Niagara Health System (NHS) and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) are today announcing that Dr. Tom Stewart, current NHS Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President Medical, will be appointed to the role of Chief of Staff at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton in addition to his current role. The effective date for this appointment is October 13th 2015.
Dr. Stewart has a well-earned reputation for medical research, clinical practice in critical care, and medical leadership. In just over a year at NHS he has established structures and processes that will lead to the development of a culture of safety and teamwork amongst physicians, and has enabled successful recruitment of over 40 much-needed specialists. He’s also led formal leadership training for Physician Chiefs, and strengthened relations with McMaster’s Medical Campus.
This shared leadership role will continue to build a high-performing physician culture for both organizations. Dr. Stewart will contribute to establishing a positive and safe patient experience, an engaging environment for current and new physicians at both organizations, and will work to ensure the financial viability of our healthcare system, working with executives and leaders from both organizations.
Dr. Kevin Smith, CEO for NHS and St. Joseph’s Health System (SJHS) noted, “Tom is a remarkable clinician, researcher, and leader, who is also renowned in the Province. Enabling him to work with both teams of physicians in the region will no doubt advance patient care in our health system.”
Dr. Suzanne Johnston, NHS President, noted, “We are looking forward to what we can accomplish in closer partnership with St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Dr. Stewart is a great ambassador for NHS, and I have confidence in his ability to continue to focus on improving health outcomes for those we serve across both organizations.”
Dr. David Higgins, President of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, noted, “Dr. Stewart’s focus on patients and families and on quality and safety is a great fit with the culture here at St. Joseph’s. We look forward to sharing learnings and best practices across both organizations as we strive to build the health system of the future in the LHIN.”
Dr. Tom Stewart noted, “I am extremely excited at the prospect of working directly with the St. Joseph’s team, many of whom I have met through my work with Niagara in the HNHB LHIN. We all share a vision for a high-performing health system, with a great work life for medical staff. Working together, Niagara and St. Joseph’s, there is no limit to what we can achieve for patients.”
This announcement continues SJHS and NHS’s unique relationship to leverage each organization’s strengths to bring better care to the people in the communities they serve. Together, SJHS and NHS are working to establish an academic health-science network of the future: establishing a regional system of care that is evidence based, patient-centric, accessible and affordable.
Today’s announcement also builds on recent success, including Dr. Kevin Smith’s appointment as Niagara Health System CEO in addition to his SJHS role, and the establishment of Canada’s largest renal program. The collaborative partnership between SJHS and NHS will ensure the highest possible standards of clinical care are available for the more than 1.4 million residents in the HNHB LHIN, advancing a mission of academic and research excellence. The ability to share infrastructure costs (administrative and support) will further ensure that the maximum possible portion of each organization’s resources are directed to clinical care.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Maria Hayes
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
mhayes@stjoes.ca
905-522-1155 x 33506
