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About Us

Vision Statement

Healthier communities for all.

Accomplishing this vision is based on our ability to build on the following values:

• Accountability
• Caring leadership
• Collaboration
• Diversity
• Effective communication
• Excellence 
• Innovation

Mission Statement

Working with our communities to promote and protect health and to prevent disease.

Public Health Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics in PDF format

Who Are We?

The Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU) is a progressive, accredited public health agency committed to improving health and reducing social inequities in health through evidence-informed practice. With a head office in the City of Greater Sudbury and five offices throughout the City of Greater Sudbury and the districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin, the SDHU has a staff of over 250 who deliver provincially legislated public health programs and services. The SDHU is governed by an autonomous Board of Health and has strong community and inter-agency partnerships, for example, with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and Laurentian University. The SDHU has an enriched public health practice environment that fosters research, ongoing education, and the development of innovative programs and services.

The Sudbury & District Health Unit is part of a provincial network of 36 non-profit public health agencies, funded jointly by local and provincial governments. These health units, together with the Public Health Branch of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, public health laboratories, and primary health care providers comprise the formal public health system of the province.

The Sudbury & District Health Unit works locally with individuals, families, the community and partner agencies to promote and protect health and to prevent disease. Public health programs and services are geared toward people of all ages and are delivered in a variety of settings including workplaces, day care and educational settings, homes, health care settings and community spaces.

Medical Officer of Health

The Medical Officer of Health (MOH) is the executive officer of the board of health and is responsible to the board of health for the management of the health unit's public health programs and services as required by law. The Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA) defines the qualifications, roles and responsibilities of a medical officer of health.

The public must be assured that qualified medical personnel are assessing their health needs and that the board will act on such advice. A medical officer of health must be a physician, possess the qualifications and requirements prescribed by the HPPA (fellowship in Community Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or specific post-graduate training in public health) and be approved by the Minister of Health.

The general duties of a medical officer of health follow:

• directs staff in the implementation of board policies and procedures;
• is accountable to the board for day-to-day operation of the health unit;
• directs staff in assessing the health needs of the community using solid epidemiological principles;
• assists staff in translating these needs into programs and services, developing alternative proposals with analysis of implications, and outlining priority programs and services for the board's consideration;
• acts as advisor to the board in their review of the program proposals;
• assists staff in long-range and short-term planning, including: developing, monitoring, evaluating and revising an annual work plan;
• directs staff in the preparation of budget estimates for board approval;
• ensures that expenditures are in accordance with the approved budget and policies of the board;
• develops criteria for selection of senior staff and presents these to the board;
• hires senior staff and recommends their appointment by the board;
• is responsible for the direct supervision and performance appraisal of senior staff; advises or assists department heads in hiring staff;
• encourages and promotes the continuing education of all staff;
• directs the overall provision of programs and services;
• evaluates the effectiveness of programs and services;
• recommends appropriate changes and reports these findings regularly to the board.

The medical officer of health advises the board on policy; is responsible for implementation of board policy and decisions; and ensures the proper management of all aspects of health unit operations.

The Sudbury & District Health Unit has been led by the following Medical Officers of Health and Associate Medical Officers of Health since the board's inception: