May 26, 1999
To:Board of Health
From:Dr. Sheela Basrur, Medical Officer of Health
Subject:Appointment of Associate Medical Officers of Health
Purpose:
To advise the Board of Health on recent appointments of Associate Medical Officers of Health
(AMOH's).
Source of Funds:
None.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the recommended designations of Associate Medical Officers of Health as outlined in
this report be transmitted to City Council and to the provincial Minister of Health for
approval; and
(2)the authority be granted to introduce the necessary bill in Council to give effect to the
above recommendation.
Background:
Toronto Public Health has an approved complement of seven physicians - the Medical Officer
of Health (MOH), two Director-level Associate Medical Officers of Health, and four
non-management medical specialists. Under the City of Toronto Act No. 2, City Council
directly appoints the MOH and AMOH's, and these appointments must be ratified by the
provincial Minister of Health. All staff physicians require AMOH status in order to have
medico-legal signing authority under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, c.H.7, R.S.O.
1990.
There has been considerable turnover in the physician complement over the past year due to
divisional re-organization. Several physicians have exited the corporation and should have
their AMOH designations rescinded, while a few have joined the corporation and require
AMOH designation in order to have signing authority. As well, three physicians were so
appointed by Council "on an interim basis" in March 1998, and their status should be
confirmed as permanent. The recommended changes in AMOH designations are outlined in
Appendix 1.
Conclusions:
Changes in AMOH designations are being recommended in order to reflect physician turnover
within Toronto Public Health, such changes requiring the approval of City Council and the
provincial Minister of Health.
Contact Name:
Dr. Sheela Basrur
Medical Officer of Health
Tel:392-7402
Fax:392-0713
sbasrur@toronto.ca
Dr. Sheela V. Basrur
Medical Officer of Health
Appendix 1
Schedule 1:New Public Health Physicians Requiring Permanent Appointment as Associate
Medical Officers of Health
Dr. Monir Taha, AMOH/Director of Healthy Environments
Dr. Shelley Deeks, AMOH/Medical Specialist
Schedule 2:Current Public Health Physicians with an Interim Appointment Which Should
Be Made Permanent
Dr. Barbara Yaffe, AMOH/Director of Communicable Disease Control
Dr. Elizabeth Rea, AMOH/Medical Specialist*
Dr. Rita Shahin, AMOH/Medical Specialist*
Schedule 3:Former Public Health Physicians Whose Appointment as Associate Medical
Officers of Health Should be Rescinded:
Dr. Colin D'Cunha
Dr. Alwyn Egbert
Dr. Richard Gould
Dr. Bart Harvey
Dr. Ian Johnson
Dr. David McKeown
*Employed on a half-time basis
