Lakelands Public Health Adds Doctor With Experience From North York to Sandy Lake First Nation

By Scott Arnold

Lakelands Public Health has a new Associate Medical Officer of Health whose career has taken him from family medicine and hospital care to public health work in communities across Ontario.

Dr. Maxwell Tran has joined Lakelands Public Health as the health unit’s new Associate Medical Officer of Health, bringing experience in family medicine, hospitalist medicine and public health to the role.(photo provided by lakelands public health)

Dr. Maxwell Tran has joined Lakelands Public Health as the health unit's new Associate Medical Officer of Health, adding a background that combines frontline medicine with specialized training in public health.

Alongside his public health specialization, Dr. Tran maintains an active clinical practice in family medicine and hospitalist medicine. His clinical work has included serving diverse patient populations in North York, Parry Sound, Sioux Lookout and Sandy Lake First Nation.

His path into public health began at the University of Toronto, where he completed his Doctor of Medicine as well as a combined Family Medicine and Public Health & Preventive Medicine residency. He served as Chief Resident for both programs.

During that residency, Dr. Tran also completed a Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was recognized as a Sommer Scholar.

His public health training has given him experience with health organizations at both the local and provincial levels. As a senior Public Health and Preventive Medicine resident, he completed rotations with Halton Region, Peel Public Health, Toronto Public Health and York Region Public Health, as well as Public Health Ontario and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Lakelands Medical Officer of Health Dr. Thomas Piggott says that combination of academic, public health and clinical experience will be an asset to the health unit.

"His outstanding academic background, paired with his extensive hands-on residency experience and deep clinical understanding of both urban and remote communities, makes him an exceptional asset to our team."

For Dr. Tran, joining Lakelands Public Health means continuing that work alongside staff and partners throughout the region.

"I am thrilled to join the Lakelands Public Health team. I look forward to working closely with our amazing staff and with the Board of Health, municipalities, First Nations, and partners to improve the health of our communities."

Dr. Tran will work with the health unit as it continues delivering programs and services across the Lakelands region.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Peterborough Sees First Flu Case of 2026/27 Respiratory Season

By Scott Arnold

Lakelands Public Health has confirmed the first laboratory-confirmed case of Influenza A in Peterborough, marking an earlier start to this year’s respiratory season.

Lakelands Public Health is confirming the first laboratory-confirmed case of Influenza A, commonly known as the flu, in the City of Peterborough (photo by scott arnold)

The case was confirmed about a month earlier than last year’s first reported case, which was confirmed in October.

Lakelands Public Health says residents can help limit the spread of influenza and other respiratory illnesses by staying home when sick, washing their hands regularly, covering coughs and sneezes and paying attention to indoor air quality.

Residents are also encouraged to consider wearing a mask indoors, particularly if they are recovering from a respiratory infection, there is a lot of transmission or they are at higher risk of severe illness.

The flu vaccine is expected to become available in October and will be free for anyone six months of age and older. Lakelands Public Health says more information about vaccine availability will be shared once timelines are received from the province.

During the 2025/26 respiratory season, there were 1,104 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases across the Lakelands Public Health region.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Lakelands Public Health Offering 750 Free Radon Test Kits to the Community

Lakelands Public Health is offering 750 free radon test kits to community members as part of the Evict Radon National Study, which is combating the second-leading cause of lung cancer.

File photo.

Community members who receive a kit must agree to participate in the study, set up the device for at least 91 days and send the kit (prepaid envelope included) for analysis.  

According to Lakelands Public Health, Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that emanates from the decay of uranium in rocks and soil. It can seep into cracks, gaps and openings in a home’s foundation. When radon enters confined spaces, such as a house, it can accumulate and become harmful.  

Radon is invisible, odourless and tasteless. When inhaled, radon traps radioactive particles in the lungs. This creates damage and over the years can develop into lung cancer. In Canada, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, after tobacco smoke. 

“The Lakelands Public Health region has been identified as priority for the researchers at Evict Radon – not necessarily because there are high levels of radon in our area, but because there is insufficient data about the radon levels in our area,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, Lakelands Public Health medical officer of health and CEO. “The study results will help us learn more about radon levels in our community to support future programming so that we can work with municipalities to better understand and mitigate local risks,” he added. 

Test kits are limited to one per household and must be picked up by a person residing in the household. Test kits are available while quantities last.

Kits can be picked up at:  

• Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and the City of Kawartha Lakes:

• Local public libraries

• County of Peterborough: 

• Local municipal offices

• City of Peterborough:

• Lakelands Public Health (Peterborough Office, 3rd Floor, 185 King St.)

Radon Kits can also be purchased from EvictRadon.org.

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