The doctor providing interim medical officer of health coverage for Chatham-Kent will soon be departing for a new role on the other side of the country.
The doctor providing interim medical officer of health coverage for Chatham-Kent will soon be departing for a new role on the other side of the country.
Dr. Sudit Ranade, Lambton County’s medical officer of health, is moving from the Sarnia area to become the Yukon’s chief medical officer of health.
Ranade will leave his job with Lambton public health as of June 30 and start his new position on July 4.
“It’s the chief medical officer of heath for the territory, so it’s just a different level of the system that I would be working in, which is really exciting, really interesting,” Ranade told the Sarnia Observer.
Dr. David Colby, Chatham-Kent’s previous medical officer of health, announced his retirement earlier this year after nearly two decades in that role. He is currently taking vacation time, with Ranade serving in his absence as needed.
Medical officers of health are legislated roles required for public health units in the province.
April Rietdyk, Chatham-Kent’s general manager of community human services and the health unit CEO, said the posting for the medical officer of health position has now closed. Interviews for the position start Monday, she said.
Rietdyk said she expects there will be a smooth transition, with no gaps in service.
“At this time, Dr. Ranade will continue to provide coverage for Dr. Colby’s vacation,” she told The Daily News in an email. “If Dr. Ranade becomes unavailable to us, we have another physician who has offered to provide continued coverage support. Health units also have mutual aid agreements to assist each other in times such as these, and I will reach out to them if needed.
“For the immediate future, things remain status quo with the team continuing to provide all required public-health services.”
Ranade said he’s looking forward to working with the territory’s public-health team, First Nations and community health leaders and other partners to build a strong public health system for the Yukon.
Ranade was hired by Lambton County in 2012. He was Ranade’s first job as a medical officer of health after completing his residency training.
“The people I have been working with at public health have just been phenomenal,” he added. “To watch them stay strong through this whole pandemic, and help all of the other sectors and community members … this a really great team and that’s a hard thing to step away from.”
Last year, Ranade took a short leave from his job to run as the Liberal candidate in Lambton–Kent–Middlesex in the federal election.
– With Paul Morden files