Board Chair Message - September 2008

Since I was elected as the new Board Chair at the Annual Meeting in June, I’ve been thinking about the responsibilities that I have taken on. I’ve made a major commitment to many people and look forward to the challenges of serving my fellow Board members and all healthcare stakeholders.

Even though I live in Kenora, I feel that I bring a regional perspective to our corporation. I will be tenacious in that regard. The people outside of Thunder Bay need to know that the physicians, staff, and volunteers at TBRHSC are passionate about serving everyone in Northwestern Ontario, not just those people living in Thunder Bay. I want to assure folks that our healthcare teams are not looking at where people are from when they need acute care, but what their actual need is and whether we can provide the necessary healthcare.

Obviously, if TBRHSC is overwhelmed with patients, it is best to move patients to another hospital that can provide treatment. It is not fair that some people assume we are rejecting patients, because it is not true. I just want you to know that I am leading a Board of Directors that is focused on regional patient care.

Our open Board meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month. You are invited to join us for the meeting starting at five o’clock where healthcare business is discussed and decisions are made regarding issues. Members of Senior Administration as well as our committees report to the Board. We often have presentations made to us, as well, as we seek to be educated on important matters affecting the Health Sciences Centre.

You will have noticed a lot of construction at our facility. We are creating space for our new Medical Students and the people needed to support the training of these people. As well, we have folks at our Research Institute doing great things as we meld the minds of Research Scientists with the needs of patients. It is an exciting time.

I do not want to forget to welcome our new Cardiologist, Dr. Mark Henderson. As a leading Angioplaster, he is launching the Health Sciences Centre into the realm of elite providers of Cardiology care.

Finally, I want to commend our healthcare teams for the great effort they put forward this summer to care for people. With a lot of staff taking vacation, there is extra responsibility placed on the remaining providers.

I look forward to the next few months of Board activity. In advance of all that, I want to thank my Vice-Chairs, Angele Brunelle and Gil Labine for their willingness to serve as Board Executives.

Until next time,

Ingrid Parkes, Chair
Board of Directors

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