The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) recently released details of its search committee for its new board of directors.
This is the next step in the move to a new hospital corporation governing both the Chatham and Wallaceburg hospital sites with a single board of directors.
The search process is being led by Rob Devitt, Ministry appointed supervisor with the support of a nominations and selection committee.
“I am delighted with the calibre and skills of the individuals from across Chatham-Kent who will sit on the search committee,” Devitt said in a release. “These individuals will provide valuable perspectives and advice to me to ensure that the new voard has the necessary skills and diversity to govern the Alliance.”
Greg Aarssen, Daniel Miskokomon, Sharon Pfaff, and Ron Thomson are on the search committee and will assist with the selection process.
Born and raised in Wallaceburg, Aarssen is an entrepreneur, investor and farmer. He spent more than 30 years in the oil and gas industry, including owning and partnering in successful natural gas and electricity marketing and trading businesses.
Aarssen is experienced in all aspects of business and law, including financial management, operations, marketing, regulatory affairs, government relations, Aboriginal affairs and corporate governance.
Miskokomon is currently serving his second term as Chief for Walpole Island First Nation (WIFN) where his leadership skills lead WIFN’s council in their vision of building a healthy, dynamic nation rich in language and culture.
Previously, he held the roles of First Nation Manager for WIFN and Moravian of the Thames, Co-Manager for Munsee-Delaware Nation and Economic Development Programs Planner for WIFN.
Through his ample working experience, Miskokomon possesses strong skills in political lobbying and negotiation. He is also the former Owner and CEO of DRSKOKE: Technical, Financial and Management Consultant Services.
Pfaff is an accomplished healthcare clinician and leader with a diverse background at local, regional and provincial health organizations. Her breadth of leadership experience has included clinical, management, administrative and governance roles.
From 2008 to 2012, Pfaff held senior roles at Cancer Care Ontario with direct accountability for the Information Programs of Prevention & Screening, Cancer, Chronic Disease Management which included Cardiac Care Network, Ontario Renal Network, and Access to Care which supported the government’s wait time strategy. Prior to 2008 Sharon was the Chief Executive Officer for Consolidated Health Information Services (CHIS) which was a not-for-profit IT (Information Technology) company owned by Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Windsor Regional Hospital and Bluewater Health to provide IT services to healthcare organizations.
Aarssen, Pfaff and Miskokomon will also serve on the CKHA board as inaugural Board members. Their appointment as the first board members will ensure that there is continuity and stability spanning the search process and the new board so as to ensure that the direction started under the Provincial Supervision is continued when the board takes over governance responsibility.
Thomson is a member of the CKHA Rural Health Advisory Committee. Ron’s interest in CKHA is to proactively influence the future of health care in Chatham-Kent.
He is lifelong resident of Wallaceburg and is a paramedic. In addition to his professional career, Ron is active in the community as a volunteer firefighter and is a co-founder and director of the Tartan Alumni Fund which raises funds for scholarships for graduates of Wallaceburg District Secondary School.
In addition, three ex-officio board members, including Dr. Pervez Faruqi, Chief of Staff; Dr. Alison Morand, President of Medical Staff; and Lori Marshall, President and CEO, will join the search committee.
Indicating that the same executive search firm that supported the CEO and Medical Staff Leadership searches will support this search, Rob Devitt said, “It is important that board recruitment be conducted with a high degree of diligence. Having the support of an executive search firm is a practice that will be adopted by the Board in future recruitment efforts as well. ”
The next step includes interviews for short-listed candidates and reference checks. This robust process will ensure that the best possible candidates are selected for the new board.
