Dr. Peter Jni stepping down as director of Ontario science table in a few weeks

The scientific director of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, Dr. Peter Jni, says he is stepping down in a few weeks for familyreasons.

Jniwho has led the tablesince its formation in July 2020hasaccepted a tenuredprofessorship at the University of Oxford in England, he told CBC in an interview Friday afternoon.

The doctor is originally from Switzerland, and he took thejob to be closer to family in Europe, he said.

Earlier in the pandemic, Jnibecameso frustrated withthe government's response that he considered stepping down.

But hesaid thisdecision was an entirely personal one. Moving to England will mean he is closer to his parents and children in Switzerland, as well as his wife's parents in Slovakia.

As both their parents age, Jnisaidhe realized it was time to be closer to them.

"I will be heartbroken to leave," he said. "If we didn't have, you know, our situation with family ... it would have been very difficult for me to be [moving], to be honest."

Hedescribedhis time with the science table as the "single most important professional experience of myentire career," and said he'll greatly miss working with his colleagues.

New job begins in July

Jniwill officially stepdown in the next few weeks, followinga transition period.

Hisnew position at Oxford a clinical trialsprofessorship at the Nuffield Department of Population Health starts July 1.

Jni is a physician and epidemiologist. He also worksas director of a research centre atSt. Michael's Hospital in Toronto andas a professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of Toronto.

His work has focused on COVID-19 related clinical trials, observational studies, basic research and science communication since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.

When he initially took the job, it was at a time where the understanding of the pandemic was much more limited,Jnisaid.

His plan was to balance his science table workwith his day job at St. Michael's Hospital, but he quickly realized that wouldn't be possible.

"The reality, of course, was that it was a 24-7job," he said. "We thought we would be doing it for six months ... and here we are 20 months later."

Potential successor identified

Jni says that hiring a replacement is already in the works.

While he couldn'tsay who's being considered as the nextscientific director,Jni saiddiscussions are currently being held with that candidate.

"I'm confident that this will bea really, really good succession," he said, addingthe decision is not yet definite.