Reimer named Canada’s top doc

WINNIPEG — The physician who became a face of Manitoba’s COVID-19 response has a new title — Canada’s top doc.

Joss Reimer has been named Canada’s next chief public health officer. It’s a role once filled by Theresa Tam, who wore the shoes while Reimer was medical lead of Manitoba’s COVID-19 vaccine implementation task force.

Reimer will start on April 1, federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel announced Friday. Her term lasts three years.

“I couldn’t be more grateful,” Reimer said, adding she’ll be working to fight medical misinformation and disinformation during her tenure. Her appointment comes as measles cases in Canada are spiking; Manitoba leads the pack with at least 157 cases so far this year.

The disease outbreak — which is preventable with vaccines — is “a great example” of the harms improper information can bring, Reimer said. Misinformation also spread during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using humility and transparency will be key, Reimer said, adding she learned the lesson during the pandemic.

“That is something I’m going to keep with me in any role,” she said. “It’s OK to share those uncertainties. In fact, it helps people build trust when they don’t feel like you’re hiding gaps in information.”

Another pandemic takeaway for Reimer was the importance of a strong team. The Public Health Agency of Canada, Reimer’s new employer, already has an abundance of experts tackling misinformation, she said.

The drug crisis is also on Reimer’s radar: “It’s an important area for public health to be working in, because we want to make sure that we’re providing people with supports.”

She’ll provide advice to the health minister, work with governments and agencies and speak to Canadians about health issues.

Tam, who began as chief public health officer in 2017, left last year. Dr. Howard Njoo has filled the role on an interim basis since.

Reimer previously helmed the Canadian Medical Association as president, and she has been the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s chief medical officer since 2022.

Her career and research span topics such as health communications, sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections and immunizations.

A flurry of medical associations publicly congratulated Reimer upon the news breaking of her appointment.

There were statements from the CMA, WRHA and Shared Health. Doctors Manitoba honoured Reimer with a humanitarian award four years ago; it praised her again Friday.

Peter Nickerson saw Reimer weekly during the COVID-19 pandemic while he led Transplant Manitoba. He and others representing at-risk communities hopped on video calls to talk about vaccine availability.

“COVID, everything was coming fast and furious,” Nickerson said. “What Joss did was took command and control and ran the whole effort.

“(She’s a) highly capable person who is able to get the big picture and understands how to be effective in getting things done.”

By March 6, 2023 — about three years after the pandemic began in Manitoba — 3.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered to 1.18 million people across the province.

The University of Manitoba has tapped Reimer to speak to its medical students, said Nickerson, now the dean of the post-secondary’s Max Rady College of Medicine.

Reimer is a graduate of the school and a former staffer: she developed and led the university’s population health course while an education director from 2013 through 2022.

Ottawa made a “great selection,” Nickerson said, adding Reimer has many connections.

“Her whole training is in public health,” Nickerson continued. “So this really plays to her strength.”

Reimer caused a stir in her hometown of Winkler when she became chief medical officer of the WRHA, Mayor Henry Siemens said.

“The community is extremely proud of her,” he said. “Her career trajectory is on a rocket ship. It’s really good to see.”

» Winnipeg Free Press