The announcement of Sylvia Barron, RN, BSCN, MSHA as the new chief executive officer of the Queens Region Health Authority was made today by Health and Social Services Minister Jamie Ballem and Queens Region Health board chair Sylvia Poirier.
Ms. Barron is a native of western Prince Edward Island. She is currently vice president of nursing and patient care with the Region 7 Hospital Corporation in Miramichi, New Brunswick where she has responsibility for inpatient units, outpatient units, quality improvement and extra mural programs.
She was previously employed as manager of the emergency department at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, critical care coordinator at the Saint John Regional Hospital, and assistant director of nursing at St. Joseph's Hospital in Saint John.
"I am very pleased to welcome Ms. Barron back to the Island and to our health system," advised Minister Ballem. "Her strong mix of education, experience and leadership skills, as well as her knowledge and new perspective in areas like telecare and extra mural programs, will make her an asset to the Queens Health Region and the whole health and social services system," said the minister.
Ms. Barron completed her Masters in Health Science Administration at Central Michigan University in 1995, and her Bachelor of Nursing degree from St. Francis Xavier in 1979 .
She is currently a surveyor for the Canadian Council On Health Services Accreditation, chair of the New Brunswick TeleCare Advisory Committee, and a member of the Canadian Health Executive Association.
Sylvia Poirier advised that Ms. Barron will begin her new position November 28, 2000.
"We believe she is a good fit for our region, both personally and professionally," said Ms. Poirier. "Her depth of knowledge and management experience within a multi-site Region, as well as her collaborative approach to leadership will help ensure our region continues to deliver health and social services that best meet the needs of the community."
The Queens health region is the largest of five health regions in Prince Edward Island. Serving more than 60,000 residents, it offers services in acute care, mental health, continuing care, child and family services, addictions, public health nursing, dental health, housing, income support and pharmacy services. The annual budget of the Queens Health Region is more than $140,000,000.
Ms. Barron will replace Gordon Mackay who retired from the position in July, 2000.