New Emergency Management Support Director Appointed

Dr. Brian Schwartz has been appointed Director of Emergency Management Support for the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (OAHPP) effective January 1, 2009.  In this role, he will lead development of OAHPP’s strategy, design, policies, procedures and response to health emergencies and exigent circumstances, including hazardous materials, catastrophic events and outbreaks.  The OAHPP will supplement and support the Province in its emergency planning and response by providing improved access to a broader range of scientific and technical specialization.

Dr. Schwartz has practiced Emergency Medicine for over 30 years in both community and academic settings.  In 1992, he joined Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre as a staff Emergency Physician and since 1994, has served as Medical Director for both land and flight paramedics in its Base Hospital program.  Most recently, as Senior Director of the Sunnybrook-Osler Centre for Prehospital Care, he presided over the expansion of the Base Hospital Program to include the Regions of Peel, Halton, Simcoe, and District of Muskoka in addition to Toronto.

During the SARS epidemic, Dr. Schwartz was Vice-Chair of the Ontario SARS Scientific Advisory Committee.  He has served as Scientific Advisor to the Emergency Management Unit in the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, has chaired several Ontario Pandemic  Planning Committees and Working Groups, and contributes to Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) planning and response.

In 2007 Dr. Schwartz was awarded the Ontario Medical Association Emergency Medicine Career Service Award for his contributions to the advancement of Emergency Medicine in Ontario, and holds the rank of Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto.