VANCOUVER—Changes are in the works for Canada’s largest Catholic health-care organization.
Providence Health-care is saying goodbye to retiring CEO Dianne Doyle and board chair Geoff Plant in the midst of a historic hospital re-build, plans to transform residential care, and a crushing opioid overdose crisis.
Doyle’s retirement “will be a great loss to health-care in B.C. She will be a very hard person to replace,” Plant said during the organization’s annual general meeting June 14.
“She has, through her leadership, not only helped maintain our leadership as an academic health sciences organization, but has enabled the organization to make global impacts through new research and innovative health-care solutions.”
Doyle has worked for Providence for decades, including 12 years as its CEO. In 2007 and 2008, the Women’s Executive Network named her one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the Public Sector. Plant said Doyle’s commitment to “looking after society’s most vulnerable populations,” has “helped spread our reputation as a compassionate, innovative, and social justice-focused organization.”
Hundreds of board members, doctors, nurses, and other health-care professionals rose to give a tearful Doyle a standing ovation. She will continue steering Providence for the next few months while the organization starts the long process of finding another CEO.
“Some call it retirement, others call it ‘rewirement,’” Doyle laughed. She praised the health-care professionals at the annual general meeting for their continued efforts in a challenging time.
The opioid overdose crisis, which claimed 488 lives from January to April alone, “has impacted so many of our direct care staff and those we serve,” she said.
The numbers are staggering and tragic. — Diane Doyle
“The numbers are staggering and tragic. Each of those numbers are real people, brothers and sisters and husbands and wives and friends. It’s a real testimony to our continued response to the most vulnerable and the most in need around us.”
She presented several health-care teams and individuals with awards for significant contributions to Providence – among them, a team responsible for finding better ways to support staff who handle challenging situations daily.
Plant, who has worked for Providence for nine years, also announced he is retiring. “I’m delighted my colleague and friend Eric Harris will become the new board chair.” A founding partner of law firm Harris & Company, Harris has worked in public and private sectors, including years of experience in health care.
“I’m so grateful that I’ve had the chance to be part of this,” said Plant, who received the organization’s Good Samaritan award in 2015 in part for playing a large role in the $1.2 billion plans to re-build the aging St. Paul’s Hospital on Station Street.
Providence is also in the planning stages of revamping its residential care to enhance comfort, accessibility, and beauty. Plans include building homes for at least 300 people at St. Vincent’s Heather and renovating Holy Family Residence.
“It’s sure going to be an adventure,” said Plant. “It’s been a pleasure to serve you, and now, carry on!”
