Remembering Dr. Mark Raizenne
It is with profound sadness that AllerGen shares news of the passing of Dr. Mark Edward Raizenne, a respected environmental and public health expert and long-term friend of AllerGen, on 11 May 2023.
Dr. Raizenne served for over 40 years in various organizations of the federal health portfolio of Health Canada as a researcher/scientist and manager of science programs. He was also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa.
Within AllerGen, Dr. Raizenne played a continuously supportive role as a founding member of the Network’s Research Management Committee, a role he filled for the duration of AllerGen’s existence as an NCE (2004-2021). He contributed to the initial formation of the Network, to the evolution of its strategic research plans, and to ensuring the scientific excellence of the research it funded—including the Network’s celebrated legacy initiative, CHILD Cohort Study, which is still going strong.
In his public service career, Dr. Raizenne served as the Division Chief for the Air Health Effects Division; Executive Director for the Office of Sustainable Development; the Associate Director General for the Safe Environments Program; the Director of Environmental Influences on Health with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); and as Director General for the Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CFEZID), in the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Dr. Raizenne’s research focused on the importance of the environmental contaminants, specifically air quality, on human health. He held degrees in environmental health and epidemiology from the University of Ottawa and the Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University. He authored over 30 peer reviewed scientific publications.
“Dr. Raizenne was truly part of AllerGen’s foundation. His was a steady, good-humoured presence we could always count on to bring a critical public health perspective to the discussion of research,” comments AllerGen’s President & CEO, Dr. Diana Royce.
“His insights and strategic contributions were a highly valued part of the AllerGen community. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to benefit from his expertise, wisdom and friendship over many years,” says AllerGen’s Board Chair, Mr. Dan Nixon.
“On behalf of the AllerGen Network, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”