The FNHA is pleased to welcome Sonia Isaac-Mann as the new Executive Director of Community Health and Wellness Services. Sonia is originally from Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation in Quebec. As a member of the Policy, Planning and Community Services portfolio, working with the Chief Operating Officer, Sonia will lead FNHA Community Health and Wellness Services, supporting a community-oriented approach to the delivery of health services for BC First Nations.
This position will oversee FNHA programs and services in the areas of environmental public health, health protection, mental wellness, emergency health and wellness crises, and program support and surveillance. Sonia has worked in the area of First Nations health for over 20 years and brings extensive community, regional and national experience moving forward on culturally appropriate health policies that support higher quality health services for First Nations peoples.
"I look forward to Sonia’s contributions related to her education and training, as well as her experience working within First Nations health in a number of roles and capacities over the past decade," said Richard Jock, FNHA Chief Operating Officer. "I hope you will join me in welcoming her to her new role."
Sonia’s position will provide leadership and support directly to First Nations communities, First Nations Health Directors, and partner Health Authority and First Nations Health Service Organizations. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to support service transformation.
"The FNHA is ‘the’ place to be right now in terms of transformative change in health for First Nations," said Sonia Isaac-Mann. "I am truly honoured to be here at the FNHA, to be part of a team that is leading health innovation that will have immense impact not only at the BC level but also at national and international levels."
Sonia previously worked with the Assembly of First Nations, leading the health portfolio since 2008, most recently as the Associate Director of Health. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise in First Nations health research and data, health policy, epidemiology, determinants of health, traditional and Indigenous knowledge, integration of cultural approaches to health services, and mental wellness, public, population and community health. Sonia holds a Master’s degree in Medical Sciences – Public Health Sciences with a focus on Population Health within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta.