Dr. Ryan Sommers hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he completed his medical degree and family medicine residency at Dalhousie University Medical School. He later completed his Royal College Training in Public Health and Preventative Medicine at the University of Toronto in 2013.
Starting in 2013, Ryan served as an attending physician during the move from the old Truro Hospital to the new Colchester East Hants Health Centre. Later, he became the medical site lead and interim Zone Medical Executive Director. He also served as the Regional Medical Officer of Health for the three local health authorities that became the Northern Zone.
Through these roles, Ryan gained valuable leadership experience, which helped him transition to Senior Regional Medical Officer of Health and Senior Medical Director for the provincial NSH Public Health program during the pandemic. He also continues to serve as a family doctor, participating in a weekly evening Primary Care Access Clinic.
Ryan lives in Truro with his wonderful wife, Dr. Jan Sommers, an emergency medicine physician and Northern Zone lead for the Emergency Department and Senior Medical Director for Virtual Urgent and Emergent Care. They have four kids, Ben, Atticus, Ruby, and Theo, as well as a dog, two guinea pigs and several fish.
In his (limited) spare time, Ryan enjoys playing hockey, camping, golfing and embracing his inner nerd with Lego, especially the Star Wars variety.
