With Blaise MacNeil ready to retire, Timmins and District Hospital has named his successor.
Kathleen (Kate) Fyfe is the new president and CEO at the Timmins hospital. The appointment is effective Thursday, July 27. She is taking over for MacNeil, who is retiring after 35 years in health care. He has been at the helm of TADH for the past five years.
"As a northerner, I understand first hand why it's so important for us to continue to have strong local leadership actively involved in the design and implementation of our evolving and complex health system," she said in a news release.
"I am honoured and excited about the opportunity to lead TADH. I look forward to meeting the staff, physicians, volunteers, patient and family representatives as well as the community broadly. Together, we will set the priorities and directions for TADH and the people we serve."
Gaetan Malette, TADH board of directors chair, said Fyfe's years of experience will be a "tremendous asset" to the hospital.
"We are confident that Ms. Fyfe's leadership will be instrumental in shaping the future of our hospital and representing the health care needs of our community. We look forward to beginning this new chapter as we continue to provide exemplary care to northerners," he said in a news release.
According to the hospital, Fyfe's experience includes being vice president of performance, business solutions and human resources for the North East Local Health Integration Network (NELHIN) where she was responsible for managing a $1.5 billion in health system resources. She also served as interim CEO.
The TADH announcement says she "directed the NELHIN through a period of significant change."
"Most recently, as a member of the Ontario Health Transition Team, Ms. Fyfe supported the Ontario Health North Region transition efforts to implement broad structural changes to our health system across the province," it reads.
She has also been vice president of corporate services and chief financial officer at North Bay Regional Hospital.
During MacNeil's time at TADH, the announcement said he provided leadership for projects such as the emergency room redevelopment capital project and the co-generation project.
More recently, his advocacy helped secure 29 pandemic overflow beds and 12 transitional care beds.
"I know that TADH will continue to progress as a community, referral and teaching hospital in the north. I am confident in the bright future of this hospital thanks to the strong board, leadership team and dedicated staff, physicians and volunteers at TADH," MacNeil said in a statement.
"I am grateful for having been part of this great health care team and community for the past five years."
Malette said MacNeil's leadership and advocacy have had an immense impact on the hospital.
"Through his tireless work he has effectively dealt with many challenges and opportunities facing our hospital, health care system and community. We thank him greatly for his work and wish him the best in his retirement," said Malette.
