because the health unit operates on medical directives, adding that his directives are in force until his official retirement at the end of the year. Colby said he is a resource for questions, medication orders, and other duties as needed.
He also doesn't think that the absence of a Medical Officer of Health in Chatham-Kent would impact recruiting of front-line staff.