Grey Bruce Public Health has appointed Dr. Brittany Graham as its permanent Medical Officer of Health and CEO, confirming a leadership change first made in an acting capacity earlier this year. The board also announced an immediate temporary succession plan: Dr. Graham is scheduled to start parental leave in September, and Dr. Eileen de Villa will serve as the acting Medical Officer of Health and CEO until Graham returns next summer.
Appointment and immediate succession
Dr. Graham, who has been serving in the acting role since April, was confirmed “full-time” in the position at a Board of Health meeting on Friday. Board of Health Chair Kenneth Craig said in a media release that Dr. Graham had performed well while leading the agency in the interim.
"Dr. Graham has done an excellent job in the interim position."
The board’s announcement also set out a near-term staffing plan. Dr. Graham will begin parental leave on Sept. 8 and is not expected to return to active duty until the following summer. During her absence, the board said, Dr. Eileen de Villa will assume responsibilities as acting Medical Officer of Health and CEO.
Experience brought to Grey Bruce
Dr. de Villa is a familiar figure in Ontario public health leadership. She served as Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto from 2017 to 2024, a period that included much of the COVID-19 pandemic, and most recently worked as a special adviser to Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, while Grey Bruce operated without an appointed Board of Health.
"I am honoured to take on the acting role for Medical Officer of Health," the board quoted Dr. de Villa as saying.
The board framed the temporary arrangement as a way to preserve continuity at Grey Bruce Public Health while acknowledging Dr. Graham’s immediate family leave. The agency did not provide a detailed job-share timeline beyond the expected return next summer.
What this means for public health operations
Leadership transitions at health units can carry practical implications for local programs, communications and provincial coordination. The board emphasised continuity by tapping a senior, experienced public-health physician for the interim role.
- Continuity of leadership: Appointing a seasoned former municipal medical officer as acting MOH is intended to maintain operational stability.
- Experience with crises: Dr. de Villa’s tenure in Toronto included pandemic response leadership, which may inform regional preparedness and policy implementation.
- Short-term vacancy management: The plan allows the board to avoid hiring an external interim while retaining the permanent appointment for Dr. Graham.
The board did not release additional detail about any delegation of specific program responsibilities during the leave or whether there will be adjustments in priorities while Dr. de Villa is acting in the role.
Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Dr. Graham begins acting as MOH | April (acting capacity) |
| Confirmed as full-time MOH and CEO | Board meeting, Friday (announcement date) |
| Parental leave begins | Sept. 8 |
| Expected return to work | Next summer (return date not specified) |
For health officials and local stakeholders, the announcement signals a rapid succession plan that balances recognition of Dr. Graham’s appointment with family leave rights and the need for uninterrupted public-health leadership. The use of an established public-health leader as acting MOH should provide familiarity for provincial partners and local providers while the health unit operates under a temporary leadership arrangement.
The board’s release and its arrangements reflect routine governance practice where incoming leaders may take planned family leave. Grey Bruce Public Health did not provide further comment on interim operational changes or an exact date for Dr. Graham’s resumption of duties beyond indicating a return next summer.
