A forensic pathologist has been appointed Alberta’s new chief medical examiner.
Dr. Elizabeth Brooks-Lim has been appointed to the position after serving as interim acting chief medical examiner since July.
She has served as a deputy chief medical examiner in Edmonton, assistant chief medical examiner in Calgary and Edmonton and forensic pathologist and coroner in Saskatchewan.
“It’s a great honour to be Alberta’s new chief medical examiner. We have an extremely dedicated and talented team of professionals at the OCME and I’m looking forward to continuing to lead them as we work hard to provide Albertans with outstanding services,” Brooks-Lim said.
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The appointment comes a day after interim Liberal leader David Swann called on the government to ramp up funding for the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office to provide more timely and effective reporting on the province’s rapidly expanding opioid crisis.
Swann’s comments came after the government updated its response to the increased use of ultra-powerful street drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil this week. On Monday, the government said 15 fatal drug overdoses have been linked to carfentanil in Alberta and that 14 of those occurred between September and the end of November.
Brooks-Lim has worked in forensic pathology in Canada and the United Kingdom after earning her medical degree at the University of Bristol in the U.K. and completing her post-graduate medical training in pathology and forensic pathology.
She also earned post-graduate and professional certifications from Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Cornell University.
“I have great confidence in the experience and professionalism Dr. Brooks-Lim brings to this role and look forward to continuing to work with her on important issues. This appointment will maintain stability in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner,” Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kathleen Ganley said.
READ MORE: Alberta opioid crisis: Liberal leader says medical examiner can’t keep up
The chief medical examiner is appointed under Alberta’s Fatality Inquiries Act by the lieutenant governor after getting a recommendation from the minister of justice and solicitor general.
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