I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jan Sommers as the Medicine Executive Director for Northern Zone (ZMED), who will start in the role immediately. As the Zone Medical Executive Director for Northern Zone, Dr. Sommers will work in co-leadership with Bethany McCormick, VP Operations, NZ. She will work in close collaboration with Debbie Burris, Executive Director of Health Services and Toni Thompson, Executive Director Community & Rural Health. Reporting directly to me, Dr. Sommers will sit with the provincial medical leadership team providing senior and executive clinical leadership for Northern Zone operations.
Dr. Jan Sommers has served as an emergency physician at Colchester East Hants Health Centre since 2008. Her first leadership appointment was as the Site Specialty Lead in Emergency Medicine at CEHHC from 2019-2024, where she worked closely with team and colleagues to provide quality emergency medicine care throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. She has also acted as the Northern Zone Emergency Department Head since 2022.
A graduate of the Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine (2005), she completed her family medicine training at Dalhousie’s Northumberland Site in Moncton, NB (2007). She returned to Halifax for an additional year of training in emergency medicine, earning her certificate of added competence through the CFPC in 2008. Since 2020, she has been at the forefront of innovation in virtual care, driving advancements in healthcare delivery. Dr. Sommers’ professional passions encompass leadership, quality improvement, clinical teaching, and mentoring wellness in medicine. She is dedicated to leveraging technology and innovation to enhance access to healthcare and continually deepens her expertise in emergency medicine. Outside of her professional life, Dr. Sommers enjoys a fulfilling family life with her husband, Dr. Ryan Sommers (Dalhousie Medicine, 2006), and their four children. An avid reader and outdoor enthusiast, she finds joy in exploring nature with her family and dogs.
I also would like to take this time to thank Dr. Aaron Smith, who since accepting the role of Provincial Medical Executive Director, had also continued to act as the ZMED for Northern Zone.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Sommers to her new role!
Nicole
