2013 and 2014 have been marked by positive changes. 2013 saw the Health Unit fully develop and implement its first operational plan, affording us the opportunity to determine what we might do better in subsequent planning. Formal planning assisted us in making several necessary structural changes. For example, the Knowledge Management Division, an amalgamation of the Communication Resources and Epidemiology, Planning, Evaluation and Quality Departments, was created to facilitate the acquisition, analysis and use of knowledge so we can better serve our community’s needs. Other significant changes occurred within Human Resources (as it changed from a Division to a Department) and within several Departments in both Health Protection and Health Promotion.
Changes were also seen in Senior Management leadership. Julie Fraser became the Director of the Knowledge Management Division. Liz Haugh and Nancy Whited, Directors of the Health Promotion and Human Resources Divisions, respectively, retired at the end of 2013 and were replaced by Nicole Dupuis and Dan Sibley (as the Human Resources Manager), respectively. And, as part of our succession planning, Dr. Wajid Ahmed joined us in August, 2014 as a Public Health Advisor. Dr. Heimann, after twenty-five years of excellent service to the community as our Medical Officer of Health, will retire from the Health Unit at the end of December, 2014. I will succeed Dr. Heimann and Dr. Ahmed will succeed me as the Associate Medical Officer of Health.
Once again, I am thankful we have had dedicated and skilled employees to help us plan, steer and manage these important changes.