WECHU hopes to announce new chief medical officer of health 'in the very near future'
After a year-and-a-half without, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) says it’s narrowing in on hiring a permanent chief medical officer of health.
Dr. Shanker Nesathurai stepped into the role on an interim basis in September 2021, after Dr. Wajid Ahmed resigned to become the associate medical officer of health for the province.
“We’re moving along, and I’m very hopeful that we’re going to have some news in the near future,” says Fabio Costante, chair of the WECHU board.
“In the very near future.”
Costante says the hiring process is being handled by a third party consultant who has reached out to a pool of candidates.
A shortlist, he says, has been narrowed down to a single candidate who “checked all the boxes.”
“We wanted to interview that individual and do our due diligence,” says Costante.
“That process has been completed and now we’re looking at next steps.”
Those steps include obtaining Ministry of Health approval and final board approval.
No hints were offered as to who the candidate in mind might be — but it’s unlikely to be Dr. Nesathurai who last year said he wasn’t after the job.
At Thursday’s meeting of the WECHU board, Dr. Nesathurai told CTV News he said his mind hasn’t changed.
“I’m happy with the current situation at the health unit,” he says.
It’s not clear how soon official word might come from the health unit on the hiring process.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Majority of MPs vote for foreign interference special rapporteur Johnston to 'step aside'
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to assure Canadians that his government is adequately addressing the threat of foreign interference took a hit on Wednesday, when the majority of MPs in the House of Commons voted for special rapporteur David Johnston to 'step aside.'

UPDATED | 'I heard a cracking noise': 16 children, 1 adult injured in platform collapse at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar
Seventeen people – most of whom are young students – were hospitalized after a falling from a height during a field trip at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar. However, many of the children are now being discharged and sent home, according to an update from the hospital.
Federal Court of Appeal: Canada not constitutionally obligated to bring home suspected ISIS fighters
The Government of Canada has won its appeal and will not be legally forced to repatriate four Canadian men from prisons in Northeast Syria.
What you may not have known about bladder cancer
Although bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Canada, experts say there’s a significant lack of awareness surrounding whom it affects the most — statistically, men — and that the most common risk factor is smoking.
Canada is first to require health warnings printed on individual cigarettes
Canada will soon require health warnings to be printed directly on individual cigarettes, making it the first country to implement this kind of measure aimed at reducing tobacco usage.
Study identifies the rise and fall of lifestyle habits during pandemic
More than three years after COVID was declared a global pandemic, a new study is looking at how the international health crisis has changed the lifestyle habits of Canadians.
Ottawa sends minister to Nigeria inauguration after accusing party of terror link
A year after arguing Nigeria's ruling party is responsible for terrorist acts, the Trudeau government has sent a cabinet minister to celebrate the swearing-in of its new president.
What slowdown? Economy outperforms, raising odds of a rate hike
The Canadian economy grew faster than expected in the first three months of the year and likely expanded again in April, fuelling speculation that the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates again.
Canada saw decline in fresh fruit, vegetable availability in 2022: StatCan
Statistics Canada says fewer fresh fruits and vegetables were available to Canadians in 2022, due to factors such as ongoing supply chain issues, labour shortages and price increases.