Chris Mackie's tenure as London's top doctor is over.
According to a news release sent by the Middlesex-London Health Unit on Monday morning, Mackie resigned from his role to "pursue other opportunities" effective last Friday.
Mackie was in attendance for under an hour of the three hour meeting.
He and Board Chair Matthew Reid had no comment about what was discussed when they left the board room.
“The board and I had a good conversation,” Mackie said as he walked out of the meeting with lawyer Catherine Patterson. “I look forward to discussing the contents if and when that becomes possible. Unfortunately, I can’t say anything more at this time.”
Reid deferred to the statement when asked to comment further on Mackie's exit from the Health Unit on Monday morning.
Mackie couldn't be reached for comment when contacted by London News Today after the Monday news release was sent out - but did post a Twitter thread about his time on the job.
https://twitter.com/Healthmac/status/1500867755343585280
In a statement sent to London News Today, Mackie addressed the decision to move on:
"Suffice it to say, it was a time of much positive change that culminated in the global pandemic and a number of personal changes for me at home.
All of these changes were necessary, but I have to admit that I started the pandemic with less energy than I would have liked. By the time I went on leave, nearly two years into the pandemic, I needed a break.
The past four months have given me time to recover, and to consider my future. After speaking with my family and a number of close friends and advisors, as well as with the Board of Health, it was clear that the time was right for a new chapter in my career.
I regret not being available to help during most of the Omicron wave. However, I also knew that the Health Unit was in great hands with the leadership of Dr. Alex Summers. He has been the best Associate Medical Officer of Health that anyone could ask for, and I know the Health Unit will continue to be in good hands under his leadership.
I’m excited to share with the community what the next chapter in my career will be. The role will be a great opportunity for professional growth, in a place where I can really make a difference. It’s not ready to be announced yet, but it will be soon."
However, he did not address the tumultuous final 18 months of his employment at the Health Unit.
In the summer of 2020, his role of Medical Officer of Health and CEO was split into two jobs, with Michael Clarke taking the CEO role. At the time, Mackie said the split was because of pandemic-related workload, but multiple sources have told London News Today that the split was because Mackie had poor relationships with many health unit employees and Clarke was put in the role to essentially act as a "buffer" for the former medical officer of health.
In the fall of 2021, he stopped being involved in the health unit's COVID-19 media briefings, which are held twice a week.
Weeks later, the health unit issued a one sentence media release saying that Mackie had taken a leave from his job.
When asked about that story during the meeting on March 3, Reid neither confirmed nor denied that Mackie was the subject of workplace conduct investigations.
The interim Medical Officer of Health is Dr. Alex Summers, who has been in that role since Mackie officially went on leave in November. There is no word on whether Summers will be Mackie's permanent replacement.
Mackie made $414,926.68 in 2020, according to the Sunshine List. Neither the board nor health unit communications staff has said whether he has been paid while away from the job.
He's been the region's medical officer since 2013, when he was hired to replace Dr. Graham Pollett.
