November 2009 - Association Update

OPHA 2009 Annual Conference

What a great conference we had!! In the midst of one of the largest vaccination programs in history, a total of 385 delegates were in attendance over the three days to hear presentations from key figures in public health. Dr. Roz Laskar spoke about community collaboration — listening to the community; Dr. Ellen Lippman discussed the importance of mentoring children; the panel with Dr Ernie Lightman, Dr. Gary Block, and Bev Wilson gave new insights into the influence of poverty on health; and Dr Linda Duxbury enlightened us about workforce challenges now and in the future.

Our sponsors, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion and the Ministry of Health provided us not only with financial support but also participated in the conference planning committees, opened and closed the conference, gave keynote presentations, provided congratulatory remarks at the Presidents’ Reception, and participated in several concurrent sessions. Minister Margarett Best, Minister Deb Mathews, Deputy Minister Angela Longo, Dr Arlene King, Dr. David Williams, Dr. Vivek Goel, Monika Turner, and Sonya Corkum all took the podium throughout the three days of the conference. We were delighted in such exceptional participation from our partners.

Other sponsors included the Ontario Neurotrama Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Merck Frosst, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, and SmartServe. GlaxoSmithKline also provided delegates with breakfast and lunchtime updates on pneumococcol infection and the H1N1 vaccine. In all there were 29 exhibitors.

This year we had over 150 abstract submissions: a total of 78 presentations or poster sessions were accepted and presented in concurrent sessions. In addition, 25 submissions were accepted and successfully presented in the innovative “Roundtables” discussion held on Monday afternoon.

The powerpoint presentations from the conference will be made available on the OPHA conference website shortly.

OPHA Awards Luncheon

Marty Mako, Board Secretary, presided over the OPHA Awards Luncheon held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. Please see the description of the Awards and the award recipients by viewing the beautiful Awards Luncheon flyer [PDF]. In keeping with our focus on the public health workforce, a slide show of information about OPHA’s Constituent Societies, who represent the public health workforce, was also shown at the Awards Luncheon.

OPHA Annual General Meeting

Carol Timmings, President, presided over OPHA’s Annual General Meeting, which was attended by over 35 members. During the meeting, Carol presented highlights from the 2008-09 Annual Report, which was approved by the members. The Audited Financial Statement, included in the Annual Report, was presented by Treasurer, Monica Mitchell and approved, and the auditor, BDO Dunwoody, LLP was reappointed for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. In order to meet requirements of the Public Guardian and Trustee to maintain our charitable status and have our updated by-laws from 2007 approved through a Supplemental Letters Patent application, a by-law change substituting the word “advance” for the word “advocate” in our objectives was approved by members. Three resolutions were passed: Strengthening Public Health Laboratories, Adults in Dental Pain, and Water Fluoridation.

Presidents’ Anniversary Reception

OPHA celebrated its 60th year as the Voice of Public Health with a splash. OPHA Patron, the Honourable David Onley, gave a notable tribute to OPHA’s achievements in the past 60 years. Premier Dalton McGuinty sent a video message; Minister Deb Mathews brought greetings from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and Dr. Arlene King, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, acknowledged the public health workforce as she took time from the H1N1 pandemic frenzy to join in the reception. Carol Timmings, OPHA’s President, acknowledged the past presidents in the audience and cut the anniversary cake in celebration of the past and anticipation of the next 60 years. Joining in the celebration were 20 past presidents. A video snapshop album of historic pictures and quotes from past presidents was presented on screen as guests mingled. The audience was entertained by Manding Foli Kan Don, a percussion and dance group representing Guinea West Africa. A feature of the Fall Public Health Today magazine was the snapshot album of pictures and quotes of past presidents. Incoming President, Liz Haugh, on behalf of all members, thanked Carol Timmings for her two years of service as president. Nolly Baksh-Singh was acknowledged for her 20 years of service to OPHA.

 

Staff Updates

Laura King-Hahn resigned as interim Heart Health Resource Centre (HHRC) Program Coordinator effective November 13 to take a position elsewhere. We extend our best wishes to Laura as she begins a new adventure. Rebecca Beyers, HHRC’s Program Coordinator will return from maternity leave in December.

We regretfully bid farewell to Garth Hardie, who is leaving OPHA effective December 2, 2009 and will not be at his desk at OPHA effective immediately. OPHA is very proud of the communication products that Garth has crafted. The Public Health Today magazine has provided important insights into public health for our own members as well as external stakeholders. Our readership for the monthly Ebulletin is now over 700 subscribers. The Student Essay Contest was a resounding success with 10 applicants this year: read the winning essays in the Fall edition Public Health Today magazine and view the winning video on the OPHA website. All conference delegates enjoyed the historical snapshots and quotes from past presidents as well as a slideshow about OPHA’s Constituent Societies, which was crafted by Garth. We wish Garth all the best for the future.