March 16, 2010 - The Board of Health welcomed Dr. Henry Kurban to the position of Acting Medical Officer of Health for the Thunder Bay District Health Unit during today’s Board of Health meeting. Dr. Kurban started in the position on Monday, March 15, 2010.
Dr. Kurban’s appointment was announced last fall, successfully ending a 17-month search for a medical officer of health (MOH) candidate. Board of Health Chair Maria Harding, a member of the recruitment committee, said the search was long and intensive but worthwhile since Dr. Kurban’s qualifications provide the optimal mix of skills and knowledge for the position.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Kurban to the Health Unit,” said Harding. “We are fortunate to have found a physician with a passion for public health and the competencies we were looking for. We look forward to working with him.”
Dr. Kurban recently completed his preventive medicine residency training and board certification at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. He received his initial medical training at the University of Western Ontario’s Faculty of Medicine, graduating with Distinction. His extensive educational background also includes a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins and a Master of Business Administration from McGill University in Montreal.
Dr. Kurban’s experience includes working in clinical and health care management settings in both the US and Canada, providing him a broad perspective on public health practices. His desire to combine his passion for community medicine with his health care management experience led him to pursuing a career in public health leadership. He is pleased to begin this career in Thunder Bay.
“I am excited about living and working in this beautiful part of the province,” said Kurban. “I look forward to working with the Board, the highly qualified staff at the Health Unit and establishing close relationships with community partners throughout the District to learn about our health priorities and develop innovative, strategic solutions towards improving population health.”
Over the next 12 months, Dr. Kurban will be working in an acting MOH capacity while completing the provincial qualifications to become a MOH. During this time, he will be working under the supervision of Dr. Graham Pollett, MOH from the Middlesex-London Health Unit and with Dr. Samuel Graham, the Health Unit’s Acting MOH prior to Dr. Kurban’s arrival.
Dr. Kurban and his wife Sofia are happy to be settling in Thunder Bay where they plan on maintaining their active lifestyles by participating in the community and the many outdoor recreations the District has to offer.
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