Deputy Health Minister Appointed

Dr. Nuala Kenny, a nationally recognized educator and physician ethicist, has been appointed deputy minister at the Department of Health, Premier Russell MacLellan announced today.

"Dr. Kenny is among the leaders in this country when it comes to tackling the long-term implications of health-care issues," said Premier MacLellan. "Her in-depth knowledge and experience will serve Nova Scotians well as we continue to build a strong health-care system."

Current deputy health minister Mildred Royer has requested, and received, an indefinite leave for personal reasons. Dr. Kenny's appointment takes effect Thursday.

Born in New York, Dr. Kenny -- now a Canadian -- entered the Sisters of Charity of Halifax in 1962. After earning a bachelor of arts degree from Mount Saint Vincent University and a medical degree from Dalhousie, she did postgraduate training at Dalhousie and at the Tufts-New England Medical Centre.

She served several years at Dalhousie's department of pediatrics as co-ordinator of regional pediatric services, before becoming director of medical education at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children in 1982. In 1985, she was appointed professor and chair of the department of pediatrics at Queen's University.

She returned to Nova Scotia in 1988 as professor and head of pediatrics at Dalhousie and chief of pediatrics at the Izaak Walton Killam Hospital. In 1992, she received an honorary doctorate from Mount Saint Vincent University and, in 1995, was founding director of the Office of Bioethics Education and Research at Dalhousie's faculty of medicine.

Health Minister Jim Smith said the department is pleased Dr. Kenny has agreed to step into the deputy minister's office.

"As we work to strengthen our health-care system, we face many challenges ahead. Dr. Kenny knows this, and is ready for the challenge" said Dr. Smith. "But more than that, she has the dedication and sensitivity that will help ensure we make the right decisions in meeting those challenges."

Among her many commitments, Dr. Kenny has served on the committees on biomedical ethics of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Canadian Pediatric Society. She was a founding member of the National Council for Bioethics in Human Research, chair of the values committee of the Prime Minister's National Forum on Health, past president of both the Canadian Pediatric Society and the Canadian Bioethics Society. She currently serves on the National Science Advisory Board. Dr. Kenny was recently appointed an officer of the Order of Canada.