Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has looked to the east for its second CEO.
Andree Robichaud, president and CEO of New Brunswick’s Region Health Authority A, a group of 11 hospitals, will take over Oct. 1 when president and CEO Ron Saddington steps down.
“It was a very difficult situation being a New Brunswicker for most of my life,” she said. “My husband and I are looking forward to the move to thunder Bay with our three boys. I think the job is going to be very exciting, a lot of opportunities, a lot of development with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.”
Robichaud, who has assumed a number of health-care roles in New Brunswick over the past 20 years, has extensive experience providing service to rural and remote communities.
She said she has sat at many tables at different levels in health care and believes she understands health, but still hopes to learn from the people in Thunder Bay, bring in new ideas and build on what has already been done.
“I’ve visited the hospital, met a few people; it looks like an excellent team,” Robichaud said.
“People know where they’re going but sometimes when you come from outside… you can contribute to more innovation.”
Robichaud said she’s looking forward to developing the TBRHSC as a teaching hospital and said the issues of doctor recruitment and retention are similar to New Brunswick.
“I’m looking forward to sitting down with the senior management team to get a better handle on those challenges and opportunities,” she said.
Angele Brunelle, the chairwoman of the hospital’s board of directors, said in a press release Robichaud offers just the type of leadership TBRHSC needs at this point in time.
“We are ecstatic that such a qualified individual has stepped forward to lead us in what are going to be challenging times,” Brunelle said.
“I am pleased to report that the TBRHSC board of directors have unanimously endorsed the recommendation of the TBRHSC CEO search committee. This announcement is the culmination of a lot of hard work.”
In New Brunswick Robichaud was oversaw health-care facilities that served about 250,000 people and operated with a $590-million budget.
