Dr. Eilish Cleary, who was New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health for eight years, died of ovarian cancer last Friday in Fredericton. She was 60.
Cleary was born in Ireland and became that country’s youngest doctor at 22, according to her obituary. She moved to Canada in 1998, first settling in Manitoba before making her way to New Brunswick.
“Eilish believed deeply in access to healthcare for all and worked throughout her entire life to ensure that this was available,” her obituary says.
Cleary, who had four children, was New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health from 2007 to 2015 before becoming a family doctor. She also spent time fighting Ebola in West Africa, and won the President’s Award from the Public Health Physicians of Canada in 2016.
The Liberal government dismissed Cleary from her role as chief medical officer of health in 2015 in a high-profile case that left many New Brunswickers calling for her reinstatement.
Dr. Eilish Cleary, New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health, reflects on the 10 weeks she spent fighting Ebola in West Africa.
A visitation for Cleary is taking place Sunday at McAdam’s Funeral Home, and a funeral service will take place on Monday at St. Dunstan’s Catholic Church. A livestream will be held for those who can’t attend.
Her ashes will be brought home to Ireland.
