2024 SAH Annual Meeting
June 24, 2024 – Sault Area Hospital (SAH) held its Annual Meeting (AM) on June 24, 2024. The AM focused on the many successes over the last year, as well as the challenges faced and expectations for the future.
We thank outgoing Board member, Peggy Storey-Inkster, for her many contributions and service. Welcome to new Board members – Erich Isopp, Frank Kennedy, Tim Lavoie, Sherri Smith and David Zuccato.
Highlights from our leadership:
“Enhancing our governance practices has been a critical focus. We have rigorously challenged management and ourselves as a Board, ensuring that decisions are made with the highest level of scrutiny and accountability. This has allowed us to learn and sharpen our focus on our role in governance, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the broader healthcare system. Our goal has always been to ensure that, despite the uncertainties, the services provided to our community remain uninterrupted and of the highest quality.” – Lisa Bell-Murray, SAH Board Chair
“Our community is fortunate to have such a talented and committed group of physicians not only at Sault Area Hospital but the Group Health Centre and the Superior Family Health Team. I appreciate the opportunity to build connections with their leadership and their teams. Continued collaboration between hospital and primary care services is a must to lead our community through a myriad of health care challenges.” – Dr. John Heintzman, Chief of Staff
“We are proud of our many accomplishments over the last fiscal year including the opening of Northway Wellness Centre, the replacement of our MRI, safety improvements and collaboration with partners in the Emergency Department, readiness to open the second cardiac catheterization lab, replacement of our radiation therapy equipment that is underway, receiving Accreditation with Commendation through Accreditation Canada, and many more. This work could not have been possible without the tremendous work of our people in our organization, and our collaborative efforts with our partners.” – Ila Watson, President and CEO
The AM was highlighted by the annual presentation of the SAH iCcare Awards, established by the SAH Board in 2011. These awards acknowledge an employee, volunteer and physician who consistently demonstrate the values of SAH – Integrity, Compassion, Collaboration and Partnership, Accountability, Respect and Excellence. The 2024 recipients are Hannah Ketchabaw (employee), Dr. Laura Stone (physician), and Elspeth Belair (volunteer).
The meeting concluded with the much-anticipated presentation of the prestigious Dr. William Hutchinson Award. Presented annually by the SAH Board of Directors, this award recognizes distinguished contributions to health care in Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma. The 2024 recipient is Dr. Bhubendra Rasaiah.
SAH congratulates all award recipients for their dedicated service to the residents of Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma region.
Reports and year-end summaries are available on our website at www.sah.on.ca