Ottawa Board of Health appoints new Medical Officer of Health

At a special meeting of the Ottawa Board of Health (BOH) on July 14, 2025, the Board approved the appointment of Dr. Trevor Arnason as the permanent Medical Officer of Health (MOH) for Ottawa Public Health (OPH). This appointment was subsequently approved by City Council today, with final confirmation pending from the Ontario Ministry of Health.  

Dr. Arnason has been the Interim Medical Officer of Health since February 1, 2025 and will officially begin in the role of permanent MOH on July 24, 2025. Accountable to the Ottawa Board of Health, the MOH leads OPH which is guided by its mission, vision, commitments and strategic plan. 

To ensure a thorough and transparent recruitment process, the BOH appointed a selection panel composed of Board members to work closely with an executive search firm. Extensive consultations were undertaken with a wide range of OPH partners and interest holders to determine the qualities and experience needed in the next MOH. Following this comprehensive process, the selection panel concluded that Dr. Arnason was the best fit to lead OPH into the future. 

Prior to taking on the role of Interim Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Arnason was appointed as the Deputy MOH in May 2024, having served as an Associate Medical Officer of Health (AMOH) since 2019. Prior to joining OPH, Dr. Arnason was the Regional MOH for Halifax, Nova Scotia and has also worked part-time in clinical practice since 2013, with a focus on prevention services for those without a primary care provider.   

Dr. Arnason was born and raised in Ottawa and holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biology and a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the University of Ottawa, where he is currently an adjunct professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health. After completing his Medical Doctorate at the University of Toronto in 2011, he returned to Ottawa to do residency training with dual certification in Public Health and Preventive Medicine and Family Medicine. He lives in Kitchissippi Ward close to the Ottawa River with his wife, daughter, their puppy and pet fish.

For more information about Ottawa Public Health, visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca. Residents can also connect with OPH on  Facebook,  Instagram,  Bluesky and  YouTube.