Sarah Downey: A Time of Excitement and Challenge in Mental Health
Release Date: 03/08/2023
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John Yip: Leading with Empathy, Curiosity and Kindness
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John Yip and the team at SE Health are growing their social impact by bringing hope and happiness to different segments of society. As SE Health celebrates its 115-year anniversary, they’ve continued to stay true to their long legacy of service through leveraging powerful initiatives such as operating hospices for the homeless, investing in start-ups in the health space, running a technology company, and supporting communities across the country, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Through these initiatives, SE Health keeps their vision strong by impacting how people live and age at...
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Michael Green: Connecting the Digital Dots in the Healthcare System
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Michael Green understands that forging relationships with those who support Canada Health Infoway’s mission is crucial to navigating our complex system and accelerating innovation. With this understanding top of mind, Canada Health Infoway works with different systems and stakeholders across the globe to strategize, innovate and advance digital health. “Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel in Canada or any other country, it’s often better to try and take the best international practice, and then try to implement that at home,” says Michael when explaining the importance of...
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Paris Semansky and Patricia Hoffer: Communications Matters - Engage Early, Engage Often
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Paris Semansky is Director, Communications and Public Affairs at CAMH. This role urges her to wear a variety of hats, including being a brand protector, advocate, and problem-solver. Patricia Hoffer also wears a number of hats while being Chief Communications Officer and Vice President, External Relations at St. Joseph’s Health Care London. She takes pride in leading a diverse and dedicated group of communicators and storytellers. In this episode, Paris and Patricia share key strategies that help them ensure their teams succeed in the healthcare setting, their thoughts on strategic...
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Dr. Devin Singh: Tackling the Barriers to Efficient Care
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Dominic Giroux: The Power of Connection, Communication and Community
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Dr. Frank Martino: Leading with Passion and Inspiring Positive Change
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In this latest episode of HIROC’s Healthcare Change Makers podcast, Dr. Frank Martino, President and CEO of the William Osler Health System, reflects on his leadership journey while emphasizing the importance of remaining positive and aiming high in your career, especially in the context of leading one of Canada’s largest community hospital systems. Dr. Martino highlights his organization’s ambitious initiatives, including the adoption of an advanced hospital information system, new redevelopment projects, and a groundbreaking partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU)...
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Catherine Gaulton: The Power of Human Interaction
Healthcare Change Makers
With a new year on the horizon, Catherine is looking forward to so many things – the continued efforts in Health Human Resources, advancing the work in the main areas of Risk, the future of Collaborative Benefits, and so much more. “My optimism is around people that surprise me every day. When I think you can’t help but be defeated, human spirit and strength comes forward every time”, says Catherine when explaining her positive outlook for 2024. In this episode, Catherine gives us a glimpse into the mind of a CEO, including her zest for learning new things and how she recharges and...
info_outlineToday’s guest has a special place in the HIROC archives. Sarah Downey was our first guest on Healthcare Change Makers when we turned on the mike in 2018. The years that followed that fun interview have been busy for Sarah. For 7 and a half years she was the CEO of Michael Garron Hospital where she shepherded the hospital through a major redevelopment project that included the newly opened Thomson Centre.
Six months ago, Sarah made the decision to move into the President and CEO position at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, better known as CAMH. Leaving Michael Garron and the East York community was tough, but the pull to the mission of CAMH was stronger. Sarah believes mental health is the most important health issue of our lifetime.
It’s a new place and a new culture to learn about, but Sarah always comes back to the importance of being human and being vulnerable in a leadership role. Where talking to people in the coffee line-up is one of the most important things you can do as a CEO.
Quotables
“You forget until you have to make those transitions how emotional they are.” – SD
”It’s thrilling to see these latest two buildings. The spaces are bright and airy. They’re respectful, and focused on recovery, healing and dignified care.” – SD
“It’s not just a one in five who will get mental illness in their lifetime. It’s in everybody’s family. It’s in all your social circles, in all your employees. It’s everywhere.” – SD
“I had forgotten until I came back how many people call to get advice on how to navigate the system.” – SD
“Who’s more important for us to invest in than our young people? They are our future and we need them to be healthier and more resilient.”
“You need to regularly connect with people, use a bit of humour. They want to know that their leader is real.” – SD
“It’s become even more important the last few years to find a break and a space, but what an opportunity to learn.” - SD
“I hold my dad’s lessons in my heart every day and try to act in a way that would always do him proud.” – SD
“We should tell people every day in the moment how much they mean to us and how they’re helping us change our lives.” – PDS
Mentioned in this episode:
CAMH: The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
The history of the Toronto Lunatic Asylum
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre - UHN
Dr. J. Downey, Past President, University of Waterloo (1993-1999)