NOSM Board Holds First Meeting with New Dean, President and CEO

Using a combination of web- and teleconference connectivity across Northern Ontario, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) held its Annual Members and Board of Directors meetings on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

The Board welcomed the Chair, Dr. Robert Haché, President of Laurentian University and Dr. Sarita Verma, NOSM Dean, President and CEO for their first meeting of the NOSM Board.

Honorary Members Claude Lacroix, Laurentian Board of Governor’s Chair and Ross Murray, Lakehead Board of Governor’s Chair were in attendance for the Annual Meeting of Members.

In accordance with Board policy, Dr. Michel Bédard, Lucy Bonanno, Lori Flinders, Nancy Jacko, George Payne and Dr. William McCready were reappointed as Directors. The Board also welcomed two new Directors Juliette Denis and Donna Dorrington. They will each serve for a three-year term.

Juliette Denis, born and raised in the small village of River Valley, is a retired health-care professional with an extensive career that spans over 35 years who now calls Hanmer home.  Juliette is a dedicated community volunteer, always striving to bring about positive changes.  Juliette is a citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario. She honours her mixed heritage and has played a leadership role in her Métis community as member of the Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario.

Donna Dorrington was born and raised in Sudbury. She attended Laurentian University for her undergraduate studies, graduated from Queen’s University Law School in 2003 and was called to the Bar in 2004. She began her legal career in Toronto, and within one year decided to move back to Northern Ontario where she settled in Timmins in 2006. She has practised law in a number of small communities, including fly-in communities of the James Bay Coast and areas along the Highway 11 and 17 corridor.

The audited financial statements for the year ending April 30, 2019 were approved as presented, and the Board approved the auditors for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2020.

Dr. Moira McPherson, Board Vice Chair presented and approved Dr. Verma’s 2019-2020 Performance Goals. Dr. Verma provided a Dean’s Report for September that highlighted activities under her leadership since July 1, 2019, including an update on senior academic leadership recruitment, the Dean’s Engagement Report, Strengthening our Relations Report, and the Undergraduate Medical Education Accreditation.

The Board approved the updated policy on Human Rights and Anti-Harassment Discrimination.

“I’m happy to see an important policy like this applied across the whole school,” says Dr. Haché. “It is critical in creating a culture of respect in working and learning environments and I look forward to seeing how NOSM will implement this as a living and breathing practice.”

During the meeting, the Board received an update on the development and work plan for the next Strategic Plan 2020-2025, including a report on the extensive work of Dr. Sarita Verma and Ray Hunt, Chief Operating Officer, on the emerging themes to support strategic planning as well as excerpts from Dr. Verma’s blog and messaging since arriving on July 1, 2019.

Board members were reminded of important upcoming events being hosted by NOSM including the 14th annual Northern Health Research Conference in Little Current on September 20-21 and a series of lectures in support of Orange Shirt Day on September 30.

The next meeting of the Board of Directors is scheduled for November 27-28, 2019 in Thunder Bay.

For a complete list of Board members, please visit our website at nosm.ca/board.