CEO Report
September 2026
Table of contents
1.0 Strategy in Action
Excellence in Care: Powered by Discovery
- Airshow pilots and crew visit veterans at Parkwood Institute
- Volunteer language supports expand at St. Joseph’s Hospital
- Improved continuity of care in community stroke and neurological rehabilitation
A Vibrant Workforce
- Training excellence for clinical externs
- Supporting and building successes in Medical Imaging and Breast Care
Partnering for Impact
- Strategic partnerships benefit injury research network
- Homecoming (HOCO) planning meeting
2.0 Operational Updates
- Benefits carrier switches to Medavie Blue Cross
3.0 Recognition
- Winners of the Dragon’s Den for Care Innovation awards
- Excellence in Professional Practice award-winners
4.0 CEO Activity
- MP Peter Fragiskatos tours Parkwood Institute
5.0 Federal/Provincial Updates
- Canada: n/a
- Ontario: n/a
**The CEO Report to the Board of Directors Report also includes links to health care focused media stories that have been published within the month. For a list of these links for the current report, please contact @email.
1.0 Strategy in Action
Excellence in Care: Powered by Discovery
Airshow pilots and crew visit veterans at Parkwood Institute
On August 20, crew members participating in the London International Airshow visited the Veterans Care Program to spend time with the veterans. Members of the U.S. Air Force and the Canadian Armed Forces had the opportunity to connect one-on-one with veterans, sharing stories, experiences and meaningful conversations. The afternoon was filled with laughter, conversation and connection. Many veterans were thrilled to collect autographs as special keepsakes from the visit. This memorable meet-and-greet was followed by a weekend enjoying the London Airshow, making it an exciting and meaningful experience for everyone involved.
Volunteer language supports expand at St. Joseph’s entrances
As noted previously, St. Joseph’s recently launched a project to help visitors navigate services in their language of choice. By the end of August, multilingual Information Desk volunteers had worn language-identification buttons more than 50 times and helped more than 30 patients or visitors. In late August, iPad-based translation services became available at information desks to augment in-person volunteer aid. The initiative was shared widely in mainstream media.
Improved continuity of care in community stroke and neurological rehabilitation
As reported earlier, several initiatives have taken place across our stroke rehabilitation services during the past year, including renovations to the Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Program (CORP) space and the implementation of the Community Stroke Rehabilitation (CSR) data reporting initiative led by Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health. These initiatives have provided an opportunity to review how our programs are presented to patients, families and referral sources, while ensuring they accurately reflect the high-quality care delivered by our teams.
On Sept. 1, our outpatient rehabilitation and stroke rehabilitation programs came together under a unified umbrella: the Community Stroke and Neurological Rehabilitation Program with two distinct service streams: the community stream (Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team); and the hospital-based outpatient stream now called the Outpatient Stroke and Neurological Rehabilitation Team. This change is intended to improve access based on Ontario health funding priorities, streamline processes and enhance the overall patient experience across the continuum of stroke and neurological rehabilitation services.
A Vibrant Workforce
Training excellence for clinical externs
The Professional Practice Partnership Program currently has 73 clinical externs: 57 in nursing, 13 in occupational therapy and three in physiotherapy. On July 28, the program was host to a full day of education/skills fair for these clinical externs. Speakers from within the organization included members from the Care Partners Program, occupational therapists from the wheelchair and seating program, and educators from Professional Practice. External speakers included experts from Motion Specialty and Western University. Feedback from the day indicated attendees were appreciative of the opportunities for interactive learning and networking.
Supporting and building successes in Medical Imaging and Breast Care
Medical Imaging and Breast Care implemented a formal recognition approach across leadership portfolios to strengthen staff engagement and ensure timely acknowledgement of contributions and achievements. Through the High-Five Highlights program, staff can submit peer recognition using QR codes posted throughout the department or links available on the department’s Teams page. Recognized employees will be celebrated at monthly all-staff meetings. Performance review discussions were completed across multiple teams as we support professional development, succession planning and employee growth. Recruitment, onboarding and staffing activities included strengthening scheduling and clerical support, while overtime decision-making processes were standardized to improve consistency, fairness and operational efficiency.
Partnering for Impact
Strategic partnerships benefit injury research network
Lawson continues to seek and advance the infrastructure, partnerships, research funding and data capabilities required to support long-term research growth and impact of our Workplace Injury Research Network. We have begun planning with Fanshawe College and North York General Hospital – which also have new research programs supported by the WSIB’s WorkSafe Ontario Fund – to understand where our research, training and knowledge can intersect for improved worker health and safety across Ontario. We have also begun exploring whether artificial intelligence-enabled digital health technologies might support workplace injury prevention, recovery and return-to-work outcomes.
Homecoming (HOCO) planning meeting
St. Joseph’s Emergency Management attended the City of London's Emergency Operations Centre on Aug. 11 for a HOCO planning meeting that included a tabletop exercise designed to review and coordinate a city response to potential incidents during Homecoming weekend. We worked with city officials and emergency services on several mock scenarios, including having close collaboration with London Health Sciences Centre on a coordinated health response if one should become necessary. Homecoming at Western University takes place on Sept. 26, and London sees an influx of several thousand students, alumni and visitors for sanctioned and unsanctioned gatherings.
2.0 Operational Updates
Benefits carrier shifts to Medavie Blue Cross
The transition to Medavie Blue Cross for Extended Health and Dental benefits became effective Sept. 1, 2026. Employee communications were distributed on Aug. 19, including carrier change information and FAQs, and member ID cards were mailed to employees' home addresses. A union information session also took place in mid-August to provide an overview of the transition, address questions and review key changes and member requirements.
3.0 Recognition
Winners of the Dragon’s Den for Care Innovation award
Three winning ideas rose to the top in a Dragon’s Den for Care Innovation pitch competition that invited teams to submit ideas to improve care, strengthen safety and elevate the patient and staff experience.
Winning ideas and the people championing them:
Collective Kitchen, providing a space for patients experiencing severe mental illness to cook healthy meals together in the community, while addressing patients’ isolation, social exclusion, poverty and food insecurity. Champions: mental health registered nurses Shion Hulkenberg, Holly Wallace and Maria Hadzinikolaou.
CORE-CKM: Re-Engineering Care for Complex Chronic Disease, adopting a model of care in which high-risk patients with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome will be referred to a central multidisciplinary team that will assess and develop personalized, evidence-based treatment plans. Champions: Drs. Kristin Clemens, Radha Joseph, Chris Licskai, Louise Moist, Hiba Hashmi; respiratory therapist Madonna Ferrone, research assistant Natalie Bendo; students Sara Gelaut and Arpana Wadhwani.
Medication Access and Stability Pathway (No Patient Leaves Without a Plan), helping ensure patients in the Trauma and Violence Specialized Primary Care Program have access to low-cost over-the-counter items such as laxatives, vitamins, pain relievers and medicated creams and ointments, allowing treatment to begin without delay. The initiative strengthens patient trust, improves treatment adherence, reduces provider moral distress and burnout and helps prevent complications. Champions: nurse practitioner Kaila Masalsky and registered nurse Samantha Schepers.
Excellent in Professional Practice award-winners
Congratulations to this year’s Excellence in Professional Practice Awards winners, nominated by their colleagues for the outstanding ways they show up for their patients and colleagues and demonstrate our mission, vision and values.
Excellence in Clinical Practice:
- Jennifer Whitlock, registered nurse, Complex Care, Rehabilitation, Geriatrics
- Megan Beaudry, occupational therapist, Mental Health Care
- Adam Morse, registered nurse, Mental Health Care
Excellence in Clinical Practice - support staff:
- Francesca Curcio, clinical support clerk
Excellence in Clinical Practice - team or group
- Southwest Geriatric Psychiatry Ambulatory Clinic
Excellence in Leadership
- Reem Gray, nurse educator
Excellence in Teaching and Coaching
- Shannon McGuire, physiotherapist
4.0 CEO Activity
On Sept 1, we were pleased to welcome London Centre MP Peter Fragiskatos to Parkwood Institute, where geriatricians Dr. Michael Borrie and Dr. Jaspreet Banghu highlighted some of their ground-breaking research in early diagnosis and treatment of dementia.
5.0 Federal/Provincial Updates
Canada
n/a
Ontario
n/a