Former NSW deputy chief health officer Dr Marianne Gale will become the state’s new CHO in December.
Queensland Health has ended months of speculation by appointing Dr Marianne Gale, former NSW deputy chief health officer, as the state’s new chief health officer.
The appointment closes one of the longest and most controversial recruitment processes for a senior health role in the country and puts a seasoned pandemic leader back on the front line of public health.
In a statement to Health Services Daily, Queensland Health director-general Dr David Rosengren said Dr Gale was “well-equipped to lead our Population Health Division and to guide all Queenslanders as we navigate future pressing public health challenges”.
“I would like to acknowledge the exceptional leadership and expertise of interim chief health officers Dr Catherine McDougall, and Dr Heidi Carroll throughout the year,” he said.
“Dr McDougall will continue as chief health officer and acting deputy director-general Population Health Division until the commencement of Dr Gale on 1 December.”
Dr Gale is well known for her leadership during the covid pandemic, when she served as deputy CHO in NSW and became a prominent public-facing figure at government press briefings.
She brings more than two decades of experience in communicable diseases, chronic disease prevention and health equity, alongside extensive frontline medical work in international humanitarian settings.
In her new position, Dr Gale will also hold the title of deputy director-general, Population Health.
Dr Rosengren described Dr Gale as “one of Australia’s foremost public health experts”, adding that her expertise and passion was in communicable diseases, health equity and chronic disease prevention.
“Her career has led her to work with some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities,” he said.
“She spent five years as a field doctor and medical advisor with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) treating refugees from Myanmar on the Thai border, then going on to support MSF programs in West and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caucasus, South America and Asia Pacific.
“Dr Gale has also worked as a consultant with agencies such as the World Health Organization on TB control in various countries, including the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
“In a career that has had an international impact, Dr Gale is proud of her beginnings in medicine as a junior doctor in Townsville Hospital.”
The state has been without a permanent CHO since December, when Dr John Gerrard stepped down after three years to return to his clinical post at Gold Coast University Hospital.
Dr Gerrard, an infectious diseases physician, was appointed in 2021 and guided Queensland through the most acute phases of the covid pandemic. He later revealed that threats of physical violence over public health decisions marked the most difficult point of his tenure.
The search for his successor was beset by delays and reversals. In August, media reports claimed an offer had been extended, and then withdrawn, to infectious diseases specialist Dr Krispin Hajkowicz.
Dr Hajkowicz had previously been appointed to the role in 2021 but resigned days before commencing, citing personal reasons. The government later stated it had not been confident in his long-term suitability for the post, despite offering him the position twice.
The international recruitment campaign advertised a salary of up to $431,000.
Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) president Dr Michael Wright welcomed Dr Gale’s appointment.
“Queensland’s new chief health officer has many years of experience as a well-respected public health expert,” he said.
“I worked with Dr Gale in New South Wales during the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and I can see that she is an excellent choice for this vital role.
“The College stands ready to work with Dr Gale, and I wish her all the best. All Queenslanders, no matter their postcode or income, deserve access to high-quality care from a GP who knows them, and their history. This will ensure that patients can live their life to the full, and we can relieve pressure on the entire healthcare system statewide.”
RACGP Queensland chair Dr Cathryn Hester said that the appointment came at a critical time.
“My home state of Queensland will benefit from having positive and strong health leadership, and I look forward to working with Dr Gale,” she said.
“Queensland is facing a number of public health challenges and GPs are a key part of the solution alongside our new Chief Health Officer.
“There’s also a lot of work to be done supporting evidence-based healthcare such as fluoridated water supplies and vaccination uptake. Patients know and trust their GP, and so we have an essential role to play in public health implementation.”
DR SIMON KOS MOVES ON FROM MICROSOFT
Mystery surrounds the sudden departure of Microsoft’s Health Industry director (Asia Pacific) Dr Simon Kos.
Dr Kos has also held the position of Microsoft’s chief medical officer (Australia and New Zealand) and Health Industry executive.
His LinkedIn profile also reveals he left his position as a non-executive board member of Innowell in September. In a post this week announcing his departure, he did not shed much light on the reasons.
“My 14 years at Microsoft have been the most privileged opportunity to work with brilliant people, on initiatives that matter, locally and abroad. To everyone who has been part of my journey, even for just a short while, thank you. My last day was Tuesday 30th Sep,” Dr Kos wrote.
“As for what’s next, more on that in a few days. Suffice it to say I feel an urgency to lean into our societal adoption of AI in a meaningful way, and use everything I’ve learned so far to help leaders and businesses navigate the future. We live in exciting times, there’s no better place to be than right at the centre!”