Bonnie Henry

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  Bonnie Henry
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  Bonnie Henry

Bonnie Henry

Bonnie Henry is a Canadian physician and public health expert who has served as the Provincial Health Officer for British Columbia since 2018. She gained national and international recognition for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early Life and Education

Bonnie Henry was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree. She then attended the Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she earned her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.

Following her medical degree, Dr. Henry completed a residency in family medicine and a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at the University of California, San Diego. She also completed a residency in preventive medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

Career

Dr. Henry began her career in public health with the Canadian Forces Health Services, where she served as a medical officer. She later worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on polio eradication in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In 2001, Dr. Henry joined the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) as a physician epidemiologist. She played a key role in the response to the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009.

Provincial Health Officer

In 2018, Dr. Henry was appointed as the Provincial Health Officer for British Columbia, becoming the first woman to hold this position. As the top public health official in the province, she is responsible for monitoring the health of the population and providing independent advice to the government on public health issues.

COVID-19 Pandemic

Dr. Henry became a prominent figure during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, known for her calm and compassionate communication style. She provided daily updates to the public and implemented measures to control the spread of the virus, including social distancing guidelines and mask mandates.

Her leadership was widely praised, and she became a trusted source of information for many Canadians. Dr. Henry's approach emphasized the importance of kindness and empathy, encapsulated in her frequent reminder to "be kind, be calm, and be safe."

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Henry has received numerous awards for her contributions to public health, including the Order of British Columbia and the Canadian Public Health Association's R.D. Defries Award. She has also been recognized as one of the BBC's 100 Women of 2020.

Related Pages

• COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
• Public health
• British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
• SARS
• H1N1