Dr. Robert Kyle Named Chair of Public Health Ontario’s Board of Directors

Dr. Robert Kyle, vice-chair of Public Health Ontario’s Board of Directors since July 2014, has been elected as the chair of the board effective July 1. He was first appointed to PHO’s board in September 2012.

In addition to his governance experience at PHO, Dr. Kyle brings 30 years of knowledge and leadership in public health to his role as chair. He is the commissioner and medical officer of health for the Regional Municipality of Durham, a role he has held since 1991. He is also an adjunct professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Kyle is an active member of many provincial and regional health organizations and has sat on many provincial planning tables. He holds a certificate in the specialty of Community Medicine (Public Health and Preventive Medicine) from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, is a fellow of the Royal College, holds a certificate in Family Medicine from the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and is a fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine.

“Having worked in the public health system for the past three decades, I have had the opportunity to see how it has evolved and grown over time. Exciting things have happened in public health, at the local level as well as at the provincial and federal levels, during this time, especially since Ontario experienced SARS in 2003. This year, PHO celebrates a 10-year milestone – the agency was born when the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion Act received Royal Assent in 2007. It is an exciting time to be involved in public health, and I am looking forward to building on the strength of our partnerships with the province, public health units, health care providers and our other stakeholders in this time of health system transformation,” said Dr. Kyle.

Linda Rothstein, who has served as a member of PHO’s Board of Directors since November 2014, has been elected as its vice-chair. In addition to serving as vice-chair, Ms. Rothstein also serves as chair of PHO’s Governance Standing Committee. Ms. Rothstein is a partner at Paliare Roland Barristers.

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Public Health Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of all Ontarians and reducing inequities in health. Public Health Ontario links public health practitioners, front-line health workers and researchers to the best scientific intelligence and knowledge from around the world. For the latest PHO news, follow us on Twitter: @publichealthON.