Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Willi Kirenko to the position of Vice President & Chief Nursing Executive (VP/CNE) and Ms. Sarah Padfield to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO).
The announcement is reflective of CKHA’s strong team, a commitment to development and the opportunity to reward and recognize leaders within the organization.
After acting as Interim VP/CNE since late fall 2013 and following an internal process, CKHA is pleased to officially welcome Willi Kirenko into her new role, effective immediately. Ms. Kirenko is a Nurse Practitioner with certificates in both Primary Health Care and Adult Care. She holds a Master of Nursing degree from the University of Toronto, is a member of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) and the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL).
In her tenure at CKHA, she has long demonstrated her commitment to patient safety and the delivery of quality patient care. During her role as Director – Quality, Patient Safety and Inter-Professional Practice, Ms. Kirenko led the development and implementation of CKHA’s first Quality Improvement Plan; a responsibility she has maintained since 2011. Her commitment and passion for evidence-based practice and learning are further reflected in her efforts to build educational partnerships with literally dozens of academic institutions. As Interim VP/CNE, Ms. Kirenko further demonstrated her operational leadership capabilities by driving increased Emergency Department performance to levels not seen in recent years.
“I’m both proud and delighted to have the opportunity to recognize these two individuals for their leadership and commitment to CKHA,” said President and Chief Executive Officer, Colin Patey. “It is always gratifying for an organization to be able to develop its people and provide them with new challenges. As they have done in the past, I know they will continue to rise to the occasion in their new roles. Sarah and Willi will help lead the organization through the challenging times that lie ahead while continuing to make the delivery of safe, accessible, quality care our top priority.”
The appointment of Sarah Padfield to the position of COO recognizes the role to which she has evolved and, reliably and resolutely has delivered, since joining CKHA in 2011. Ms. Padfield is a Certified Management Accountant and holds a Masters in Public Administration. She is also a certified member of the CCHL.
At CKHA, Ms. Padfield’s consistent and strong health system leadership has created an environment for the sustainable delivery of safe, quality care across the continuum. Moreover, through new roles, skills and tools put in place, she has ensured that CKHA is business-competent and ready to respond to the external drivers, most visible through funding formulas, which are shaping the delivery of hospital services and the healthcare system. As Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Padfield successfully led the organization through two phases of Operating Plan changes to arrive at a projected balanced budget in 2014/15. More recently, she has focused her energy and attention on driving performance and integrating medical and administrative leadership teams. This role will be an enabler for her to continue to deliver on this new model.
