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
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.