Gerry D’Mello
Daijiworld Media Network - Toronto
Toronto, Feb 20: Canada’s Ontario Halton Region announced that Dr Deepika Lobo of Mangaluru origin will be Halton's next commissioner of health and medical officer of health. The position puts her in charge of the public health and paramedic services in the area, overseeing a budget of more than $100 million.
Almost a decade ago the Mangalurean brain Dr Deepika Delilah Lobo made not only her beloved family but the entire Indian Community in Canada proud by winning the prestigious Allan J Greve gold medal award for achieving the highest academic standing during the MBA in health services management at DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University in Canada.
Dr Deepika Lobo has served as an associate medical officer of health since joining Halton Region in 2019 and has been acting commissioner of health since September 2023. Gary Carr, Halton's regional chair, said he is confident the new commissioner will help keep residents healthy. “We are pleased to officially welcome Dr Lobo to this very critical position in our community. We are confident that Dr Lobo's experience, knowledge, and leadership capabilities will keep our public health services strong and keep our residents healthy.”
After completing initial schooling in St Mary’s School, Margil, Mangaluru, Deepika pursued medicine and completed MBBS at Kasturba Medical College Mangaluru with distinction. Deepika is the proud daughter of Denis and Dorothy Rodrigues from Mangaluru married to Ravi Kiran Lobo in 2005. Deepika and Ravi have two sons Raygan and Rohan Lobo.
When Deepika moved to Canada with her husband around fifteen years ago she knew nothing about Canada and as is the case with many skilled and educated immigrants could not get work in her field. In India, Deepika had trained as a physician and worked briefly as a family doctor and in public health. After moving to Canada from Mangaluru, following a stint in San Francisco, her credentials meant she could apply for only a residency program. In her case, that meant the five-year program at McMaster University. Knowing it would be tough to get in (there are only a few spots for international medical graduates), she searched for a ‘solid backup plan’. So Deepika looked for other prospects. To her surprise, the DeGroote School of Business offered an MBA specializing in health services management, which suited her perfectly. “I have always been into public speaking, and I love administration,” she says. Then with a toddler in daycare and family far away in India, the 28-month programme stretched her to her limit, but she thrived, even making the dean’s list.
With hard work and determination, Deepika completed her residency in public health and preventive medicine through the DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University and is a fellow with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She obtained her doctor of medicine from Kasturba Medical College at Manipal University in India and has master's degrees in public health and business administration from McMaster.
DR DEEPIKA’S PUBLICATIONS
• Lobo D, DeBenedet C, Fehlner-Gardiner C, Nadin-Davis SA, Anderson MEC, Buchanan T, Middel K, Filejski C, Hopkins J. Raccoon rabies outbreak in Hamilton, Ontario: A progress report. Can Commun Dis Rep. 2018; 44(5):116-21. https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v44i5a05
• Dueck K, Morrison R, Brown K, Lobo D, and Loh L. Innovative public health response to an event on the fringe of regulatory changes. Can J Public Health (2018). https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-018-0073-2
HONOURS AND AWARDS
• Allan J. Greve gold medal (highest academic standing in MBA, Health Services Management) 2013
• MBA Dean’s Honor 2012
• MBBS Dean’s Honor 2004
CERTIFICATIONS
• Workplace Mental Health Leadership 2023
• Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2) 2016
• Introduction to Incident Management System (IMS 100) 2015
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Member, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada 2019 - Present
Member, Ontario Medical Association (OMA) 2013 – Present
Member, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) 2013 - Present
Registered Physician, Karnataka Medical Council, India 2004 – Present
The Indian community commends Dr Deepika’s hard work and determination and salutes her incredible achievements. The Mangalurean diaspora living in Canada is very proud that one of them has reached such a high level in her professional career in Canada.