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The Government of Canada has appointed Dr. Joss Reimer as the next Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced Friday. Her three-year term begins April 1, 2026.
The appointment, made by the Health Minister Marjorie Michel, places Reimer as the federal government’s lead public health professional, responsible for advising the Minister of Health and PHAC on national public health matters and working with partners domestically and internationally.
Reimer has extensive experience in public health and medical leadership. She is the former President of the Canadian Medical Association and served as Chief Medical Officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
Her background includes work in health communications, immunizations, sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, and health equity. She also led Manitoba’s COVID-19 Vaccine Taskforce during the pandemic and spent nine years directing population health curriculum at the University of Manitoba.
Reimer says public health “is about uniting efforts to protect and promote the well-being of people in Canada, especially those who are most vulnerable.”
Public health challenges highlighted
Officials say that Reimer is joining PHAC at a time when Canada is facing ongoing public health issues.
These include resurgences of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, ongoing threats from avian influenza, and challenges related to HIV and tuberculosis, as well as impacts from the illicit drug crisis and misinformation about health.
Minister Michel said she looks forward to working “alongside Dr. Reimer to address pressing and complex public health challenges.”
Nancy Hamzawi, PHAC’s President, added that she is confident Reimer’s leadership will help advance public health and well-being for Canadians.
