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St. Joseph's Directors

For general inquiries regarding the Hospital Board, please contact Kaylene Simmons, Executive Assistant at 250-339-1409 or via email: kaylene.simmons@sjghcomox.ca

2012/13 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

James (Jim) Bennett - Chair

James Bennett

James and his wife, Marion, moved to the Comox Valley to retire in 2004.

In 1975 James obtained a diploma degree in public administration from the University of Western Ontario. In his early career 1959 - 1971, James worked for the Bank of Montreal, becoming a branch manager in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

At that time, James changed careers into public administration and held senior administrative positions in Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Alberta. In 1985, he became chief commissioner for the City of Moose Jaw and in 1989 he moved to Banff, Alberta to manage the setting up of the new Town of Banff, which moved local government administration from the federal government (Parks Canada) to a newly elected municipal council. James remained as town manager until his retirement in 2004.

James has been active in a number of community organizations. He served as a Board member and Chairman of the Northside Victoria Amalgamated School Board, President of the Banff Rotary Club, Board member of the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA), and presently serves on the St. Joseph’s General Hospital Foundation as a Board member.

James was appointed to St. Joseph’s General Hospital Board in 2006 and became Chairman in 2011.

Chris Kelsey - Vice-Chair

Chris Kelsey

Chris was born and raised in Vancouver, B.C. He obtained a B.A. in International Relations in 1980 from the University of British Columbia. Chris obtained his LL.B. from the University of Victoria in 1985. Chris then articled with Bull, Housser and Tupper where he continued to practice until 1989, when he and his wife relocated to the Comox Valley.

Since his arrival in the Comox Valley, Chris has been active in a number of community and professional organizations. He is a past director of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce, a past member of the provincial council of the BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association and a past chair of its Member Services Committee. He is also a past officer and director of the Strathcona Sunrise Rotary Club. Chris has been active in minor hockey in the Comox Valley. He lectures regularly on wills and estates matters for various groups and organizations.

Chris was appointed to the Hospital Board in 2008 and has served as Vice Chair of St. Joseph's General Hospital since December 2011. He sits on the Finance and the Governance & Nominating Committees, and Chairs the Quality Committee of the Board.

Jane Murphy - President & CEO

Jane Murphy

Jane has extensive experience in health care management. She began her career as a Registered Nurse working in a variety of clinical settings including adult and paediatric intensive care. Jane has held senior executive positions in the Lower Mainland including Vice President Patient Care Services and interim CEO at Langley Memorial Hospital; Vice President of Strategic Health Initiatives for South Fraser Health Region; and Interim Chief Operating Officer for Surrey Health Services, which included Surrey Memorial Hospital and Community Health Services in Surrey.

More recently Jane has been working in Texas holding senior leadership positions in a large tertiary acute care hospital (CHRISTUS Spohn – Shoreline) and at a specialized paediatric hospital - Driscoll Children’s Hospital.

Jane holds a Diploma in Nursing from the Vancouver General Hospital School of Nursing, a BSN from the University of Victoria and a Masters in Health Services Planning and Administration from the University of British Columbia. While in Texas, Jane served as adjunct faculty at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi where she enjoyed working with students and teaching courses related to healthcare management and leadership.

Jane has been involved in professional associations, including the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), where she has served on local, regional and national committees. In 2010, Jane was awarded the ACHE South Texas Regent’s Award for healthcare leadership.

Jane commenced her term as President & CEO for St. Joseph’s and member of the Board of Directors in September 2011. Jane and her husband, John, are thrilled to be back in the Comox Valley and reunited with family and friends.

Roger-Kishi - Comox-Strathcona Regional Hospital District

Roger-Kishi

Roger was elected to the Village of Cumberland Council in November 2011. He is Cumberland’s Representative to the Comox Valley Housing Task Force, Comox Strathcona Waste Management (CSWM) and Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District (CSRHD). He was elected as the CSRHD Representative to St. Joseph’s General Hospital Board in February 2012.

Roger has worked at the Wachiay Friendship Centre in Courtenay since August 2005. Currently, he works as Program Director and Health Partnerships. Roger represents Wachiay on the Comox Valley Aboriginal Health Working Group, VIHA Aboriginal Health Council and Comox Valley Lifelong Learning Association.

Prior to coming to the Comox Valley, Roger worked for 17 years at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver as a Security Supervisor. There he served on many hospital committees as an employee representative.

Roger lives in Cumberland with his partner Catherine Bell.

Roger was appointed to the Hospital Board as the Comox-Strathcona Regional Hospital District Representative in March, 2012.

Fr. Marek Paczk - Diocese of Victoria Representative

Fr. Marek Paczk

Fr. Marek was born and raised in Poland and is one of five children. After completing his elementary and secondary school he completed five years in a technical school in Poland and received a Diploma in Electronics. He entered the Salvatorian Seminary in Poland where he obtained his Masters in Theology.

For one year he served as an Assistant Pastor in Poland and then went on to Rome, and after two years of additional studies, received his Licentiate in Theology. In 1998, Fr. Marek came to North America and served for the Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan as a Chaplain. He returned to Poland and served in the Seminary as the Spiritual Formation Director for three years. Fr. Marek returned to Canada and was Pastor of Holy Family/Notre Dame in Port Alberni for six years. Since 2010, Fr. Marek Paczka has been the Pastor of Christ the King Parish in Courtenay.

Fr. Marek was appointed by the Bishop of Victoria as the Diocesan representative to the Board in October 2012.

Dr. Debra Wiens - President Medical Staff

Dr. Debra Wiens

Debra is a PP - prairie person. She was born and raised in Manitoba. She received her medical degree from the University of Calgary in 1984 and completed an internship in Toronto the following year. Since then she has been in general practice, initially in Manitoba, and here in the Comox Valley since 1996. She shares a practice with Dr. Itta Winter at Cottage Medical in Courtenay and has been a member of active staff at St. Joseph's Hospital for more than 10 years. She has been chair of the Department of Family Practice and the Manpower Committee. Debra is currently President of the Medical Staff Association and has been on the Medical Executive for the past 3 years.

Debra is a strong supporter of the arts and has been involved with Courtenay Little Theatre and Rainbow Youth Theatre as an actress, producer and director. She is married to Dr. Richard Engman, an internal medicine specialist here at St. Joseph's Hospital, and in their spare time they enjoy the various outdoor and cultural activities which are so abundant in the Comox Valley.

Patricia Fish - Auxiliary Representative

Patricia Fish

Pat has been married to husband, Victor Fish, for 59 years and has 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Pat was employed with the RCMP for 24 years before retiring to the Comox Valley in 1996. Pat worked in Victoria, Courtenay and Vancouver during her career with the RCMP. Her final position with the RCMP was as Office Manager of Medical Services, maintaining all medical files for RCMP members in BC and the Yukon. While working for the RCMP, Pat acted as the Regional Vice-President for the Union of the Solicitor Employees for 15 years.

Pat has volunteered for the Hospital Auxiliary since 1997 and has held positions on their Executive as Vice-President, President (twice for a total of 4 years) and currently as the Director of Gaming. Pat has been the appointed Auxiliary Representative to the Hospital Board since 2003.

Pat coordinates the Candy Striper/Junior Volunteer program and is the coordinator and buyer for the Auxiliary Gift Shop. She is also a member the Legion and assists with their fund raising activities and is the Treasurer of the Comox Valley Gaming Association Society, helping local charities to apply for government grants.

Cynthia Davies

Cynthia Davies

In 1967, Cynthia Davies emigrated from the United Kingdom to the Comox Valley where she pursued a career in the education field as a teacher / counsellor for 32 years.

Cynthia obtained her B. Ed from University of Victoria and a M. Ed in Counselling also from University of Victoria. Cynthia worked for School District #71 as the Coordinator of Counselling Services.

After retirement in 1999, Cynthia became involved in charity and volunteer work and serves on the Board of Directors for both St. Joseph’s Hospital and The Filberg Heritage Park and Lodge Association.

In her spare time, Cynthia enjoys church activities, kayaking, reading, walking and travel with her husband, Martin. Cynthia also treasures the time spent with her sons, daughters-in-law and her grandchildren, Oliver and Charlotte. Cynthia has been a Director of the Board since 2007 and is the Chair of the Ethics Committee.

Patti Fletcher

Patti Fletcher

Patti was elected as the Comox-Strathcona Regional Hospital District representative to the St. Joseph’s General Hospital Board in 2009.

Patti has served as an elected councillor for the Town of Comox since 2002. Patti moved to Comox in 1980 and enjoyed 27 years working at the Comox Community Centre as the Program Director. She and her husband, Simon Brampton, are the owners and operators of a local bicycle retail store that will be celebrating 25 years of business in 2013. Her experience as a municipal councillor, recreation professional and small business operator brings a depth of experience to the Board with governance, financial capacity, community connections, social awareness, environmental concern and a dose of good humour.

Patti has served on many local boards: such as 6 years with the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park Association, 3 years with the Comox Archives and Museum Board, Town of Comox Advisory Planning Commission, Town of Comox Business in Action Society and is presently serving as the Town's elected representative on the Comox Valley Regional District Board.

As a Hospital Board representative to the St. Joseph's General Hospital Foundation Board, Patti was elected as the President of the Hospital Foundation for the term 2012 - 2013.

Robert Scales

Robert Scales

Bob was born and raised in Cobble Hill where his family owned a bakery and general store for decades. After a 42 year banking career, Bob retired from the Bank of Montreal in 2007.

Bob has been a member of the Lions Clubs International since 1971 and is active in many other community groups in the 14 communities he has lived in while being transferred to different branches around the province.

Bob is currently Chair of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce, Chair of Glacier View Lodge and Treasurer for Courtenay Low Income Housing. In addition, Bob is active with the Comox Valley Monarch Lions Club.

Bob is retired in the Comox Valley with his wife, Shelley, and has a son, Robert, who works for the Vancouver Island Health Authority as a community support worker in the Valley.

Bob was appointed to the Hospital Board as the Glacier View Lodge representative in July 2012.

Jon Pascoe

Jon Pascoe

Jon and his wife moved to Comox in August 2010. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a B.Sc. in Psychology in 1975 and an M.A. in Medical Sociology/Health Care Administration in 1978. Jon held numerous management positions in Provincial Government Departments from 1977 to 1999.

Jon is a Certified Health Executive, Certified Human Resources Professional, and Fellow Certified Management Consultant. He was an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Health Human Resources with the School (Faculty) of Public Health at the University of Alberta.

Jon has been an active volunteer and contributor to the community over the years, and is the Registrar with the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Alberta. He works as a management consultant with a special interest in health professional regulatory policy development and governance.

Jon was appointed to the Board in March 2011, and is the Chair of the Governance & Nominating Committee.