New Interim Medical Officer of Health at Renfrew County and District Health Unit
The Board of Health for Renfrew County and District Health Unit is pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Cushman has been appointed Interim Acting Medical Officer of Health as of April 24, 2017 for a six-month term. He will be providing part-time services.
Dr. Cushman was the Senior Medical Advisor at Health Canada and the Director General of the Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate from 2012-2015. He served as the inaugural CEO of the Champlain Local Health Integration Network from 2005 to 2011.
From 1996 to 2005 he was Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health, where he was instrumental in bringing in smoke-free legislation. Other significant accomplishments at Ottawa Public Health were the establishment of cross sectoral programs to promote healthy early childhood development (“Success by Six”) and the management of public health emergencies including the ice storm, chemical spills, infectious disease outbreaks, and emerging pathogens (SARS and West Nile). Prior to this role, Dr. Cushman served as the director of public health in the Outaouais (Gatineau).
“We extend a warm welcome to Dr. Cushman and look forward to his leadership over the next six months,” said Mayor Janice Visneskie Moore, Chair of the Board of Health.
