A London city councillor will be wearing a new public sector hat.
Stephen Turner has accepted the position of Director of Environmental Health and Infectious Diseases with the Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU).
The ward 11 councillor has sat on the Middlesex-London Board of Health since he was elected to council in October 2014. Prior to taking the role with the MLHU, Turner resigned from the board but will remain on city council.
“With any hiring, and particularly for a senior role, the needs of the community are of utmost consideration. While there was a lot of interest in the position and a number of great candidates, ultimately Stephen Turner is the right choice,” says Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health with the MLHU. “Mr. Turner has a deep understanding of the upstream, preventive approach that is core to public health. His unique background in public administration and extensive experience in emergency services is an ideal fit for this challenging role.”
The Director of Environmental Health and Infectious Diseases oversees a wide variety of public health programs including food premises, pool and spa, personal service setting, long-term care home and child care centre inspections, immunization programs, vector-borne diseases, emergency management, infectious disease control and sexual health services.
Turner has spent the last two decades in emergency services, most recently with Oxford County Public Health and Emergency Services as Deputy Chief and Acting Chief of Paramedics. He has a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in public administration, and two diplomas in paramedicine.
Turners first day with the MLHU will be June 20.
