Leigh Popov named Chair of OSMH Board following hospital AGM

Leigh Popov is the new Chair of the Board of Directors of Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. A Vice-Chair for the past three years, and a Board member since 2015, Popov was named Chair on Tuesday, August 25th at the Board’s inaugural meeting that was held immediately after the Corporation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). Both meetings were conducted online due to the pandemic.

“I’m honoured and excited to be taking on this leadership role,” said Popov. “As Board members, we are incredibly proud of the way our front line staff, and the entire organization, has responded to the pandemic and we want to continue to support them during these challenging times.”

In addition to supporting the organization through the pandemic, Popov pointed to the unveiling of a new Strategic Plan and advocating for provincial dollars to support the Future Hospital project as key short term objectives.

Other changes to the Board composition include Ligaya Byrch moving from 2nd to 1st Vice-Chair while Lawrence Pietras takes on the 2nd Vice-Chair position.

Marc Lemieux is the sole newcomer to the Board, appointed to a term of 3 years. The local lawyer was one of five candidates endorsed by the corporate membership at the AGM. Dr. Sheila Clark and Dan Germain, whose existing terms expired at the AGM, were re-appointed for 3 years each. Ted Markle and Ron Shulman, who were appointed to the Board mid-way through last year, were also endorsed at the AGM. Markle will complete the final two years of the term he assumed while Shulman was appointed to a 3-year term.

A complete list of the new Board is available below and on the hospital’s website, www.osmh.on.ca.

The corporation also took time to pay tribute to departing Board member Al Scott. Scott served as Chair of the Board for the past year, which also marked his 9th year on the Board, the maximum permitted under hospital by-laws. Prior to his appointment as Chair, Scott served as Vice Chair for 3 years and has chaired or been a member of the Governance, Resources, Quality & Safety, Nominating and Resources Committees of the Board.

The hospital reported one of its stronger financial performances in recent years with a surplus of $2.3M for the 2019/20 fiscal year, continuing a string of multiple years in the black.

“More importantly,” according to OSMH President and CEO Carmine Stumpo, “we achieved those strong financial outcomes while increasing patient activity and enhancing access to care.”

A sharp decrease in the length of time it takes to transfer admitted Emergency Department patients onto the medical units was noted as a prime example of the hospital’s successes in 2019/20.

With the previous fiscal year now 5 months in the rearview mirror, Stumpo knows the current year poses much different challenges as the hospital balances a return of more clinical services while ensuring the safety of everyone, and preparing for a potential second wave of the pandemic.

“Our staff and credentialed staff have been incredible throughout the pandemic and I am continually impressed by their resiliency and commitment to patient care. They too are feeling the stress of uncertainty and I can’t thank them enough for all they have done under difficult circumstances.”

To view a recording of the 2020 OSMH Annual General Meeting, click here. OSMH and OSMH Foundation are planning an online Community Engagement Session later this year and will be sharing details in the near future.

OSMH Board of Directors
(As of August 25, 2020)

Elected Voting Members
Leigh Popov, Chair
Ligaya Byrch, 1st Vice-Chair
Lawrence Pietras, 2nd Vice-Chair
Mario Benedetto
Dr. Sheila Clark
Daniel Germain
Marc Lemieux
Ted Markle
Sheila Marner
John Mattinson
Ron Shulman
Brian Sirbovan

Ex-Officio Voting Members
Steve Clarke, Representative, City of Orillia
Chuck Penny, Representative, Royal Canadian Legion
Sheila Kirkland, Representative, Nurses Alumni

Ex-Officio Non-Voting Members
Carmine Stumpo, President and CEO, Secretary
Dr. David Evans, President, Medical Staff Association
Dr. Monica Chaudhuri, Vice President/Secretary-Treasurer, Medical Staff Association
Dr. Nancy Merrow, Chief of Staff
Jill Colin, Chief Nursing Executive