2010-2011 Board of Directors

Jamie Melville, 1st Vice Chair - Jamie is a graduate of the University of Western's Business and Law School. He recently retired from the firm of Laidlaw, Paciocco, Melville where he had practiced law for the past 15 years. Prior to that, he was employed by Algoma Steel in various positions including Vice President of Finance and Corporate Services. Jamie has been involved with a number of community organizations having recently served as the Chair of the Sault Area Hospital Foundation for 10 years, as a member of the Hospital's Planning Committee, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Divisional Chair of the United Way Campaign and as a Director of the Rotary Club and Economic Development Corporation.

Lorne Carter, Treasurer - Lorne holds his Masters degree in Business Administration and has over 30 years of banking experience. He has served on the SAH Board of Directors for four years and his current position is Treasurer. Lorne also serves on various SAH committees including the Quality and Services Board Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Audit Committee and the Executive Committee. He is a currently the chair of the Resources Board Committee. Lorne holds a certificate in Alternate Dispute Resolution from the University of Windsor. He also served as the Deputy Mining and Lands Commissioner for the Province of Ontario for a period of ten years.

Ron Gagnon, President and CEO - Ron holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from Laurentian University and is a Certified Management Accountant. He is the Secretary to the Board and is a member of all SAH’s Board committees. A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ron joined SAH in April 2001 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer accountable for Finance, Information Technology, Logistics, Clinical Support Services and Environmental Services. He also served as Interim President & CEO in 2004 and 2006. Ron brings experience in public service and competitive industry in both administrative and operational leadership capacities. Prior to joining the SAH, he spent six years as a senior executive with the largest water services organization in Canada. Ron is a past Board member of the Innovation Centre and Sault College. When away from work he and his wife Patty enjoy time with their three children, Alyssa, Deandra and Brodie.

Dr. Alan McLean, Chief of Staff - Dr. McLean has played an active role on the Board of Directors as Chief of Staff for the past three years. He is the Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee and serves on various other committees including the Quality and Services Committee of the Board and the City of Sault Ste. Marie’s Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee. Dr. McLean received his medical degree from the University of Western and completed his residency at McMaster University. He is a Family and Emergency department physician and is one of a number of physicians that operates the Sault Care Clinic. Dr. McLean is very active with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM). He has served as the Northern Ontario Family Medicine Program Regional Coordinator, Northern Ontario Medical Education Corporation Area Coordinator of the Algoma District and Assistant Professor, as well as mentoring students in his private practice. Dr. McLean is an outdoor enthusiast, enjoying soccer coaching, biking and camping with his family.

Dr. Heather O,Brien, President of Medical Staff Association - Dr. O'Brien came to Sault Ste. Marie in 1997 as a locum physician providing anaesthesia services.  In July 2006, she relocated to Sault Ste. Marie and became a full time member of the department.  Dr. O'Brien accepted the position of Chief, Department of Anaesthesia, in September 2006 and has played a significant role in recruiting members on a full and part time basis to increase the complement of anaesthetists at SAH to its current level of six community anaesthetists. She also holds office on the Medical Staff Association Executive as Secretary-Treasurer, and in this capacity acts as an ex-officio member of the SAH Board of Directors. Dr. O'Brien has many interests, one of which is providing leadership in the community as a Scout Leader for Scouts Canada.

Dr. Malcolm Brigden, Vice President of Medical Staff Association - Dr. Brigden is the Vice President of the Medical Staff Association at SAH. He is a Medical Oncologist and the Medical Director of the Algoma District Cancer Program and has served on several boards and educational review panels. Dr. Brigden has a Bachelor degree from McGill University, a Masters degree from the University of British Columbia and received his medical degree from McGill University, specializing in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology. He has also received a number of awards in relation to academic endeavors and clinical teaching.

David Bockman - David is a retired bussiness man with over 40 years of banking and business development experience in various Ontario communities including Toronto, London, Sarnia, Barrie and Blind River. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers and served on town council for the Town of Thessalon. David has been an active community member over many years, through his work with various service clubs and committees. He is also in his fifth year on Council for the College of Nurses of Ontario.

Joanne Dumanski - Joanne is a graduate of the St. Mary’s School of Nursing. She has served on the SAH Board for the last seven years. Joanne is a member of the joint SAH/Group Health Centre Research Ethics Board and is the Chair of the Quality and Services Committee of the Board. She also served as a past member of the YMCA Board of Directors. Joanne currently works in management and sales at Dumanski Office. Prior to this, she held several positions in nursing education and management at the former Sault Ste. Marie General Hospital and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the SAH Board.

Joy Haley - ~ Joy is the Chair of Governance Board Committee, a member of the Strategic Planning Committee and the Hospital Board Representative on the Joint Sault Area Hospital/Group Health Centre Research Ethics Board. In the past, she has served on the Human Resources Sub Committee and the Policy Development Work Group. She holds an Honours Diploma as a Child and Adolescent Worker and has a Certificate in Business Management Studies (Health and Human Services). Some of Joy’s work experience includes Coordinator of Foster Care and Adoption Programs with the Children's Aid Society of Algoma and various positions at Sault Area Hospital such as Counsellor/Educator at the Child and Family Centre, Sexual Assault Care Centre and Crisis Services. She also taught at Sault College. Joy has volunteered for Women in Crisis (Algoma), United Way, Volunteer Bureau, Algoma Council on Domestic Violence and is currently involved in Parish Hospitality and Liturgy Teams. She was recognized by the Canadian Government’s International Year of Volunteers for outstanding service and contribution to Woman in Crisis (Algoma).

Anthony P. Marrato - Anthony has a law degree from the University of Western Ontario and is currently the Staff Lawyer for the Northeast Region with Legal Aid Ontario. He has served over three years on the SAH Board of Directors and is a member of the Governance Committee of the Board. Among his many volunteer positions over the years, Anthony is on the Parish Council at St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church, a member of the Algoma Domestic Violence Committee, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee and a Director for the Algoma District Law Association.

Luisa Martone - Luisa is a Public Relations Coordinator for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. She has held various communications positions within the organization over the last twelve years. She graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1993. Luisa is currently a member of the SAH Governance Committee.

Susan Myers - Susan has served as a member of City Council for Sault Ste. Marie since 2006 and previously held the position of Manager of Marketing and Tourism for the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation. She currently chairs many special task and standing committees of City Council such as the Mayor’s Awards for Volunteer Sault Ste. Marie, Conferences and the Special Events Committee of Council. Susan is also a member of other Boards of Directors including Algoma Public Health, Economic Development Corporation, Sault Ste. Marie Conservation Authority, Historic Sites, District Social Services Administration Board and the Physician Recruitment Committee. She also volunteers for Meals on Wheels. Susan holds Diplomas in Travel and Tourism and Biblical Studies. She received the Economic Developers Council President’s Award in 2001 and special recognition by the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in 2000/2003.

Dr. Michael Nanne - A graduate of McGill University, Dr. Nanne has a successful dental practice in Sault Ste. Marie. He has a long and rich history with SAH, having served on the Board since 1988 (first on the Sault Ste. Marie General Hospital Board and then on the SAH Board). Dr. Nanne also served as Chair of the Board in 1997. He is currently a member of the New Hospital Planning Committee and the Resources Committee of the Board. He serves as a member of the Ontario Dental Association’s Board of Directors and was a past President of the Sault Ste. Marie Dental Association. Dr. Nanne received a 20-year Ontario Volunteer Services Award.

Philip Virene - Philip is an investment advisor and the Sault Ste. Marie branch manager with BMO Nesbitt Burns. He is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and has over 20 years of business and management experience. Community organizations in which he has been involved include the Sault Ste. Marie Rotary Club, Sault College Business Advisory Board, Chamber of Commerce and the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation.

Laurel Young, Volunteer Association Representative - Laurel’s volunteer contributions to the SAH Board of Directors span over more than ten years. She serves on the Board of Directors as a representative of Sault Area Hospital’s Volunteer Association and was also President of the Association in 1998. She is an active member of the Quality and Service Board Committee. Laurel graduated in 1975 from the Dental Assisting course at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario and received her diploma as a certified dental assistant. She has worked as both a dental assistant and managed a coffee kiosk at Sault Area Hospital (Plummer site cafeteria) as a volunteer when it first opened in 1999. Over the years, Laurel has been very involved with Hospital Auxiliaries Association of Ontario, serving in a number of capacities including Director of Students for 32 years. Laurel is an active member of St. Luke’s Cathedral and has assisted with many special events and fundraisers at Sir James Dunn High School. Laurel received her Provincial Life Membership from the Hospital Auxiliaries Association of Ontario in 2002. She was also recognized by Sault Area Hospital for 25 years of service in 2004 and in 2009, received recognition from the Province of Ontario for 25 years of volunteer service.

Connie Witty - Connie has lived in a rural setting most of her life. With a strong dedication to enhancing health care delivery in the rural setting, Connie has chaired the Matthews Memorial Hospital Association since 1998/99.  Connie has served as a volunteer on numerous committees and boards, and most recently was appointed to the Algoma, Cochrane, Manitoulin and Sudbury Grant Review Team for the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Connie is currently a member of the Human Resources Team at Cross Country Automotive Services as a Senior Recruiter with corporate responsibility for all customer service representatives hiring at its Sault Ste, Marie Site. Connie currently holds accreditation with the Association of Professional Recruiters of Canada. Connie has resided on St. Joseph Island with her husband Glen since 1985. She is the mother of 3 children and 3 grandchildren.