Dr. Robert Strang | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1959 (age 66–67) |
| Education | University of British Columbia |
| Occupations | Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMO), Nova Scotia |
| Known for | CMO duringCOVID-19 pandemic in Nova Scotia |
Robert StrangONS[1] (born 1959) is a Canadianphysician and thechief medical officer for the province ofNova Scotia. Before becoming a doctor, Strang playedrugby union for theCanada men's national rugby union team until retiring in 1991.
Born inSouthern Rhodesia, nowZimbabwe, Strang and his family moved toFredericton,New Brunswick when he was five years old.[2][3] Strang began playingrugby union in high school and played for theUniversity of British Columbia'srugby team. He later played in New Zealand, but returned to Canada in the early 1980s to play for theCanada men's national rugby union team. While on the team, he played against theEngland national rugby union team atTwickenham Stadium. Strang retired as a player in 1991.[2]
He received amedical degree fromUniversity of British Columbia (UBC) in 1990 and completedfamily practice residency in 1992 andcommunity medicineresidency in 1997 at UBC.[4] He also received from UBC aBachelor of Science andBachelor of Physical Education.[5]
In 1994, Strang became a team doctor for theCanada men's national rugby union team.[2] From 1997 to 1999, Strang was an AssociateMedical Officer of Health in the Canadian province ofBritish Columbia.[4] In 1999, Strang moved toNova Scotia,[2] and continued his career inHalifax, Nova Scotia, where he became the Medical Officer of Health ofCapital District Health Authority,[4] the largest health authority of the province, later merged into the newNova Scotia Health Authority. He held the position until 2007.[5]
In 2007, Strang was appointedChief Public Health Official of Nova Scotia. He was announced in that newly created role on 23 August 2007.[5] The position was renamedChief medical officer of Health by the province in late 2016.[citation needed]In that role, Strang has been an anti-smoking advocate and an outspoken critic ofpseudoscience[6] andmisinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] In 2018, he was withTheresa Tam the co-chair of the special advisory committee on theepidemic of opioid overdoses in Canada.[8]
Since 15 March 2020, Strang has provided daily updates on theCOVID-19 pandemic in Nova Scotia. He became Nova Scotia'spublic health lead communicator on matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nova Scotia. In dailypress conferences, he provides updates on theCOVID-19 pandemic and the public health effort to respond to it.[9]
In December 2020, Strang was awarded theLieutenant-Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Administration for his work during the pandemic.[2]
In November 2020, TheRotary Club ofDartmouth, Nova Scotia presented Dr. Robert Strang with the covetedPaul Harris Fellowship Award. Two years later in March 2022, the Rotary Club ofMiddleton, Nova Scotia awarded Strang a second Paul Harris award and also honoured his fellow Pandemic leader, the former Premier of Nova Scotia,Stephen McNeil.[10]
A married father of three, Strang has been living in Nova Scotia since 1999 and is a resident of theHalifax Regional Municipality.[11] Strang was born with acleft lip and cleft palate. Despite being retired from playingrugby union, Strang still referees matches. Strang became known for his tie collection during theCOVID-19 pandemic in Nova Scotia, wearing a different tie to every briefing; a tree decorated with some of his ties raised $8250 at a charity auction for the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia in December 2020.[2]