The Public Health Agency of Canada today announced the appointment of Dr. Matthew Gilmour as the new Scientific Director General National Public Health Laboratories, responsible for the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg and the Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses (LFZ) in Guelph, Ontario. Dr. Gilmour will begin his position in February 2015.

Dr. Gilmour is currently a clinical microbiologist with Diagnostic Services of Manitoba and an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology at the University of Manitoba. He is also a past employee of the Agency where he held the positions of Director of Bacteriology and Enteric Diseases and the Chief of Enteric Diseases at the NML.

The Scientific Director General is responsible for managing the delivery of laboratory public health and emergency preparedness programs, providing strategic scientific advice to senior officials and representing Canada’s top human health laboratories nationally and internationally.

The position is being filled following the retirement of Dr. Frank Plummer.  To staff the position, the Agency ran a national competition to find the most qualified and best-suited candidate. Dr. Gilmour was selected following a rigorous process and he will bring his experience and scientific leadership to this important role.