Deena Hinshaw is a Canadian doctor, currently serving as a Deputy Provincial Health Officer for British Columbia. She previously held the position of Chief Medical Officer of Health for the province of Alberta from January 28, 2019, until November 14, 2022, when she was removed by Danielle Smith.
Bio/Wiki
Age- 48 years
Height-Not known
Weight-Not known
Born- 9 October 1975
Birthplace- Yellowknife, Canada
Profession-Medical doctor, Physician, Educator
Parents
Hinshaw was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and spent her upbringing in Sylvan Lake, Alberta. Details about her parents have not been publicly disclosed.
Husband
She is married and has children, but details about her husband’s name remain undisclosed. She maintains a private stance on her personal life and has only mentioned that her husband works from home.
Education
Hinshaw graduated as the valedictorian from H.J. Cody High School in 1993. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Augustana University College in Camrose, Alberta, graduating in 1997. She obtained her medical degree in 2004 and completed residencies in family medicine and community medicine in 2006, both at the University of Alberta. In 2008, she earned her Master of Public Health degree from the University of Alberta, concurrently completing her residency in public health and preventive medicine.
Career
On January 28, 2019, Hinshaw assumed the role of Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. In her capacity, she reported to the Deputy Minister of Health, although under special circumstances such as a public health emergency or other extraordinary conditions, the Chief Medical Officer may directly report to the Minister of Health.
Chief Medical Officer of Health
Amid the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Alberta, Dr. Deena Hinshaw conducted nearly daily media briefings in Edmonton, beginning with the announcement of the first COVID-19 case in the province on March 5. Recognized as a trusted figure, she calmly presented factual information as the number of confirmed cases rose, according to Global News.
On March 17, following Hinshaw’s advice, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney declared a public health state of emergency under the Public Health Act (PHA).
However, on October 11, 2022, Premier Danielle Smith announced her intention to replace Hinshaw with a new advisory team that viewed COVID-19 as an endemic disease. Subsequently, on November 14, 2022, Smith terminated Hinshaw and appointed Mark Joffe, vice president of Alberta Health Services, as the interim replacement. Originally contracted until 2024, Dr. Deena Hinshaw assumed the role of British Columbia’s Deputy Provincial Health Officer on a temporary basis starting February 1, 2023.
Media
CBC News and the Canadian Press reported a surge in demand for the “charcoal grey half-sleeve dress adorned with the periodic table of elements” worn by Dr. Deena Hinshaw during her March 17 briefing in Edmonton. The dress, created by the British Columbia-based company Smoking Lily, gained popularity, with one tweet hailing her as a “folk hero” for her calm, clear, and forceful communication while wearing the unique garment.
Despite praise, Hinshaw faced criticism for her recommendations to ease restrictions in the summer of 2021. An opinion piece in The Globe and Mail labeled her as an “irredeemable yes-woman,” particularly for ending mandatory isolation for COVID-19-positive individuals, a decision criticized for potential consequences on public health. While some experts supported Hinshaw’s approach, including Dr. Sarah Fortune from Harvard University, others expressed concerns about the potential impact on human life.
Deena Hinshaw Net Worth
The estimated net worth of Deena Hinshaw is approximately $2 million.
Latest News about Deena Hinshaw
Dismissal of Dr. Deena Hinshaw from Indigenous health team prompted Alberta ethics investigation
Following the brief hiring and swift removal of Dr. Deena Hinshaw from a position within an Indigenous health team at Alberta Health Services earlier this year, over 100 physicians expressed concerns by signing a letter requesting an ethics investigation. Unbeknownst to the public, their request was granted.
CBC News has gathered information indicating that Alberta Ethics Commissioner Marguerite Trussler initiated an inquiry into the matter several months ago. While the exact timing and current status of the investigation remain unclear, two individuals who resigned in protest of perceived interference in staffing a health position disclosed to CBC News that they were interviewed by Trussler in October.
Dr. Esther Tailfeathers, a highly regarded Indigenous physician who led the team responsible for selecting Hinshaw, and Dr. Braden Manns, a former senior executive at AHS to whom Tailfeathers’ team reported, are among those who were interviewed.
The Office of the Ethics Commissioner has refrained from providing comments or confirming the investigation, citing the restrictions imposed by the Conflicts of Interest Act. The legislation limits the ethics commissioner’s scope to investigate the conduct of members of the legislature and those in ministerial positions, primarily concerning specific definitions of conflicts of interest.
The investigation revolves around the revocation of Dr. Hinshaw’s appointment, as stated in letters sent by Trussler to Tailfeathers and Manns in August, which CBC News has obtained. However, these letters do not provide additional details about the inquiry’s scope.
