GBGH CEO resigns to pursue leadership opportunity at Barrie health centre

April 6, 2022 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) president and CEO Gail Hunt has tendered her resignation at the hospital, effective Thursday, June 23, 2022. Hunt, who joined GBGH in September 2017, has been appointed as the new president and CEO of Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in Barrie.

“On behalf of the GBGH Board of Directors, I would like to sincerely wish Gail all the best in this new opportunity and thank her for the many contributions achieved in the best interest of patients, teams and this organization as a whole,” says Tim Kastelic, chair, GBGH Board of Directors. “I’m certain she will do an exceptional job leading RVH, as she has always done during her time at GBGH and throughout her entire 21 year career in healthcare.”

Since joining GBGH in September 2017, after 16 years as the CEO Services de santé de Chapleau Health Services, Hunt’s leadership efforts have resulted in significant transformation at the hospital. Most notably, Hunt has led the GBGH team through change and progress in the areas of financial sustainability, quality improvement, continuous learning and organizational culture.”

“During my time at GBGH, my goal has always been to lay the groundwork for this hospital’s future success, as there are many important opportunities ahead for GBGH and this team,” says Hunt. ”I will most miss the GBGH team members who’ve proven time and time again what an exceptional group of dedicated and compassionate professionals work and practice at this hospital. Every day I’ve been impressed and inspired by the work they do – whether it’s on the frontlines or supporting care from behind-the-scenes.”

Since starting at GBGH over four years ago, Hunt was committed to growing GBGH from the perspective of investing in people, creating a culture of continuous learning, aligning services with community needs, and purposefully and responsibly allocating resources. Some specific highlights of Hunt’s tenure include:

Updating and implementing the hospital’s strategic plan
Achieving the highest level of hospital Accreditation in 2019 – Accredited with Exemplary Standing
Advocating for appropriate funding and the importance of an acute mental health program at GBGH
Overseeing GBGH’s COVID-19 pandemic response and collaborating with partners on the rapid establishment of a Community Assessment Centre
Expediting the relocation of the Dialysis unit
Planning for GBGH’s future through a comprehensive master planning process and submission of the hospital’s Stage 1 plan for a future hospital
Initiating a review of GBGH’s critical care services which has since resulted in a Level 3 Basic ICU designation (the second highest designation for a non-specialty ICU)
Overseeing an optimization initiative to expand surgical services to include shoulder repair, urology, gynecology and Ear/Nose/Throat procedures
Initiating a comprehensive leadership development program
Acting as a core partner and co-chair in the planning and development of the North Simcoe Ontario Health Team

Hunt will continue all president and CEO duties until June 23 and will work with the Board of Directors to ensure a seamless leadership transition, details of which will be released in the near future. The GBGH Board has established a formal CEO search committee to commence the process of selecting a new CEO.