The province has released the names of the inaugural Board of Directors to oversee the province’s new health services authority, Health PEI. The Health PEI Board will be chaired by Leo Steven, former CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre – an internationally respected, dynamic, research-oriented teaching hospital. The appointment of Mr. Steven underscores government’s efforts to develop an integrated, Island-wide health system that is both competently led and of the highest quality.
At Sunnybrook, Steven led a team of 10,000 employees serving over 1,000,000 patients a year with a budget of $800 million. Rounding out the impressive Board of 11 strong are: Chairperson Leo Steven, Geraldine MacKendrick, Jim Revell, Dr. Steve O’Brien, Dr. Kinsey Smith, Phyllis Horne, Denis Marantz, Dr. Marvin Clark, Gordon MacKay, Donna Murnaghan and Kenneth Ezeard. The membership represents a broad section of our Island community and brings together an impressive combination of skill sets and experience.
“We are very pleased that our provincial health services entity will be governed by a Board comprised of such skilled, committed community leaders,” said Premier Ghiz. “We are committed to building a sustainable, integrated health care system and the establishment of this highly qualified Board is another very positive step in that direction.”
In December, Government advertised for prospective members of the Board of Health PEI through Participate PEI and in excess of 130 applications were received.
“The body of applicants that we received was impressive. It is very reassuring, as Premier, to see the response that we received and the level of commitment that Islanders have to work with Government to strengthen our Island community. I would like to thank everyone who put their name forward,” said Premier Ghiz.
In 2009, in response to the concerns that were raised in the 2008 Corpus Sanchez International (CSI) health system review, Government struck the Health Governance Advisory Council and tasked it with making recommendations to Government regarding the governance of the health care system. In November 2009, Government released the PEI Health Governance Advisory Council’s report and, in accordance with the report’s recommendations, introduced legislation to create an arms-length governing body to be called Health PEI.
The Health Governance Advisory Council identified the Health PEI Board as a crucially important element of the proposed new governance structure and recommended that the members of the Board possess key leadership competencies, have a range of relevant skills and experience, and be broadly representative of the Island community. The Council’s recommendation was accepted and legislated by Government in the Health Services Act.
“The formation of this Board represents the achievement of yet another milestone, as we work to achieve our vision for health care in this Province,” said Hon. Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Health and Wellness. “I look forward to a great working relationship between the Department, the Board and Health PEI as we continue to build a health system that truly meets the needs of every Islander.”
The core responsibilities of the Board of Health PEI include budgetary oversight and authority to oversee the day-to-day delivery of services in accordance with policies set by Department of Health and Wellness. Health PEI will deliver the front-line services to Islanders.
“I’m sure I speak for all Board members when I say we are pleased to offer our respective skills and experiences to work with Government to help achieve their vision of – one Island health system,” said Leo Steven, Board Chair. “The first challenge we will face as a Board will be coming together to begin to better understand the PEI system, the health needs of Islanders, the expectations of Government and our role in supporting the great work of all the staff, physicians, unions and other partners in the health system.”
The creation of Health PEI is just another step towards implementing Government’s vision of “One Island Health System.” The Health Services Act that creates Health PEI as a legal entity came into effect April 10.
BACKGROUNDER
In its April 4th, 2008 Speech from the Throne, the Provincial Government declared the health care system a strategic priority:
“Together with Islanders, we will build a sustainable, integrated health care system, one that shifts emphasis and culture toward wellness and primary [health] care, placing patients, the community as a whole and sustainability above all considerations.” Prince Edward Island, Speech from the Throne, 2008
The Government engaged Corpus Sanchez International (CSI) to undertake a province-wide review of the health system to make observations on the system. In its final report, CSI identified a variety of opportunities for improvement and in November 2008 Government released the Corpus Sanchez International (CSI) report.
CSI recommended numerous steps required to curtail the growth in healthcare costs and to ultimately provide safer, quality care to all Islanders. In November of 2008, seven of the recommendations were adopted as policy:
• Investment of $1.5 in home care
• Long-term care modernization
• Explore new models of care
• Changes to emergency services
• Community health centre role changes
• Re-alignment of hospital services
• New health governance model
While the CSI report made recommendations on front-line operations, it also noted challenges to leadership and governance, and made strong recommendations in this area, noting that governance infrastructure was a key factor in leading the changes needed in the operational model. The CSI report recommended that the Province re-establish an arms-length governing entity with a global budget and authority to deliver services in accordance with Department of Health and Wellness policy, plans and overall direction. They noted that the current governance model is unique in Canada in that there is no overall governance entity that provides direction to the system, while still providing the typically required arms-length framework between the government (including the Department of Health and Wellness) and those who provide health care. This has led to a degree of bureaucracy that impedes the system, resulting in a lack of clear lines of authority and accountability.
The PEI Health Governance Advisory Council was established to research, consult and recommend a new governance model for the PEI health system – a model that supports the Government-adopted direction of “One Island Health System.”
As had the CSI report before it, after a thorough and evidence-based process, the Council also recommended that the PEI health system be operated by an operating entity that is at arms length to government. Government acted on this recommendation in 2009 via the Health Services Act that established a Crown corporation to be known as Health PEI. The Council recommended that the entity be controlled and managed by a Board of Directors, appointed by the Minister, consisting of no less than nine and no more than eleven members who possess the skills, knowledge, experience and competencies determined by the Minister as being necessary to ensure the effective governance of Health PEI and be representative of various community perspectives.
The Council’s report contains background, a concise overview of governance theory and the key concepts being recommended.
HEALTH PEI BOARD MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES
Chair, Leo Steven
Mr. Steven has had almost 40 years of leadership experience in health care. He is the immediate past President and Chief Executive Officer of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, which has an annual budget of more than $800 million and employs about 10,000 staff and physicians. Sunnybrook is an internationally recognized leader in health care, research, and in affiliation with the University of Toronto for the training of new physicians and care givers. During Mr. Steven’s tenure as CEO, Sunnybrook experienced unprecedented growth and recognition as Canada’s premier Academic Health Sciences Centre.
Mr. Steven was also President and Chief Executive Officer of William Osler Health Centre, Ontario’s largest community hospital. He initiated the construction of one of the largest new hospitals built in Ontario during the past twenty five years. He has served as President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa. He has also held senior positions at the Victoria Hospital in London and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
Mr. Steven is currently a member of the Board of the National Research Council of Canada. He is past Chair of the Ontario Hospital Association, past Chair of the Catholic Health Association of Canada, past Chair of the Catholic Health Association of Ontario, and has sat on several healthcare related boards and government advisory panels both at the provincial and national levels. He has received numerous awards in recognition of his work in health care, with the most recent being the creation of the “Leo N. Steven Award for Excellence in Leadership” in recognition of Mr. Steven’s leadership and accomplishments.
Mr. Steven holds a Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Western Ontario. He is a member of the Canadian College of Health Service Executives and the American College of Health Service Executives. Mr. Steven has undertaken several government initiated studies and operational reviews.
Mr. Steven retired to Prince Edward Island in 2008, with his Island-born wife, Rosalie. His wife’s family have resided in Murray Harbour area for over two hundred years. Two of their children obtained their post secondary education at UPEI and now live in Charlottetown, and one daughter and two grandchildren live in Vancouver.
Geraldine MacKendrick
Geraldine has been employed at the West Prince Veterinary Service of O'Leary as office manager for the past 32 years. Having a keen interest in leadership and public speaking, she joined Speak Easy Toastmasters at Slemon Park in January 2001. Geraldine has held the executive positions of President and Vice President of Membership on several occasions. She has completed her Advanced Communicator Bronze and Advanced Leadership Bronze and is currently working towards the Advanced Communicator Silver. She is also a Board member of the Stewards and Trustees of the O’Leary United Church.
Geraldine lives in Cape Wolfe, PEI with her husband Bill. She has two children – Jill, in British Columbia, and Tim, in Nova Scotia.
Dr. Marvin Clark
Dr. Marvin Clark was born and raised in Kensington, Prince Edward Island. Dr. Clark received his Premedical Education from Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick and his Medical Doctor Degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Educational Psychology from Michigan State University.
Throughout his career, Dr. Clark has held several significant professional appointments including Family Physician and Surgical Assistant at Prince County Hospital; Medical Missionary in West Africa; Chief Health Officer, PEI; Deputy Minister of Health, PEI; and Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax.
Dr. Clark lives in Summerside with his wife Marla. They have three grown children.
Dr. Stephen O’Brien
Dr. Stephen O’Brien was born and raised in Morell, Prince Edward Island. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Prince Edward Island in 1971 and his Medical Doctor Degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1975. In 1987, Dr. O’Brien was certified as a member of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. In 2010, he became a Certified Independent Medical Examiner.
Dr. O’Brien worked as a family physician in Souris from 1976 until 2004. He is also a Past President of the PEI Chapter of Family Physicians of Canada. Currently, Dr. O’Brien serves as a Medical Director for the Worker’s Compensation Board and also as House Physician at the Hillsborough Hospital.
Dr. O’Brien resides in Souris with his wife Reta. They have three children.
James T. Revell
James T. Revell graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island in 1982 and Dalhousie University Law School in 1985. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Insurance Company of Prince Edward Island. Prior to joining the Insurance Company of Prince Edward Island, he practiced law and was a partner in the Charlottetown law firm today known as Cox & Palmer. Mr. Revell is also a director and shareholder in a number of companies including having a financial interest in a number of private companies operating in PEI.
Mr. Revell has been active in the community with organizations such as Four Neighborhoods Community Medical Center in Sherwood and Parkdale Sherwood Headstart as well as a number of sports and charitable organizations.
A member of the PEI Law Society and Canadian Bar Association, Mr. Revell resides in Charlottetown with his wife Margaret and two teenage children – Joseph and LeAnne.
Kenneth Ezeard
Ken Ezeard received his Bachelor of Commerce Degree in 1963 from the University of Toronto and became a Chartered Accountant in 1966. He is a Member of the Canadian, Ontario and Prince Edward Island Institutes of Chartered Accountants. In 1979, Mr. Ezeard obtained his Diploma in Hospital Organization and Management from the Canadian Hospital Association, and in 1985 he became a Certified Health Executive through the Canadian College of Health Service Executives.
Mr. Ezeard has been the Executive Director of the Health Association of PEI since September 2002. In the 36 years leading up to this position, he was the CEO of the West Prince Health Region, the Director of Administrative Services at the Health and Community Services Agency, the Executive Director of Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Controller and Director of Labour Relations at the Confederation Centre of Arts and the Director of Finance at Etobicoke General Hospital in Toronto.
Mr. Ezeard currently serves as Vice Chair of Canadian Blood Services and has served on this Board of Directors since October 2002.
Gordon MacKay
Gordon MacKay has had an extensive and varied career in the Prince Edward Island health care system. Mr. MacKay began his career as a Speech Pathologist in 1969. In 1980, he was appointed as Administrator of Beach Grove Home in Charlottetown and, in 1984, he was appointed as the Director of Aging and Extended Care for the province. In 1992, he served as the Executive Director of Addiction Services and, in 1993, he was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer for Southern Kings Health. In 1997, he was appointed CEO of Queens Region Health. Mr. MacKay retired in 2000 after 31 years of service in health care administration.
Mr MacKay has served the community in many volunteer roles. He most recently has served on both the provincial and the national boards of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and, in 2009, he completed an 8-year term on the Board of Regents of Mount Allison University.
Donna Murnaghan
Dr. Donna Murnaghan is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at the University Prince Edward Island. Her teaching expertise includes Advanced Nursing Practice, Leadership, Communication Theory, Chronic Illness, Primary Health Care, Cancer and Research, and Quality Improvement. Dr. Murnaghan is the Lead Investigator for the Comprehensive School Health Research Group, which conducts policy relevant research and knowledge exchange across health behaviours with the goal to influence policy and practice. Her strong leadership in promoting community-university partnerships is a critical element to enhancing the research capacity in Prince Edward Island at the local, national and international level.
Dr. Murnaghan has served on a number of boards including past president of the PEI Division of the Canadian Cancer Society, member of the PEI Health Advisory Council and past co-chair of the PEI Cancer Control Strategy. Dr. Murnaghan also served as Director of the PEI Health Research Institute from 2003 until 2009.
Dr. Kinsey Smith
Dr. Kinsey Smith is a Clinical Nephrologist who has served as Associate Dean of Education for the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario. Dr. Smith has also served as Director of McMaster Health Sciences International. Throughout his career, Dr. Smith has combined active research with clinical practice and administrative roles, both in the University sphere and in Provincial health care delivery.
Since moving to PEI ten years ago, Dr. Smith has provided input to the Department of Health on the provision of end-stage renal failure care and has also served as Medical Advisor to the Kidney Foundation. He has taught regularly with the Seniors College of PEI and has recently been named to the Provincial Research Ethics Board. Dr. Smith has worked not only in Canada but also in Britain and the United States. He has traveled widely as a visiting professor concerned mainly with the development of innovative education programs in the health sciences.
Dr. Smith resides in Charlottetown and has summered in Rustico for nearly 40 years.
Denis Marantz
Denis Marantz retired to the Island after a full career with the federal government. That service was divided equally between the Privy Council Office where he was the Senior Advisor on Aboriginal affairs and the Territorial governments, Canadian International Development Agency and Foreign Affairs where he covered a range of development issues and human rights. Mr. Marantz also served abroad in Africa, South and South-East Asia. Upon retirement, Mr Marantz continued as a consultant to Foreign Affairs and then spent nearly four years in Conakry, Guinea on behalf of the National Democratic Institute, the foreign affairs arm of the Democratic Party of the U.S.A. His assignment in Guinea was to develop the political and electoral skills of all major political parties.
Mr. Marantz retired to the Island in 2004 with his wife Karen, an Island girl, and served on the Board of the Stewart Memorial Hospital until its dissolution.
Phyllis Horne
Phyllis Horne has been an educator with the Western School Board for the past 38 years. She has been a classroom teacher, special education/resource teacher, and an administrator. From 2007-2009, she served as the President of the Prince Edward Island Teachers’ Federation and has always been an advocate for students, teachers and education. During her career, Phyllis served on numerous committees at the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and at the Teachers’ Federation. She completed a Masters of Education in Leadership and Learning at UPEI in 2001. Her thesis focused on inclusive practices in education in Prince Edward Island.
Phyllis lives in Mill River with her husband, Allan. They have three daughters – Treena, Natalie, and Allana – and five grandchildren.