Janice Fitzgerald | |
|---|---|
| Chief Medical Officer of Health forNewfoundland and Labrador | |
| Assumed office September 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Alma mater | Memorial University of Newfoundland,Dalhousie University |
Janice FitzgeraldONL[1] is a Canadianfamily physician. Since September 2019, she currently serves asNewfoundland and Labrador'sChief Medical Officer of Health, and has provided public health guidance to lead the province during theCOVID-19 pandemic in Newfoundland and Labrador.[2][3]
Fitzgerald was born inTrinity, Newfoundland and Labrador.[2] She completed aBachelor of Science degree in 1990, medical school in 1994, and aMaster's in Public Health (MPH) in 2016, all fromMemorial University of Newfoundland.[4]
Fitzgerald completed her medical residency atDalhousie University inHalifax, before moving back to work as a family physician inSpringdale from 1996 to 1998, then in emergency medicine inGrand Falls-Windsor, and family medicine in theSt. John's area in 2000.[4] In 2017, Fitzgerald worked in public health policy development at the provincial Department of Health and Community Services, where she was the Clinical Chief, Long Term Care for the Eastern Regional Health Authority.[4] In September 2019, Fitzgerald assumed the role asNewfoundland and Labrador'sChief Medical Officer Of Health on an interim basis, before taking on the role permanently a year later.[4][5]
Fitzgerald has spoken about different aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including theCOVID-19 vaccines, preparations for vaccine delivery and the subsequent roll-out in Newfoundland and Labrador, and public health practices.[6][7][8]
Polls from Narrative Research have consistently found Fitzgerald to have a higher public approval rating than her counterparts in other provinces.[9]
In recognition of her public health guidance amid the pandemic, Fitzgerald was awarded a YWCA St. John's Honorary Woman of Distinction Award (2020),[3] and recognized as aCollege of Family Physicians of Canada's Family Physician of the Year forNewfoundland and Labrador (2020).[2][4] She has received multiple tributes, including cookies, cross-stitch and petitions to name university buildings after her.[3][10][11]
On July 22, 2022, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced that Dr. Fitzgerald will be Invested into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador for her outstanding work in health care during theCOVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony, which will be held at theGovernment House (Newfoundland and Labrador), will take place on September 28, 2022.[12]
She lives with her husband and their two dogs in Mount Pearl,[5] and has three children pursuing post-secondary education.