Albertans have been praising Dr. Deena Hinshaw for her calm, measured leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic

By Troy Gillard

Praised for her leadership

Alberta’s chief medical officer has deep local ties

Mar 19, 2020 | 1:50 PM

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health has been earning praise from Albertans across the province for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw has become a familiar face thanks to her daily updates on the number of cases in Alberta and the province’s ongoing work to ensure public safety.

Count on local historian Michael Dawe to point out Dr. Hinshaw’s strong connection to our area.

“She has been a real standout in these challenging times,” Dawe said in a post on Facebook. “However, as I know her Mom, Dr. Judy Bergstrom Hinshaw, and knew her Dad, Dave, I am not surprised by how bright and capable she is.”

Dawe says Dave worked as a printer in Red Deer and was tragically killed in a car accident while driving home on the Sylvan Lake Highway in 1994, leaving Judy as a single mom with four children.

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Judy went back to go back to school and ultimately earned a doctorate in history and is now a professor with the University of Calgary.

“Judy worked incredibly hard, raising her children and earning her doctorate,” Dawe said. “Judy is easily one of the most impressive people I know and her children are obviously following in that outstanding legacy.”

Dawe says there are “dozens upon dozens” of Hinshaw relatives living in the area.

Hinshaw Drive in Sylvan Lake is named in the family’s honour.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw was appointed the Chief Medical Officer of Health in Alberta on January 28, 2019.

Hinshaw completed her undergraduate degree at Augustana University College in Camrose, Alberta. She did her medical degree, Masters in Public Health and residencies in family medicine and community medicine at the University of Alberta.

Dr. Hinshaw worked as a Medical Officer of Health in the Central Zone of Alberta Health Services from January 2010 to July 2017. She also served as the Medical Officer of Health lead in the area of public health surveillance and infrastructure for Alberta Health Services from 2014 to 2017. She served as Alberta Health’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health from 2017 to 2019.

Hinshaw graduated from HJ Cody School in Sylvan Lake in 1993 and was class valedictorian.