Renfrew County’s new Medical Officer of Health says he’s excited to be in the role, especially given that public health is entering a new era.
Dr. Jason Morgenstern was recently hired to be the Renfrew County & District Health Unit’s top doctor.
The Pembroke-raised doctor says with some pandemic pressures easing, public health is now able to direct more resources to different areas, such as mental health and support programs for new parents.
He says he hopes to capitalize on the public’s increasing level of understanding on what public health brings.
“The role of public health is a little more apparent and present in people’s minds,” he says. “If you look at the last 100 years, (public health initiatives) are one of the major reasons we live longer today; things like cleaner water, better sanitation, management of waste and those types of things. (The pandemic) has raised the profile a little bit.”
Morgenstern, however, adds that monitoring infectious diseases will still be an important part of public health work, so that we’re prepared in case there’s another pandemic.