Alberta names new interim chief medical officer of health

EDMONTON — The Alberta government has announced the appointment of a new interim chief medical officer of health, days after the previous one’s contract expired.

Officials say Dr. Sunil Sookram is to serve in the role on a temporary basis as arrangements are finalized for a “longer-term appointment.”

Sookram is currently the facility medical director and chief of medical staff at Strathcona Community Hospital in Sherwood Park, east of Edmonton.

He is also a clinical professor in the department of emergency medicine at the University of Alberta and practises as an emergency physician at the University of Alberta Hospital.

Sookram’s appointment comes after the office of Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said earlier this week that the contract Dr. Mark Joffe had expired on Monday.

Joffe was serving in the role on an interim basis after the Alberta government followed through on its 2022 commitment to fire Dr. Deena Hinshaw, who held the position throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

LaGrange said Thursday that Sookram brings a wealth of experience to the role.

“I appreciate his willingness to serve in this capacity on a temporary basis as we work to finalize the candidate for the interim chief medical officer of health position,” LaGrange said in a statement.

“I also wish to thank Dr. Mark Joffe for his service and dedication over the past three years.”

Sookram enters the role as Alberta grapples with a rising number of measles cases.

The province reported six new cases on Thursday, bringing its total to 89 since the beginning of March, though 83 of those people are now past the period of communicability.

Officials say that does not reflect the risk in the community, as there may be people with undiagnosed measles, or the number of people who have been exposed to the extremely contagious disease.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2025.

The Canadian Press