The Board of Health for the newly merged Haliburton Kawartha Northumberland Peterborough Health Unit has appointed Dr. Thomas Piggott as Acting Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, pending approval from the Minister of Health.
“We are pleased to announce that Dr. Thomas Piggott has been appointed as Acting Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer of the newly merged Haliburton Kawartha Northumberland Peterborough Health Unit,” said Ron Black, Chair of the Board of Health. “He brings excellent knowledge of our community and public health to the role, and we are confident that our mandate of protecting and promoting the health of all residents will be met and exceeded.”
Dr. Piggott, who has served as Medical Officer of Health for legacy Peterborough Public Health since December 2021, is recognized for his leadership and expertise in public health. Prior to his tenure in Peterborough, he held the role of Medical Officer of Health and Vice President for Population, Rural, and Remote Health in northern Labrador. His international experience includes working as a field doctor with Médicins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He completed his medical training, residency in Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and a PhD in Health Research Methods at McMaster University.
Dr. Natalie Bocking, who previously served as Medical Officer of Health for Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, will continue in the role of Deputy Medical Officer of Health.
“We had two great candidates who challenged the board process, and both incumbents were very effective leaders of their respective organizations,” Black said.
In his new role, Dr. Piggott will oversee the transition of the senior leadership team and the recruitment of a second public health physician as part of the health unit’s strategy to enhance medical coverage.
HKNP Health Unit, the legal name of the organization, will continue to operate with the existing structures of HKPR and PPH in place. There will be no immediate impact on programs and services, with further details on the rebranding, including a new business name and logo, expected later in 2025.
