December 7, 2022 – Nine up-and-coming leaders have graduated from Arnprior Regional Health’s (ARH) first Emerging Leaders Program, which develops new leaders across the organization through formal training and skill-building.

“Congratulations to our first cohort of graduates from the Emerging Leaders Program,” shared Leah Levesque, President and CEO, ARH. “Through this program, each graduate made the time-intensive commitment to developing invaluable leadership skills that will help them grow and flourish in their career.”

Emerging Leaders Program graduates from L to R: Sarah Lacasse, Wanda Herrick, Josh Chretien, Matthew Hamlyn, Amanda Cavanagh, Jamie Waite (missing Kate O’Connor and Lindsey Burt).

The Emerging Leaders Program participants were nominated based on the criteria of demonstrating accountability, professional conduct, good communication, and mentorship. Facilitated by external learning and development experts, participants worked through asynchronous modules and live training sessions to build and expand their leadership skills and knowledge.

“In today’s job market, retention is top-of-mind and it has become increasingly important to invest in exemplary employees who demonstrate leadership qualities,” said Andrea McClymont, Vice President, Human Resources, ARH. “Last year, we launched the Emerging Leaders Program to empower our up-and-coming leaders to develop their people skills with formal training and education.”

On December 3, 2022, the following nine staff members successfully graduated from the 12-month Emerging Leaders Program:

Amanda Cavanagh, Physiotherapy Assistant, has worked at ARH for 16 years. Amanda was instrumental in implementing the Bundled Care Program and Episodes of Care in Physiotherapy for the Ministry of Health. She is responsible for providing physiotherapy assistance to patients, orienting new staff, and many more functions within the department. She is a key leader on the ARH Social Committee and many other hospital committees.

Jamie Waite, Facilities Supervisor at The Grove, has worked at ARH for six years. Jamie advanced into a leadership position this September moving from his role on the Hospital’s Maintenance Team to Facilities Supervisor at The Grove. He has a keen eye and brings solutions to the table. Jamie’s pride and dedication to his work at ARH are apparent. He brings humour to the workplace and is always willing to help anyone in need.

Jean Riopelle, Health Information Management Professional, has worked at ARH for 14 years. Jean started as a coder in Health Records, and over the years, she has learned the ins and outs of every role in the department. She supports the Registration Team and physicians with any electronic health records-related issues and is often recognized for her kindness, patience, and willingness to help everyone. She assisted in leading several audits, the Connecting Ontario provincial electronic health record initiative, the Bundled Care Project, and Transitions in Care audits.

Josh Chretien, Inpatient Unit Care Facilitator, has worked at ARH for 12 years. Josh has progressed at ARH to his current Care Facilitator role, where he is exceeding. Josh has an abundance of leadership qualities – he is always willing to help the unit in whatever capacity is needed, is a great problem solver, and uses a collaborative approach involving the interdisciplinary team. As a result, he has gained the trust of the team, which helps move hospital and unit initiatives forward. In addition, he is committed to learning and growing and has a very positive disposition even when the going gets tough.

Kate O’Connor, Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator, has worked at ARH for four years. Kate moved from an RN position in the Inpatient Unit into the lead role of IPAC Coordinator in 2020, just at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. She rose to the occasion in this role and helped to guide employees safely through the pandemic. Kate demonstrates a positive attitude and lives the values of ARH. She is accountable and delivers quality work and guidance – always willing to lean in and assist in a compassionate, caring manner.

Lindsey Burt, Human Resources Business Partner, has worked at ARH for two years. Lindsey brings a wealth of knowledge in the HR and labour relations field and has faced the significant challenge of the health human resources shortage. She is client-focused, combined with her demonstrated problem-solving abilities and collaborative nature making her a key member of this team and a fantastic business partner.

Matthew Hamlyn, Pharmacist, has worked at ARH for two years. Matthew actively seeks educational opportunities and ongoing continuing education opportunities. He has successfully led and completed projects, including Vanessa’s Law and home medication teaching and implementing anesthetist narcotic kits.   He is an active member of the Palliative Care Committee, TICK research project, and COPD initiative. Matthew successfully collaborated with anesthetists, Operating Room nurses, and Pharmacy staff to design the anesthetist narcotic kits, forms, and workflows.

Sarah Lacasse, Financial Analyst, has worked at ARH for 12 years. Sarah is recognized as a star performer who can pivot and provide great service in the face of new challenges. She works hard to get things done in a timely manner. She is respectful of her peers and works to assist other managers who rely on her knowledge to guide them through financial reporting and compliance. Sarah is a valuable team player at ARH and is respected by everyone around her.

Wanda Herrick, Transcriptionist, has worked at ARH for 25 years. Wanda is self-motivated and has taken a leading role in implementing new transcription platforms, electronic health record upgrades, the Patient Portal project, the Transitions in Care audit, and more. Wanda collaborates well with others and has the drive to get things done. She has values similar to ARH and lives these values at work. Wanda is a leader on the Hospital’s Social Committee and has produced many creative ways to inspire, encourage participation, and boost staff engagement.

ARH will launch the second cohort of the Emerging Leaders Program in the winter of 2023.

About Arnprior Regional Health

Arnprior Regional Health (ARH) is a progressive 140-bed organization that includes a fully accredited community hospital, nursing home, primary health care centre and extensive community programs. ARH is a regional hub with a strong history of providing exemplary care to the residents of West Ottawa, McNab/Braeside, Arnprior and Mississippi Mills. As your partner in health, ARH is committed to listening to and responding to meet the needs of those we serve, because together, we create a healthy community.

Media contact:

Melissa McDermott

Communications Manager

[email protected]