The Dresden Community Healthcare Foundation installed a new board of directors at their annual general meeting held last week.
Kris Kearney-Richards was named president of the board, taking over for Paul Weese, who will stay on as past-president. Stuart Kiar is the vice-president, Brian McCabe will be the secretary and Bob Coleman will be the treasurer. Directors for the board include: Wendy Weston, Joe Faas, Mike Pearson, Tony Grubb, Cindy Brewer and Ron Sturgis.
Kearney-Richards told the Sydenham Current the mission of the board is to continue to work toward paying down the mortgage for the Dresden Medical Centre and maintaining the building, in which the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team practices.
She said she is excited to take over as president.
“I think it is going to be challenging,” she said.
“There are certainly big shoes to fill with Paul Weese. He was at the helm of the first beginnings before we formed the Foundation. Paul was doing a lot of leg work there with the Family Health Team to see what they needed and worked together with what model they would like to put up in Dresden.”
Kearney-Richards added: “We didn’t want to take away from any other services and I don’t think we have done that. He wanted to make sure the building was in a central location. I think we have got a great site there. Just the fundraising now to make sure that building is paid off and we can keep it in good working order for years to come. I feel the Dresden Community Healthcare Foundation is very fortunate to have such a passionate group of individuals that each bring to the board a unique skill set.”
Kearney-Richards said they currently have three physicians practising in Dresden – Dr. Briana Yee-Providence, Dr. Ng and Dr. Imran Ibrahim – and they still have room for one more.
“The Chatham-Kent Family Health Team look after all the working of the clinic,” she said. “The staffing and the Doctor situation.”
Kearney-Richards said she believes the medical centre in Dresden, which is four years old now, has been and is well-received in the community.
“I think everyone has been pleased with the ability for us to have two new physicians there, especially with the retirement of Dr.Payne,” she said.
“Also the after hours clinics are there on a rotating basis for patients of the Wallaceburg, Dresden or any of the sites of the Family Health Team. So that gives people some extra time that wasn’t available when you just had a physician in their own office.”
Kearney-Richards added: “I think there has been a good availability for the other programs. The diabetic counselling, smoking cessation and dietitian counselling is also available at that office now, which Dresden has never had at their fingertips before. As a community, that has some older population, we are very happy to not have to drive out of town for those services.”
Kearney-Richards said the board has a goal of about $20,000 for fundraising this year and they have some ideas in the works to achieve the target.
To stay up date with the Dresden Community Healthcare Foundation, visit them online here: dchf.ca
– Submitted photo: From back left, Wendy Weston, Brian McCabe, Joe Faas, Paul Weese, Mike Pearson and Tony Grubb. From front left, Bob Coleman, Stuart Kiar, Kris Kearney-Richards and Cindy Brewer. Absent, Ron Sturgis.
