2008
Department of Health and Community Services

Over her distinguished career of approximately 25 years in public health, Cathy O’Keefe has provided leadership at the provincial and national levels in efforts to promote, protect and preserve the health of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

She has demonstrated leadership in the immunization forum; has shown an innovative spirit in her participation in the new public health surveillance system; has provided service delivery excellence in pandemic planning; and, has shaped the future of public health professionals through her mentoring.

The driving force behind the biennial provincial Immunizations Conference hosted by the province in 2006 and 2008, Cathy had the foresight to recognize the need for continued education for frontline public health nurses. She also has a key role in the development of the National Immunization Strategy.

Her vision and diligence have resulted in Newfoundland and Labrador being recognized as a leader in the field of childhood immunization with uptake as high as 95 to 97 per cent for almost all childhood immunizations.

She is a champion of the Panorama project which is a Pan Canadian solution to public health surveillance, which will manage public health activities across the country in a co-ordinated manner.

With exemplary knowledge in the area of communicable disease, Cathy is a source for advice for her colleagues across the country.

Newfoundland and Labrador is very fortunate to have someone of Cathy’s calibre overseeing such important programs.