B.C.'s deputy provincial health officer named Island Health's new top doctor
Island Health has a new top doctor after the previous chief medical health officer, Dr. Richard Stanwick, retired at the end of 2021 after more than 25 years in the industry on Vancouver Island.
On Tuesday, Island Health announced Dr. Réka Gustafson as the health authority's new chief medical health officer and vice-president of population and public health.
Gustafson was a familiar face during the pandemic, serving as B.C.'s deputy provincial health officer and serving senior roles in with the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
Deputy provincial health officer Dr. Réka Gustafson provides an update on COVID-19 on August 17, 2020: (Province of B.C. / Flickr)
She would sometimes stand in for provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry at live COVID-19 briefings over the past two years.
Before that, Gustafson was also deputy chief medical health officer for Vancouver Coastal Health.
Gustafson will continue to work for the BCCDC and PHSA until Sept. 2, as the organizations complete a national recruiting process to fill her position.
In her role with Island Health, Gustafson will oversee the health authority's public health teams and work with senior leaders to implement health policies.
"I’m excited to welcome Dr. Gustafson to Island Health," said Kathy MacNeil, president and CEO of Island Health in a statement Tuesday.
"We are fortunate to have such an experienced provincial health leader join our organization and provide executive leadership for our population and public health initiatives," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
Jury selection could be nearing a close in Donald Trump's hush money trial in New York
Lawyers worked Friday to round out the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates who will hear Donald Trump's hush money trial, as the former president railed against a gag order that has prosecutors seeking to hold him in contempt of court.