Dr. Yves Léger officially appointed to replace Dr. Jennifer Russell as N.B.'s top doctor
After more than a year of serving as the province's acting top doctor, Dr. Yves Léger has been officially named the new chief medical officer of health.
He replaces Dr. Jennifer Russell, who announced her resignation last October and served her last day on Dec. 8.
The Department of Health announced Léger's appointment in a news release Thursday afternoon.
"Dr. Léger brings extensive experience in public health, as well as a deep understanding of the New Brunswick context," Health Minister John Dornan said in a statement.
"He has done an excellent job as acting chief medical officer, and he has my full confidence moving forward."
Léger could not immediately be reached for comment.
Léger has held several roles at Public Health since 2007, including regional medical officer of health, acting deputy chief medical officer, and acting chief medical officer.
No information about the search for a replacement has been provided. Department officials could not immediately be reached for comment about the recruitment process, such as where the job was posted, what kind of interest it generated, or the number of candidates interviewed.
In response to previous requests from CBC News, department officials have said only that the process was "ongoing."
The position paid between $325,000 and $349,000 in 2023.
Russell, who became the face of the province's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing daily televised briefings, later faced questions about possible political interference, which she has denied.
Léger, who is originally from Beausoleil in the Grande-Digue district and fully bilingual, studied medicine at the Université de Sherbrooke. He completed his residency in public health and preventive medicine at the University of Toronto before returning to practise in New Brunswick.
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