I am a forty-six-year-old Caucasian male, who was born and raised in a small rural community in Southeastern Ontario, Canada. I grew up playing a variety of team and individual sports, including hockey, baseball, soccer, karate, swimming, and sailing. I was also active in Scouting and achieved the Chief Scout designation. I have completed a Honors Bachelor of Science degree in Cell Biology from Western University and a diploma in Medical Laboratory Sciences from St. Lawrence College. I have achieved designation as an Advanced Registered Technologist by the Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science and Manager of Quality / Organizational Excellence by the American Society of Quality. Participation in these activities has formed the foundation upon which my personal and professional attributes have been built.

     As a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a friend, a coach, a co-worker, and a healthcare leader – I approach each day with an honest, caring and positive outlook and a willingness to tackle any challenges life places in our path. As the VIce President - Diagnostics and Health Information Services for Haldimand War Memorial Hospital, a small rural healthcare facility, I embrace the opportunity to provide high quality diagnostic services for our community, while ensuring my teams have the resources and supports they require to allow them to succeed in their healthcare roles.

     I am currently pursuing a Master in Health Studies from Athabasca University, for which I am focusing on leadership and health promotion. I strive to utilize an authentic leadership style when carrying out my professional duties and am looking forward to learning how to promote best practices and inform members of my community on how to access the services they may require, to minimize the inequities that exist within our healthcare system. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) equity is the absence of unfair, avoidable, or remediable differences among groups of people, whether those groups are defined socially, economically, demographically, or geographically or by other dimensions of inequality (WHO, n.d.). Furthermore, WHO identifies that health equity is achieved when everyone can attain their full potential for health and well-being (WHO, n.d). I believe all Canadians deserve equitable access to high quality healthcare, whenever they need it. I am committed to working with my regional partners to minimize barriers impacting health equity for my family, and all residents of Haldimand County.

References

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Health Equity. https://www.who.int/health-topics/health-equity#tab=tab_1