Board of Health Announces New Medical Officer of Health for Peterborough Public Health
Written by Communications, August 12, 2021
Dr. Thomas Piggott to Start December 1
The Board of Health for Peterborough Public Health announced today that Dr. Thomas Piggott will serve as the area’s new Medical Officer of Health starting December 1, 2021.
“The Board of Health was very impressed with Dr. Piggott’s extensive track record in public health and we are confident he’ll serve our community with the care, passion and scientific expertise our residents have come to expect from their Medical Officer of Health,” said Andy Mitchell, Chair of the Board of Health for Peterborough Public Health (PPH). “We look forward to his leadership at this dynamic time in public health, both locally and provincially.”
The Board of Health has also confirmed coverage for the period between Dr. Rosana Salvaterra’s departure in late September and Dr. Piggott’s arrival on December 1. Dr. Ian Gemmill, former Medical Officer of Health (MOH) for Kingston-Frontenac-Lennox-Addington Public Health will provide medical direction to PPH, and Larry Stinson will serve as interim CEO. In addition, Donna Churipuy will serve as Incident Commander for the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure continuity in PPH’s emergency response.
Dr. Thomas Piggott (pronouns he/him) is coming to the role of MOH/CEO of Peterborough Public Health with experience working at various levels of public health in Canada and Internationally. Most recently, Dr. Piggott has been Medical Officer of Health and VP lead for Population Health and Rural and Remote Health in the northern region of Labrador-Grenfell Health. Dr. Piggott has experience in collaborative Indigenous public health in Canada and internationally. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, he led a response in solidarity with Indigenous governments in Labrador for outbreak prevention and a fair vaccination rollout prioritizing Indigenous communities.
Prior to working with Labrador-Grenfell Health, Dr. Piggott worked as a field doctor with Médicins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dr. Piggott is a public health and preventive medicine specialist, and a practicing family physician who completed his Masters in Public Health at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and residency training at McMaster University.
Dr. Piggott is actively involved in research and teaching in public health at McMaster University and Memorial University. Dr. Piggott’s research work has focused on guideline development and health equity. He was the co-editor of the book Under-Served: Health Determinant of Indigenous, Inner-City, and Migrant Populations in Canada (2018). Dr. Piggott is a member of the GRADE Working Group and has advised in public health guideline development methodology for multiple organizations including the World Health Organization and European Commission. In 2019, Dr. Piggott was appointed to the provincial Health Accord Newfoundland-Labrador Task Force Social Determinants of Health Committee to provide expertise on health system reform. Dr. Piggott has previously served on the board of directors of the Public Health Physicians of Canada and the World Federation of Public Health Associations and currently sits on the board of directors of the Canadian Public Health Association.
During last night’s Board of Health meeting, the Board appointed Dr. Thomas Piggott as the new Medical Officer of Health and CEO and has advised the Ministry of Health so they can provide their formal assent.
Dr. Piggott enjoys family time with his wife, a family physician, and their two young daughters. In their free time they all enjoy being engaged in their community and outdoor activities including hiking, running, bicycling, swimming, gardening, and camping.
A media availability is being planned next week (week of August 16) with Dr. Piggott. Further details to come.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391