Canada's New Top Doctor Takes on Measles and Misinformation Crisis

Canada has appointed Dr. Joss Reimer as its new chief public health officer. She will take over from Dr. Theresa Tam, who retired in June, and begin her three-year term on April 1. The Manitoba physician brings extensive experience in public health leadership and crisis response to the role.

Dr. Reimer has held key positions, including chief medical officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. She also served as past president of the Canadian Medical Association and played a central role in Manitoba's COVID-19 Vaccine Taskforce. Her work in countering misinformation during the pandemic earned her recognition for tackling false health narratives.

One of her main priorities will be addressing vaccine hesitancy and medical misinformation. She aims to rebuild confidence in immunization programmes, particularly to combat measles outbreaks. Canada lost its measles elimination status in 2022, and Reimer has pledged to work toward regaining it.

Based in Ottawa, she plans to collaborate with public health officers and experts nationwide. Her approach will emphasize empathy, drawing on her experience in Winnipeg and provincial health leadership. The goal is to strengthen trust in vaccines and improve public health communication across the country.

Dr. Reimer's appointment comes at a critical time for Canada's public health system. She will focus on reversing the spread of misinformation while working to restore measles elimination. Her term officially begins on April 1, with a clear mandate to rebuild vaccine confidence.