Sudbury's Board of Health has appointed Dr. Emily Groot as associate medical officer of health (AMOH) for Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD). The appointment takes effect on January 6, 2025. Dr. Groot will work as Acting Associate Medical Officer of Health until her appointment is approved by the Minister of Health, said a news release from PHSD.
“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Groot to our team as Associate Medical Officer of Health on a part-time basis to contribute to strategic leadership and evidence-informed decision making. This recruitment will significantly strengthen Public Health’s local capacity and responsiveness,” said board of health chair René Lapierre.
The appointment was also welcomed by acting Medical Officer of Health and health unit CEO Dr. Mustafa Hirji.
“Dr. Groot is an accomplished public health physician, and I am excited to work with her to maximize the public health services that protect and promote health in our service area,” said Hirji.
“The breadth of Dr. Groot’s professional experience and community service will benefit our agency and bolster our focus of creating healthier communities for all,” said Dr. Hirji.
Groot grew up in Northeastern Ontario (Sault Ste. Marie) and is passionate about improving the health of Northern Ontarians, said the release. Groot obtained her medical education at McMaster University. She previously served as associate medical officer of health for the Thunder Bay District Health Unit as well as for Niagara Region Public Health, said the release.
Groot also worked as regional supervising coroner for Northeastern Ontario and most recently as medical director of Sudbury’s supervised consumption site. Dr. Groot will maintain her part-time roles as program director with the public health and Preventive Medicine Residency Program at NOSM University, as well as Medical Director of Réseau ACCESS Network’s Treatment and Prevention clinic.
Having successfully recruited a highly experienced part-time AMOH, recruitment efforts will continue for an additional part-time AMOH to achieve the equivalent of the recommended capacity of one full-time AMOH for local health agencies, which would ensure the agency has critical surge capacity, said the news PHSD release.
