ACT Health's chief medical officer Jeffrey Fletcher has quit, and is due to step down and leave Canberra later in the month.
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Dr Fletcher, who is also a senior staff specialist at Canberra Hospital, has been in the role for the past 20 months.
The resignation comes after a string of high-profile departures at ACT Health, including the resignation of director general Nicole Feely in March and the CEO designate of Canberra Health Services Janet Anderson just days after she was appointed in August.
Dr Fletcher emailed colleagues on Monday saying he had decided to step down from the role as of November 21.
He said in the email he did not have a job to go to and would be looking for roles in the near future outside of Canberra.
"It has been an absolute honour being in the role of [chief medical officer] for the past 20 months and I hope I have been able to do justice in the role for many of you," Dr Fletcher said.
"We all know you cannot please everyone and that with this there are highlights and lowlights in any role we do in life."
Dr Fletcher's resignation comes as the government confirmed it had investigated claims made in a public interest disclosure regarding the medical imaging department and the recruitment of its director.
Dr Fletcher was on the panel for the appointment and has also been providing clinical oversight to the medical imaging department in the absence of a clinical director.
The Canberra Times is not suggesting Mr Fletcher's resignation is linked to the public interest disclosure.
Talking about his highlights in the role, he mentioned maintaining the surgical safety checklist at 95 per cent.
He also identified the ability to encourage interprofessional learning and collaboration as a highlight.
He asked staff to "keep up the drive and passion I have had for ensuring the respect we have for all clinicians and staff we have in the organisation".
Dr Fletcher said he left ACT Health being true to himself and having advocated strongly for, and upheld, core values of care, excellence, collaboration and integrity.
"I have in open forums encouraged all staff to speak up if they feel they are not being treated appropriately," Dr Fletcher said.
"I leave with my core values, integrity and dignity intact."
He said he would be keeping an eye on how ACT Health progresses from wherever he is.
"I will let you know where I do end up and I am looking forward to [doing] what I do and how I do it somewhere else," Dr Fletcher said.
"I love my work."
An ACT Health spokeswoman said recruitment for a new chief medical officer would start as soon as possible.
She said there were no arrangements for an interim occupant for the position at this point, but one would be arranged when Dr Fletcher left the role later in the month.
Dr Fletcher's office was contacted for comment.
