By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND — Following the resignation of divisive Acting Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Dr. Matt Strauss, who drew criticisms for his outspoken comments related to COVID public health guidelines, Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit (HNHU) has announced that veteran MOH Dr. Joyce Lock will fill the seat temporarily while the Board of Health searches for a permanent replacement.
Since the resignation of MOH Dr. Shanker Nesathurai in 2021, the position has now changed hands three times, with Dr. Lock being the latest to guide the team at HNHU.
We spoke with Dr. Lock about her previous experiences and some of the challenges that come with servicing a rural area. She has 40 years of medical experience, 25 of which were spent in emergency medicine up until 2010. During that time, she worked as both a chief of the emergency department and the medical director of a sexual assault and domestic violence centre.
A graduate of the University of Toronto, Dr. Lock received her Doctor of Medicine in 1983 and gained her Fellowship in Public Health and Preventive Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2014, qualifying her to be a Medical Officer of Health.
In her role at Southwest Public Health, Dr. Lock covered both Oxford and Elgin counties where she gained experience serving urban, rural, and agricultural areas.
She has worked in public health since 2010, and noted, “I was proud to work with dedicated, passionate, and skilled staff as well as a committed Board of Health. I sense that the situation is the same in Haldimand and Norfolk. I will look to the staff to help me to understand how things work locally, try to be a good listener, and work with health unit leadership and BOH leadership to support and deliver quality programs for the folks of this community…. My challenge will be getting to know the community to understand its unique qualities and issues.”
She said that she plans on immersing herself in the challenges that come with the region, noting hopes that the orientation process over the coming weeks will provide her with valuable insight into the community.
“Haldimand and Norfolk, like the rest of the province, is in a recovery phase from the impacts of the pandemic. Now is the time to look at the impacts of work in health protection and health promotion that was put aside during the pandemic years to determine what the community needs to move forward in a healthy way,” said Dr. Lock.
She touched on the various responsibilities that come with her role, noting, “Public Health entails collecting and understanding data on the health of the community, protecting citizens from the spread of disease, and promoting health so that we can all reach our full health potential…. My role is to oversee the work of the health unit in achieving (its) goals and standards, and providing direction and leadership.”
When asked about her predecessor’s controversial views, Dr. Lock declined to elaborate, instead offering, “It takes all of us to create a community where we can all thrive and live healthy lives. I look forward to working with the staff and community partners to enhance health and wellbeing in Haldimand and Norfolk.”
She said that recovering from the pandemic and dealing with the ongoing viral infections in the community comes down to community effort, adding, “The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease. Achieving good health is bigger than avoiding infections. A healthy community is a foundation for individual health. It takes all of us to build a healthy community.”
“We look forward to the extensive experience Dr. Lock brings to the Health Unit team,” said Amy Martin, Board of Health Chair. “Her wealth of public health knowledge will be a tremendous benefit to our residents.”
Dr. Lock concluded, “I am privileged to work for the health unit during a time of a transition in leadership. Transitions provide a window of opportunity to reflect on our vision of the future. I hope that I can be of service to the community to make the most of this transition period.”
Dr. Lock is contracted to fill the role of MOH for a six-month period that began on April 1.
