Health unit appoints new medical officer of health

Dr. Lisa Simon will be the region’s next medical officer of health and chief executive officer, pending approval by the Minister of Health.

Simon will formally begin her new role on Oct. 1, following the retirement of Dr. Charles Gardner, who has served as the unit’s medical officer of health since 2005.

“This appointment marks a significant milestone and a promise of continued strength and excellence in our service to community,” said Ann-Marie Kungl, Chair of the Board of Health. “The Board has the utmost confidence in Dr. Simon and we are positioned for an effective leadership transition this fall that maintains the health unit’s legacy of excellence. Dr. Simon’s expertise, integrity and passion for health equity will contribute to the ongoing delivery of trusted, responsive, and impactful service across our region.”

Simon brings over a decade of service to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. A Public Health and Preventive Medicine specialist, she joined the unit as an Associate Medical Officer of Health (AMOH) in 2012. Her primary responsibilities have included health equity and Indigenous engagement, including medical leadership for these SMDHU strategic directions; substance use prevention and harm reduction, including co-leadership of the multi- sector Simcoe Muskoka Opioid Strategy; actively supporting emergency response, including as lead for planning and engagement efforts for the COVID-19 pandemic response; and chronic disease prevention, child and youth health, and health data.

Simon’s commitment to upstream, population-based approaches to health improvement has shaped her career locally and abroad. She has worked in clinical and public health capacities with diverse communities across Canada and internationally.

She holds an MD from the University of Calgary, a Master of Public Health from the University of Toronto and completed her residency training in Public Health and Preventive Medicine, as well as Family Medicine, at McMaster University. Dr. Simon also serves as a faculty member of the Public Health and Preventive Medicine residency program at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

“I’m very excited to be taking on the role of the next MOH and CEO for SMDHU,” said Simon. “I am passionate about working in partnership with communities to help improve health and wellbeing, and I look forward to leading SMDHU’s skilled and committed team towards that goal.”

The health unit announced in January that Gardner would be retiring at the end of September.

Gardner has served as MOH for Simcoe Muskoka since 2005, following a seven-year tenure in the same role with the Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark District Health Unit. His career began with general medical practice in Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Zimbabwe.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Gardner has been a dedicated advocate for public health and has played a pivotal role in numerous provincial and national initiatives. He served as president (and then past chair) of the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) and as chair for the Council of Ontario

Medical Officers of Health (COMOH). Dr. Gardner’s commitment to excellence has been recognized with several prestigious honors, including alPHa’s Distinguished Service Award in June 2023, and the Faculty Educator Award for the Public Health and Preventive Medicine Residency, University of Toronto, in 2020.

Among his many achievements, Dr. Gardner’s leadership during large-scale health crises has been a defining aspect of his career. From pandemic influenza planning in 2006, to managing the H1N1 outbreak in 2009, and most recently guiding the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Gardner has consistently provided calm and strategic leadership. His dedication during these challenging times has been instrumental in protecting the health of communities.

In reflecting on Dr. Gardner’s forthcoming retirement, Kungl said, “Dr. Gardner’s dedication and leadership have left an indelible mark on public health in Simcoe Muskoka and beyond. His tireless commitment to promoting health and well-being in our communities will be remembered for years to come. While his absence will be felt deeply, we are immensely grateful for his contributions and wish him all the best in this next chapter.”

In the coming months, the health unit says it will work closely with both Gardner and Simon to ensure a seamless transition of leadership.