Toronto’s medical officer of health says she will resign from her position at the end of the year after eight years leading the city’s public health unit.
Dr. Eileen de Villa said Tuesday in a YouTube video that she will step down effective Dec. 31. De Villa has been the medical officer of health since 2017, leading Toronto Public Health.
“What can I say? It has been a remarkable time these past eight years. We have really come through quite the remarkable journey,” De Villa says in the video.
De Villa said Toronto Public Health has navigated “significant challenges” in that time, including the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in public health funding, the drug toxicity epidemic and the mental health crisis.
The medical officer said the decision to resign was not made lightly and will allow her to spend more time with her family and embark on a new chapter in her professional life.
WATCH | Dr. Eileen de Villa announces resignation: