The former chair of the Sydenham District Hospital Board said the hiring of Lori Marshall at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s new President and CEO is a step in the right direction.
Sheldon Parsons told the Sydenham Current him and his former team knew Rob Devitt, the provincially-appointed supervisor for the CKHA, was close to making a hire.
“We knew that he was getting close,” Parsons said. “He had been interviewing and there had been very good applicants that they have interviewed. We’re pleased that it was somebody from this area. They’re going to know the situation, they’re going to know the people and I think that can only be a good thing.”
Parsons said he does not know Marshall personally, but he said, “it is nice to see that we’re moving forward.
“We’re settling the administration. I know there has been movement on the clinical side. So I think that is all going to be seen as good news. It is definitely in the right direction, because it couldn’t get much worse than what we were experiencing. So it is positive, I think we’ll look forward to a much better administration from Chatham-Kent Health Alliance as we move forward. We are very supportive of what the supervisor has done so far. I think it is good news for the community,” Parsons said.
Parsons said the former SDH board is preparing to present to the standing committee on finance and economic affairs for the CKHA in January.
“We’ve been quiet,” he said. “We’ve been working with Rob and Ken (Deane, interim CEO) over the past few months and everything that has happened to date, we agree with. Therefore there has absolutely been no reason for us to get vocal or to get out and about, or do any advocating. We’re supportive of what they’ve done so far and are looking forward to what he is planning to do in the future.”
With Marshall not taking on her new role until March of 2017, Parsons said he doesn’t expect any immediate changes,
“This is not a today or tomorrow thing, this is this spring,” he said. “I look forward to better relations and a more certain future for healthcare in our area.”
Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley, another former chair of the SDH Board, said he is also happy with the hiring of Marshall.
“I do not know her personally, but I like that she has experience in a northern and remote hospital in Thunder Bay/Nipigon and experience with Indigenous populations,” he said.
“She will be familiar with the Rural and Northern health care strategy which should benefit SDH.”
Marshall said she is looking forward to her new role.
Looking forward to engaging with staff & physicians at CKHA and our Community in my new role #Together https://t.co/qrFoYQ944P
— Lori Marshall (@LoriBMarshall) 17 December 2016
“I am very excited to join the team at CKHA,” Marshall said in a press release.
“This is an opportunity to lead an organization with such a dedicated staff and medical team who provide excellent patient care to our community,” Marshall said. “I value all of the staff, physicians and volunteers who contribute at CKHA and look forward to being a part of that team. As a resident of Chatham-Kent, I am truly honoured to continue to engage with and serve this community.”
For more details, check out our original story on the announcement: Lori Marshall named President and CEO of the CKHA
