Dr. Sheela V. Basrur, MD,
Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health
Ontario Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Health Division, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Dr. Sheela Basrur was appointed the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and Assistant Deputy Minister of Public Health, effective February 16, 2004. In her new role, Dr. Basrur will be developing more effective health promotion strategies and programs, to deliver measurable results. Prior to joining the government at the provincial level, Dr. Basrur served as the Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto, one of the largest public health bodies in North America. Dr. Basrur was the first Medical Officer of Health in the amalgamated City of Toronto and led an organization of 1,800 staff committed to disease prevention and health promotion.

Her leadership and expertise on behalf of the City of Toronto during last year’s SARS crisis is well known. Dr. Basrur’s skilled handling of this infectious disease earned her the respect of not only her public health
colleagues here in Ontario, but also across North America and around the world.

Dr. Basrur practised medicine as a general practitioner in Guelph, Ontario before entering public health. She holds a Masters of Health Science degree from the University of Toronto and is a specialist in Community Medicine. She is also a graduate from programs at Western Ontario and Dalhousie. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto.

In 2004, Dr. Basrur has been recognized for her efforts related to SARS and to the public health community at large, including:
• Honourary Doctorate of Science, Ryerson University,
• Honourary Diploma of Nursing, George Brown College,
• Women of the Year distinction, Greater Toronto YWCA, and
• Fellowship, Centennial College.

last reviewed November 13, 2005

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