MANITOULIN—A Kagawong resident with close to four decades of hospital administration and health care planning has been appointed to the North East Local Health Integration (LHIN) Board.
Rick Cooper, a Certified General Accountant, will attend his first board meeting on January 23, 2014, after receiving his order in council to serve on the board for a term of up to three years.
Mr. Cooper has worked across Northeastern Ontario including chief financial officer and vice president of the Sault Area Hospital (2007-2009) and manager of finance and information at the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care office in Sudbury, helping to plan health care across the region during the early 2000s. Most recently he served as the vice president of finance for the South Bruce Grey Health Centre and Georgian Bay General Hospital until his retirement earlier this year.
“I am now retired and living full time in the town of Kagawong on Manitoulin Island,” said Mr. Cooper. “I am looking forward to continuing to strengthen Northeastern Ontario’s health care system through local decision making on the North East LHIN Board of Directors.”
In addition to his accounting expertise and health care background, Mr. Cooper brings much governance experience having served on many boards including the Med Buy Corporation, North Simcoe Community Futures and the CGA Simcoe County Chapter.
“We are delighted to welcome Rick to the North East LHIN Board,” said Chair Elaine Pitcher. “He brings an in depth knowledge of health care system planning, human resources, accounting, and hospital financial accountabilities to our board.”
The North East LHIN is responsible for planning, integrating, coordinating and providing funding to 150 health service providers in Northeastern Ontario. It oversees $1.5 billion in local health care investments on behalf of the 555,000 residents of Northeastern Ontario.
