In this role, Réka leads the integration of population and public health promotion, planning and prevention across PHSA’s clinical programs supporting the care continuum with a patient-centered approach. In addition, she provides leadership to the BC Centre for Disease Control.

In her role as Deputy Provincial Health Officer she is responsible for the delegated functions of the BCCDC under the Public Health Act.  

Having begun in the midst of a public health emergency related to the novel coronavirus, Réka jumped right into the new role. On her first day, she participated in an all-staff PHSA town hall, taking questions on the outbreak and measures to contain the virus alongside other PHSA leaders and subject-matter experts. She is working closely with public health partners across the province to respond to the situation.

Réka was previously with Vancouver Coastal Health where she served as the Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer and Medical Health Officer for the City of Vancouver. She has lead initiatives that assess and demonstrably improve the health of the population, such as providing leadership for the STOP HIV/AIDS initiative in Vancouver Coastal Health. She also holds a clinical associate professor position in School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia.

Réka completed her Master of Science, Master of Health Science and MD degrees at UBC.  She holds a fellowship in Public Health and Preventative Medicine and certification in Family Medicine.