Toronto (May 2, 2005) - Mr. Philip Orsino, Chair-Elect of the Board of Directors of University Health Network and Chair of the Board's Selection Committee for the nextPresident & Chief Executive Officer announced today that Dr. Robert Bell, currently Vice President at University Health Network and Chief Operating Officer of UHN's Princess Margaret Hospital, will be UHN's next President & CEO.
"I am delighted that Bob Bell will be our next President," said Mr. Orsino. "His experience at UHN, his contributions to the provincial cancer care system through Cancer Care Ontario, his leadership of the Province's review of critical care, his communication skills and his leadership were all factors in his selection. I look forward to working with him in the years ahead and am confident that his ability to create consensus and his focus on creating a systemof health care will position UHN well as we go forward with the Province of Ontario's desire to create highly functioning Local Health Integration Networks."
Dr. Bell has been Chief Operating Officer at Princess Margaret Hospital and Medical Director of the UHN Oncology program from 2000 to the present. During this time, the hospital formed a strategic and positive relationship with Cancer Care Ontario, added a Palliative Care unit, and was successful in securing funding to enable an enhanced investment in radiation therapy, leukemia and surgical oncology. In addition, Dr. Bell contributed substantially to the exceptional fundraising activities of the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation and the growth of cancer research. In addition to his work on behalf of PMH, Dr. Bell co-chaired the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care's Steering Committee on Critical Care Reform and served as Regional Vice President & Chair, Clinical Council for Cancer Care Ontario. Dr. Bell is an orthopedic surgeon with a specialized practice in oncology and a successful career in cancer research and education.
"University Health Network is an exciting, dynamic and creative organization," said Dr. Bell.
"I am obviously very pleased to be asked to lead UHN and am committed to the organization playing an important role in the full realization of the Province's Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). I am stepping into Tom Closson's very large shoes. I am looking forward to building on Tom's accomplishments here at UHN and contributing to the dynamic future of Ontario healthcare."
Dr. Bell will assume the role of President & CEO on June 15, the date that Mr. Closson steps down from the position.
"I'm delighted that Bob has been asked to become President of UHN," said Mr. Closson. "He's an excellent choice and it is very important that UHN has the continuity that Bob will provide at a time when the Ontario health care system is facing major change."
About University Health Network
University Health Network consists of Toronto General, Toronto Western and Princess Margaret Hospitals. The scope of research and complexity of cases at University Health Network has made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. It has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research projects in transplantation, cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, and genomic medicine. University Health Network is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.
