The recruitment process to hire a new medical officer of health in Chatham-Kent continues with interviews beginning next week.
Chatham-Kent Public Health CEO Dr. April Rietdyk told CK News Today on Thursday that the application stage has ended and interviews will now begin on Monday to get a replacement for Dr. David Colby, who retired in April.
"I am happy to share that the posting for the Medical Officer of Health position has now closed and we begin interviews on Monday," said Rietdyk in an email. "I hope we are successful with interviews next week but as with any new hire, things can take a bit of time."
The statement from Rietdyck came after news that Lambton County Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade resigned to become Yukon's chief medical officer of health. Dr. Ranade was also filling in for Dr. Colby until his permanent replacement was found.
Dr. Rietdyk said Dr. Ranade will continue to provide coverage for Dr. Colby for now, but if Ranade becomes unavailable, the health unit has another physician who has offered to provide continued coverage support.
"Should we find ourselves in this situation, I will present a coverage recommendation to the Board of Health," said Rietdyk. "I am not concerned at this point regarding coverage."
She noted that health units across the southwest have mutual aid agreements in place to assist in times like these and she will reach out to them if needed.
Rietdyk did not provide a name for the alternate coverage physician, nor did she say if the new Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health would be in place by June 30, 2022, which is Dr. Ranade's last day with Lambton Public Health.
The Chatham-Kent Board of Health doesn't meet again until September 2022, but Rietdyk said the board is aware that a meeting may be called at any point between now and September to deal with this issue.