Dr. Joffe is currently the vice-president and medical director for Cancer Care Alberta, Clinical Support Services and Provincial Clinical Excellence for Alberta Health Services.
“Dr. Joffe has dedicated himself to improving the health of Albertans throughout his career. He brings this wealth of experience and knowledge to the role of chief medical officer of health. I look forward to working with him. I also wish to thank Dr. Deena Hinshaw for her service and dedication to Albertans through the past several years.”
“I am honoured to be asked to take on the chief medical officer of health role for our province. I have always put the needs of my patients first and foremost throughout my career, which will continue as I take on this new challenge. I want to thank Minister Copping for giving me this opportunity.”
An experienced health-care leader with a lifelong passion and interest in the prevention of infectious diseases, Dr. Joffe has worked with the former Capital Health and now Alberta Health Services for more than 25 years.
Past leadership roles include chairing the Royal Alexandra Hospital Medical Staff Society and two terms as president of the Capital Region Medical Staff Association, as well as president of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases of Canada, among numerous local and national duties. Dr. Joffe is also a professor in the department of medicine at the University of Alberta.
A Calgary native, Dr. Joffe graduated with his doctor of medicine from the University of Calgary in 1982. He achieved a specialist certificate in internal medicine and a certificate of special competence in infectious diseases from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 1986 and 1989, respectively. He pursued further studies through a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Alberta and the Stanford University School of Medicine between 1989 and 1993.
Dr. Joffe’s interim appointment takes effect Nov. 14 and will continue until the minister of health rescinds the appointment. He will continue in his current contract with AHS, with no additional compensation for the chief medical officer of health role.