Dr. Joffe is currently vice-president and medical director for Cancer Care Alberta clinical support services and has more than 25 years of experience working with the former Capital Health and now Alberta Health Services. On her first day as Alberta premier last month, Danielle Smith promised to replace the previous chief medical officer of health with a new team of public health advisers. Dr. Deena Hinshaw was appointed to the top job in January 2019 for a fixed term ending on 26 January 2024. “Dr. Joffe has been dedicated to improving the health of Albertans throughout his career,” Health Minister Jason Copping said in a statement late Monday afternoon. “He brings this wealth of experience and knowledge to the role of chief medical officer. I look forward to working with him,” added Copping. “I also want to thank Dr. Deanna Hinshaw for her service and dedication to Albertans over the past few years.” According to the province, Dr. Joffe will continue his current employment agreement with AHS without additional compensation. Calgary resident Dr. Joffe says he’s honored to be asked to take on the role of the province’s top doctor. “I have always put the needs of my patients above all else throughout my career, which will continue as I take on this new challenge,” Dr. Joffe said in a statement. “I want to thank Minister Copping for giving me this opportunity.” Dr. Joffe takes the helm of Alberta’s directorate of public health at a time when hospital wait times are increasing and the number of children absent from classrooms has surpassed levels recorded during the Omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is an infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the University of Alberta who played a key role behind the scenes in the response to the AHS pandemic. At a news conference Monday before announcing the new appointment, Smith said she would also unveil her medical advisory board and that Albertans would hear from the chief medical officer in the coming days. He also signaled that “significant reforms” are coming to Alberta Health Services. Opposition health critic David Shepherd said he hopes Albertans will hear from Dr. Joffe “as soon as possible.” “Albertans deserve transparency from their government about how they will deal with the spread of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, while hospitals continue to operate below capacity and children miss school at significant rates,” said Shepherd . “Smith, Jason Copping and Mark Joffe must all agree on the need to promote vaccination and condemn misinformation, including any suggestion that COVID-19 vaccines are anything other than safe and proven effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death due to COVID-19,” he added in a statement. CTV News Edmonton has reached out to Alberta Health for further comment.
