Chief Public Health Officer of Canada expresses sadness over the resignation of Ontario Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Sheela Basrur

It is with sadness that we recognize the resignation of Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Sheela Basrur.

It is my personal privilege to have worked closely with Sheela over many years in addressing how together we improve and sustain the health of the public.

Sheela has long been a brilliant colleague and one of the heroes of public health in Ontario and Canada. As a general practitioner, specializing in public health and preventive medicine, serving as Medical Officer of Health in East York and Toronto, and most recently as Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, she has been a principled and impassioned champion of a public health system that serves the needs of all.

Throughout her distinguished career, she has maintained a strong commitment to the health of all, and continues to be recognized for her leadership and expertise during Ontario's SARS crisis.

This country's public health landscape is brighter when it includes Dr. Sheela Basrur, and so we look forward to her healthy return.

Dr. David Butler-Jones
Chief Public Health Officer of Canada