Island Health Authority Announces Central Island’s New Medical Health Officer

Sep 14, 2020

Dr. Mike Benusic

Dr. Mike Benusic is taking over the medical health officer position at Island Health his former instructor Dr. Paul Hasselback held for close to a decade.

The region’s medical health officer retired earlier this month and Island Health has now announced a successor.

In a press release, the health authority which covers Vancouver Island said Dr. Mike Benusic will be stepping into the position. Benusic will take over the role his former teacher held for close to a decade, as he had Dr. Paul Hasselback as an instructor while a medical student at UBC.

Before joining Island Health, Benusic completed his final residency with Toronto Public Health, where he spent a majority of his time dealing with COVID-19, ensuring cases were isolated, managing outbreaks and tracing contacts, the press release said.

Benusic was born in Camrose, Alta., and spent time in 2016 working there as a family doctor during a locum. “I have to say it’s a bit surreal now to be sitting on the other side of the desk,” said Benusic in the press release. “I’m not going to be able to fill Paul’s shoes, but I can use those paths he created to really hit the ground running in this new role.”

Dr. Richard Stanwick, Island Health chief medical health officer, says while there are COVID-19 and opioid overdose emergencies front and centre, Benusic is ready for the role.

“We are fortunate to have Mike join our medical health officer team,” Stanwick said in the press release. “His arrival comes at time of great challenges, but also great opportunities for public health. Mike has figuratively been thrown into the deep end of the pool, but we have every confidence in his abilities to learn, grow and contribute as our newest MHO.”

Source: BC Local News

Let’s Connect

We are here to help.

Local Mental Health Agency Receives Funding to Help Vulnerable People Impacted by the Pandemic

Mental Health Recovery Partners Society, Central Vancouver Island (MHRP-CI) has been granted funding through the Government of Canada and United Way Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) to help two vulnerable Mental Health populations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Mental Health Counselling Project

The COVID-19 Mental Health Counselling Project provides two vulnerable Mental Health populations...

Sandra Allison is Island Health’s Newest Medical Health Officer

In November, Sandra Allison joined Island Health’s team of medical health officers, and will work...