VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) welcomed 3 new members to our Board of Directors this month.

Bryan Dinh, Chief Commercial Officer for Switch Health; Sarah Downey, President and CEO, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH); and Rob Lee, VP, Digital Health & Chief Information Officer, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, all bring unique skills and a commitment to a better and more integrated health care system with home and community care as an integral part of the system.

We asked each of our new Board Members what led them to want to volunteer as a VHA Board member. Here’s what they had to say:

Bryan Dinh:  As someone who is a strong supporter of equitable access to care and delivering new methods and innovations to the Canadian healthcare system, I am completely aligned with VHA’s vision and mission.  I truly believe that I can contribute valuable experience and insights to the Board and leadership team at VHA. Read more about Bryan’s experience here.

Sarah Downey: I have been a partner of VHA’s since I first started at Michael Garron Hospital in 2015 (note, I moved to CAMH in September 2022).  I learned about home care through the expertise and passion of VHA leaders.  Together, we innovated through the East Toronto Health Partners Ontario Health Team to deliver great care to vulnerable people – both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.   When I saw that the VHA Board was looking for a Board member with academic health sciences expertise, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to apply.  I feel privileged to lean into the governance of this great home care organization and to support the creation of an integrated health system that better serves patients, clients, families and communities. Read more about Sarah Downey here.

Rob Lee: I have had the pleasure of being involved with the VHA team as both a hospital partner and most recently through our North Toronto Ontario Health Team.  At the hospital, our goal is to keep patients where they most want to be, at home.  Home and community care providers, like VHA, are key health partners in not only transitioning people from hospital back to home, but in helping them stay there as long as they can. On a personal note, I have also been a care provider, and recognize how invaluable supports like VHA’s palliative care program are.  It is a privilege to support an organization who is there during some of life’s most challenging times. Learn more about Rob Lee here.

Our new board members also reflected on key priorities and exciting opportunities ahead for VHA:

Bryan Dinh: As an organization that has been at the forefront of delivering home and community care, I believe VHA is in an amazing position to help build the future of home care and be a driver of how Canadians can live a more independent and healthy life, without adding burden to a healthcare system that is experiencing so many challenges. I am excited about the impact that VHA will continue to have in the lives of so many individuals and families across Ontario. The evolution and innovation of healthcare delivery, while maintaining high quality standards, is necessary and extremely positive for all Canadians.

Sarah Downey: There are many priorities I see for VHA right now, including: serving clients and families with excellence in home care services, advocacy and policy that supports more services in people’s homes, building integrated health systems, and advancing the science and evidence in home care services. Now that I’m working in mental health care, I’m also interested in learning about the intersection of mental health and home care. I have a deep admiration for many of VHA’s leaders and Board members and I am excited to learn more about the home care sector.

Rob Lee: Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) continue to evolve and grow in prominence in our health system, and I believe it is strategically important to ensure VHA plays a prominent role in the design and delivery of care in these structures, especially given its geographic reach. I am also excited to see Research and Innovation grow in the community sector, with VHA being an early leader in this space.  Having research that looks specifically at integrated care across sectors is very well aligned with the work of the OHTs and advancing care to keep people at home and in the community. I am also excited about the potential role digital health will play in supporting VHA’s staff and clients.  Whether it is to improve efficiency during a time of unprecedented human health resource constraints, or to improve transitions in care across sectors, digital health in the community will be a significant enabler for improving care.

VHA would also like to thank departing Board members Sheree Davis, Joe Mayer and Catherine Wiley for their support and guidance throughout their time on VHA’s Board. Sheree was with us for six and a half years, and Joe and Catherine served on the Board for the maximum term of nine years. The commitment and valued contributions of these leaders are much appreciated.