For the past eight years, my sister, Eileen de Villa has been Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, and yesterday was her last day on the job. She’s done a lot of great work for the city where we grew up, and is best known for defining Toronto’s swift and decisive response to COVID-19, and she’s my hero for having taken on that difficult task.
Those of you from Toronto and area may remember the cover article from the May issue of Toronto Life:
She announced that she would step down from her position at the end of 2024, where she’ll take some time off, travel with Mom (I hope to join some of those travels as well), and decide what to do next. With what she’s accomplished, she’ll be able to write her own ticket for the next step in her career, whatever it may be.
Here’s her farewell message to the city of Toronto:
Congratulations, Eileen, and well done!
Recommended reading
- CTV News: De Villa signs off as Toronto’s top doctor with New Year’s prescription for ‘unity’
- CP24 News: ‘I’ve done my very best to serve you ‘: Dr. de Villa parting words as Toronto’s top doctor
- Yahoo News Canada: Toronto’s outgoing medical officer reflects on city’s leading city’s public health unit
- Toronto Life, May 2020: Eileen de Villa is not freaking out. I am indirectly responsible for this article’s title — read and find out why!
- Eileen’s Wikipedia entry