Dr. Eileen de Villa, who led Toronto through the COVID-19 pandemic, announces resignation

The doctor who led Toronto through the COVID-19 pandemic as the city’s top public health official is stepping down.

The doctor who led Toronto through the COVID-19 pandemic as the city’s top public health official is stepping down.

Dr. Eileen de Villa announced her resignation in a video message posted to social media on Tuesday.

Sporting one of her signature scarves, de Villa said that it has been her “distinct honour and privilege” to serve as Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health and lead Canada’s largest local public health unit since first being appointed to the role in 2017.

“To you, the people of Toronto, I am incredibly grateful, deeply, deeply grateful for the privilege of having served as your medical officer of health for these last several years,” said de Villa, who will be concluding her duties on Dec. 31.

“And I am incredibly grateful as well, for the positive impact we've had on the health of this city. It has truly been the honor and the privilege of a lifetime to work alongside my remarkable colleagues here at Toronto Public Health and with other community providers, whether it's within city divisions, or other leaders and health providers throughout the city. And as well members of communities throughout the entire city of Toronto. I cannot thank you enough for all your support over these years. And for everything that we have done together.”

De Villa, who is 55, called the last eight years a “remarkable time.”