Dr. Horacio Arruda Appointed Public Health Director for Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec

Dr. Horacio Arruda appointed as public health director for Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec

A Transition from Interim to Permanent Leadership

Natalie Petitclerc confirms the two-year mandate starting in August 2026

The appointment, confirmed by Natalie Petitclerc, cements a leadership change that has been in progress. Dr. Arruda, who transitioned into the interim role in October 2025, will now lead the regional public health department for a two-year mandate beginning August 2, 2026. While some records indicate the mandate begins on August 2, other agency communications have referenced August 4 as the start date. Despite these administrative details, the consensus is that Dr. Arruda’s tenure is now confirmed for the next two years.

Four Decades of Crisis Management

Dr. Arruda leverages experience from SARS, H1N1, and COVID-19 pandemic response

Dr. Arruda brings nearly 40 years of experience in public health to his new regional post. A physician specializing in community health and preventive medicine, he holds a doctorate in medicine and a specialist certificate from the Université de Sherbrooke. During his extensive career, he has occupied several strategic functions at the Ministry of Health and Social Services of Quebec, including director of public health protection, national director of public health, and assistant deputy minister.

His career has been defined by his presence during several high-profile health crises. According to Santé Québec, he contributed to the management of multiple major health crises, including the SARS epidemic in 2003, the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009, the Lac-Mégantic tragedy in 2013, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He is widely known for serving as Quebec’s national director of public health from 2012 to 2022, a role that placed him at the center of the provincial government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where he appeared regularly during televised press briefings.

Strategic Vision for Regional Health

Dr. Arruda prioritizes community partnerships to address climate change and social inequalities

In his new capacity, Dr. Arruda aims to shift focus toward prevention and inter-agency collaboration. He emphasizes that the health of a population is influenced by factors that exist outside of traditional clinical settings. Regarding his approach, Dr. Arruda stated: “La santé se construit bien au-delà du réseau de la santé. Avec les municipalités, les organismes communautaires, les établissements d’enseignement, les entreprises et l’ensemble de nos partenaires, nous devons travailler collectivement pour améliorer les conditions de vie, réduire les inégalités sociales de santé et mieux préparer notre région aux défis liés aux changements climatiques.”

This vision includes a goal of alleviating pressure on the healthcare system by acting upstream. In a press release, Dr. Arruda further detailed his approach: “La santé publique a un mandat fondamental de protection de la santé de la population et de prévention des problèmes de santé. Je souhaite également travailler étroitement avec mes collègues afin d’intégrer davantage la prévention dans les trajectoires de soins, parce qu’agir en amont demeure essentiel pour améliorer durablement la santé.”

Natalie Petitclerc praised this vision, noting that Dr. Arruda’s experience in the field and at the national level will be critical to the region. “Nous sommes très heureux de pouvoir compter sur le Dr Arruda à la tête de notre Direction de la santé publique. Son expérience, tant sur le terrain qu’à l’échelle nationale, sa vision de la prévention et sa capacité à mobiliser les partenaires contribueront à relever les défis actuels et futurs en santé publique,” stated Mme Petitclerc. Son arrivée permettra également de poursuivre le développement d’une approche intégrée, en étroite collaboration avec nos équipes cliniques et nos partenaires du milieu, au bénéfice de la population.

The appointment is viewed as a move to stabilize leadership within the Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec health network, building on the work Dr. Arruda initiated during his time as interim director since October 2025.

Sources: Vingt55, Radio Canada.