CKHA Appoints New Chief of Staff and Vice President Medical Affairs

The Chairs of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Tri-Board of Directors and Colin Patey, President & Chief Executive Officer, are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Martin Lees to the position of Chief of Staff and Vice President Medical Affairs, effective January 2013 with a transition period through December 2012. The appointment came following the recommendation of the Search and Selection Committee and approval of the Tri-Board of Directors.

“On behalf of the Tri-Board, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Martin Lees as Chief of Staff at CKHA,” said Paul Weese, Tri-Board Executive Committee Chair. “Dr. Lees brings to the Alliance significant practical experience as well as knowledge and relationships in our region that combine to make him the ideal candidate for the position of Chief of Staff. As we welcome Dr. Lees to CKHA, the Tri-Board would like to thank Dr. Pierre Letarte for his leadership and commitment to CKHA over the past year as Interim Chief of Staff and VP Medical Affairs.”

Dr. Lees is currently the Primary Care Lead for the Erie St. Clair LHIN, a position he will maintain at CKHA, and previously held the position of Vice President, Chief Medical Executive & Chief of the Medical Advisory Committee for Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie. Prior to that, Dr. Lees had a long and progressive career at Bluewater Health where he held the position of Chief of Professional Staff until 2010.

With significant academic background, Dr. Lees holds a Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Ottawa, a Master of Science in Health Care Administration (MSA) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Management and Decision Sciences (PhD). He is also a Canadian Certified Physician Executive (CCPE), a Fellow of the Canadian College of Health Leaders (FCCHL), and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ). In addition to his own development, Dr. Lees also demonstrates an ongoing commitment to teaching and mentoring through his affiliation with numerous universities and Lambton College’s School of Health Sciences.

“CKHA is an impressive organization – from its medical and operational leadership through to its front line staff there is a strong commitment to quality, safe patient care,” offers Dr. Martin Lees. “This organization-wide commitment to improving patient care and the patient experience resonates with me as a physician and as a leader. I am honored to be joining the Alliance and I look forward to the opportunity to work with the leadership and to continue to build on CKHA’s strong tradition of excellence in care.”

CKHA created the dual role of Chief of Staff and VP Medical Affairs in 2011 to provide leadership in the area of continuous improvement in the quality of medical care at the Alliance and to enhance physician engagement with the hospital’s operations.

The Chief of Staff portfolio includes oversight and management of Professional Staff By-Laws, the credentialing process and the performance standards of CKHA’s chiefs of medical departments and professional staff. The Chief of Staff reports to and is accountable to the Tri-Board of Directors. The VP Medical Affairs portfolio, which focuses on patient safety, quality of care and resource utilization, reports to and is accountable to the President and Chief Executive Officer. The Chief of Staff and VP Medical Affairs is a member of CKHA’s Leadership Council.

“Dr. Lees brings to CKHA an impressive combination of medical and management expertise, in addition a deep personal commitment to quality patient care, risk management and professional development,” reflects President & CEO, Colin Patey. “In short, Dr. Lees brings the kind of skill set that will help us to strengthen the relationship between the medical leadership and operational management teams while working toward our vision of being an exceptional community hospital.”