*RVHS builds on quality care and fiscal successes

“We also welcomed three new members to our Board of Directors, and now look forward to building on a year of quality care and financial improvements for the benefit of our patients,” says Janet Ecker, chair, RVHS Board of Directors.

The new members were welcomed during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Members Tuesday evening, at the Scarboro Golf and Country Club, which had donated the use of its facilities. The new members are Rhonda Lawson, Lisa M. Mattam and Loreen Paananen. Their biographies appear at the end of this news release.

More than 100 people attended the AGM to hear of the hospital’s progress and focus on quality, safety, teamwork and making the most of its resources for patients.

Ecker says, “The doctors and staff at Rouge Valley have worked hard to improve how quickly patients are treated with great care and respect during the last year.”

She adds, “RVHS has found ways to deliver patient care more effectively. This has resulted in budget surpluses in recent months, which can be reinvested to address the health care needs of our growing communities.”

- More doctors join Rouge-  

“This year, we also had the privilege of welcoming 24 physicians to the team, in specialties such as: psychiatry, emergency, cardiology, surgery, anaesthetics, medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, and paediatrics,” Ecker says. “We thank them for bringing their skills and valuable services to the community.”

- First report of the Community Advisory Group -

The Community Advisory Group (CAG) made its first AGM report. The group was formed earlier this year by the Board to bring viewpoints from Rouge Valley’s diverse communities.

“The CAG members help to extend Rouge Valley's communications network, serving as our eyes and ears to help us connect with our cities, towns, neighbourhoods and families,” says Amorell Saunders N’daw, group chair and board member.

Already, the group has received information and provided valuable advice on:
- Emergency services, mental health services and others;
- Qualities needed for candidates of top executive leadership positions; and
- What service excellence looks and feels like to patients and their families.

- Volunteers and Awards-  

The AGM was also an opportunity to recognize volunteers. At Rouge Valley Centenary, Volunteer Services completed its $1 million pledge towards the Birthing and Newborn Centre, which opened in January. The Auxiliary at Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering, which donated $100,000 for the Women’s Imaging Centre, had six of its members honoured with the Ontario Volunteer Service Award in 2009, for a total of more than 95 years of service.

Nancy Maxwell, member of the RVHS Foundation’s Patrons’ Council, presented awards to five long-serving volunteers during the meeting.

* Ed Fleury – A hospital board member who was on the building committee for Centenary in 1964 (three years before it opened), was board chair from 1975 to 1980, and continues to be an active supporter of the foundation and the hospital.

* Eileen Mason – A Centenary Auxiliary member in 1965, who has been fundraising for the hospital and continues as a convener for special needs overseeing about 35 volunteers. She was also a fundraiser for the Margaret Birch Wing at Centenary.

* Sheldon Lush – A lifelong hospital supporter. In 1966, a father of five bequeathed $25,000 towards the building of the new Scarborough Centenary Hospital. His wife and children matched the donation. Sheldon Lush was one of those children. He was also a hospital board member from 1988 to 1994.

* Ethel Niewolski – As a Centenary Auxiliary member in 1965, she and a team of 85 volunteers raised enough money for library shelves, a beauty shop, a gift shop and other amenities. Still active today, she is convener of the post-operative information desk, overseeing other volunteers.  

* Thomas Abel – Who passed away in 2007, was Centenary hospital board chair from 1985 until 1988. He was also chair of the RVHS Foundation’s Board of Directors from 1988 until 1991, and remained a member until 1998. He also worked tirelessly on the planning and construction of the Margaret Birch Wing.

- Bios of new board members -

Rhonda Lawson

Rhonda Lawson has a long-standing career as a progressive human resources executive with both Canadian and global corporations in the professional services, high tech, commodity, pharmaceutical and insurance industries. Currently, she is president of Lawson Management Consulting, which provides consulting services to business leaders and boards in the areas of talent management, change management and strategic planning. Prior to establishing this firm, she was senior vice-president of human resources for ING Canada. Rhonda is also an active member of her community with many years of experience on boards and committees. She was previously part of the Annandale Curling Club Executive Board and currently serves on the Pickering Museum Village Advisory Committee and the City of Pickering Heritage Advisory Committee.

Lisa M. Mattam

Lisa Mattam is a managing principal with The Mattam Group, a management consulting firm in Toronto, where she is responsible for all of the firm’s business development. She also designs and delivers leadership training programs, and coaches executives on leadership and diversity in the workplace. Prior to developing and launching The Mattam Group in 2006, Lisa built her career leading sales, client relations and product management at pharmaceutical and biotech companies in Ontario and abroad. Lisa has been a long-standing contributor to the business understanding of talent management throughout the corporate sector. She is actively involved in speaking engagements at universities and professional associations, and has been a member of the Women’s Executive Network and the Women of Distinction Committee, YWCA.

Loreen Paananen
Loreen Paananen is the executive vice president of retail development for Shoppers Drug Mart. She currently oversees executing a national real estate strategy that delivers high square footage growth for Shoppers Drug Mart as well the design and construction of those stores and lease administration on the existing portfolio of 1200 stores. Her career with Shoppers Drug Mart spans more than 20 years, during which time she has taken on progressively larger portfolios, continually delivered on performance targets and consistently built highly functional teams. Having started her career as a pharmacist, Loreen is committed to contributing to the health care community in Toronto. Currently, she actively participates as a director on the North York Seniors’ Centre board.

- Re-elected members -

Among those re-elected to the RVHS Board of Directors are Peter A. Lobraico, president and chief executive officer of OK Transportation Limited; Lea M. Ray, a Canadian chartered accountant and vice president of corporate finance for Warner Bros. Entertainment Canada Inc; and Amorell Saunders N’daw, a trained journalist who has run her own communications consulting practice for almost 20 years.

To view the bios of all members of the Board of Directors, please visit www.rougevalley.ca/aboutus#bcm .

Rouge Valley Health System (RVHS) — The best at what we do

RVHS is an excellent acute care community hospital with many programs, including 24/7/365 emergency, cardiac care and mental health. Rouge Valley consists of several health sites, including two community hospital campuses: Rouge Valley Centenary in east Toronto; and Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering in west Durham. Together, a team of physicians (224 general practitioners and 325 specialists), 1,000 nurses and many other professionals care for a broad spectrum of health conditions. Working in consultation and partnership with community members, other hospitals, health care organizations, the Central East Local Health Integration Network and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Rouge Valley continues to improve its programs and cater to the needs of the growing communities of east Toronto, Ajax, Pickering and Whitby.

Contact

David Brazeau

Director

Public Affairs and Community Relations

Rouge Valley Health System

(647) 294-8885

dbrazeau@rougevalley.ca