CEO Report

October 2026

Table of contents

1.0 Strategy in Action

Excellence in Care: Powered by Discovery

  • QuickStart clinical trials approval beats target
  • MyCare Portal attracts 11,000+ patient users
  • Occupational Stress Injury annual report
  • Pyxis Pro implementation improves medication allocation
  • Dancing queens (and kings) in Veterans Care enjoy ABBA classics
  • Musculoskeletal integrated care pathway research project
  • DocTalks Podcast launches Season 6

A Vibrant Workforce

  • Corporate Huddle resumes with focus on Our Vision in Action
  • National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
  • Listening to volunteer voices
  • Vaccination: Our Best Shot

Partnering for Impact

  •  Share the Spirit helps community health and wellbeing 

2.0 Operational Updates

  • New St. Joseph’s parking garage
  • Interdisciplinary Model of Care Review update

3.0 Recognition

  • Long-service recognitions
  • Cheryl Forchuk awarded Canadian Nurses Association top honour 

4.0 CEO Activity

  • MPPs’ visits to Urgent Care Centre

5.0 Federal/Provincial Updates

  • Canada: Health Minister announces $80M for precision cancer research 
  • Ontario: Province targets ER wait times; vaccines against flu, COVID, RSV now available; primary care teams to be expanded; Ontario offers medical-school funding for five-year family doctor commitment; over-the-counter hearing aids to be approved

**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

QuickStart clinical trial approvals beat target times
As reported earlier, Lawson Research Institute is participating in the Clinical Trials Ontario QuickStart program, aimed at safe and speedy approvals of clinical trials. Lawson participated in one of QuickStart’s pilot trials, which is sponsored by Roche Pharmaceuticals and focuses on aging and presymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. The study, set to begin in the fall, received full institutional approval in 33 business days – well below the 45-day target. Lawson's participation as one of three Ontario centres in the QuickStart pilot provided valuable insights into accelerating clinical trial activation. Realizing the full potential of this approach at scale will depend on implementing the operational, process and system changes that would be needed to support routine adoption across future clinical research studies.

MyCare Portal attracts 11,000+ patient users
The MyCare Portal helps patients keep track of their latest health information in real time: whether it’s a lab test result, an upcoming appointment or a discharge summary. MyCarePortal is a free, secure online resource that gives patients access to select information from their health records through OneChart, the shared electronic health record system used by St. Joseph’s, London Health Sciences Centre and participating hospitals across the region. Launched in 2025, MyCarePortal developed with patients and caregivers working alongside clinicians and staff. More than 11,000 patients have enrolled in the MyCare Portal so far.

Occupational Stress Injury annual report
The MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre's 2025 Annual Report showcases a year of groundbreaking research, national collaboration and real-world impact for military members, veterans, first responders, public safety personnel and their families. From publishing the largest-ever analysis of PTSD treatments in military populations, to advancing innovation in virtual reality training, personalized medicine, family support and overall veteran wellbeing, the centre continues to transform research into meaningful impact.

Two new medical directors 
Two new medical director leadership roles have been successfully recruited, for St. Joseph’s Hand and Upper Limb Centre (HULC) and the WSIB clinic in ambulatory surgery, with terms starting Oct. 1. Dr. Ken Faber – an internationally respected orthopedic surgeon specializing in research and clinical innovation in shoulder, elbow, hand, and wrist surgery – will serve a five-year term as medical director of the HULC. Dr. Ruby Grewal has been appointed medical director of the St. Joseph’s WSIB Upper Extremity Specialty Care Service. She is a leading hand and upper limb surgeon whose practice encompasses hand, wrist, elbow, and microsurgery. Her leadership experience includes co-directing the HULC clinical research laboratory, serving in editorial roles with prominent orthopedic journals, contributing to the Canadian Society for Surgery of the Hand, and helping lead a Canadian multi-centre research group.

Pyxis Pro implementation improves medication allocations
We completed an organization-wide replacement of Pyxis ES medication stations, with 53 Pyxis Pro stations installed at Parkwood, Southwest Centre and St. Joseph’s Hospital sites. These automated medication dispensing systems have expanded storage and capacity, enhanced security, and advanced analytics intended to meet St. Joseph’s present and future medication management needs. Implementation was successful, and frontline staff have transitioned well to using the new machines.

Dancing queens (and kings) in Veterans Care enjoy ABBA
Labor Day weekend at Parkwood was filled with music, memories, and excitement as the ABBA Mania Tribute Band took the stage for the Veterans. The performance drew in a full auditorium of veterans and their family members, enthusiastically singing, clapping or dancing to beloved ABBA classics. From the first song to the final encore, the energy in the room was contagious. Many sang along to the beloved ABBA classics, while others danced, clapped, and reminisced about the good old days. The auditorium was alive with smiles, laughter, and a vibrant sense of community, creating a truly memorable afternoon for everyone who attended.

Musculoskeletal integrated care pathway research project
The Care Partnership Office supported the Gray Centre for Mobility and Activity’s research project to co-design an integrated care pathway for people living with chronic musculoskeletal conditions through consultation on meaningful engagement strategies, experience-based co design, and focus-group planning. Eight care partners were matched with the research team to contribute their lived experience and perspectives. Care partners have participated in individual interviews and are continuing to contribute through co-design sessions alongside healthcare providers to help identify gaps and inform the development of a more coordinated, patient-centered care pathway.

DocTalks Podcast launches Season 6
The newest season of the DocTalks Podcast, featuring conversations with St. Joseph’s experts about important health topics, launched on Sept. 22. The first episode focusing on GLP-1 medications featured Dr. Tamara Spaic and received 374 downloads in the first two weeks, above average for episode downloads. This season features nine episodes, two of which are PatientTalks episodes about breast reconstruction and diabetes.

A Vibrant Workforce

Corporate Huddle resumes with focus on Our Vision in Action 
Our all-staff forum, Corporate Huddle, returned on Oct. 1 with presentations from Charles O’Hanlon, VP people and mission, about the wellbeing and safety of staff, physicians and volunteers; and Christian Otte, VP of digital health technology, about the potential of artificial intelligence. The hour-long online session led by President and CEO Roy Butler also included information about the organization’s financial health and improving efficiencies in patient care and organizational operations.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2026
On Sept. 28, about 120 staff joined a virtual session to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Leo Nicholas, a residential school survivor and advocate for survivors of residential schools, shared his experiences of attending the Mohawk Institute in Brantford. His talk was preceded by a presentation from Nikki George, Indigenous Cultural Safety Specialist with Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre. The session included a moment of silence for victims of the residential school system and reflections on advancing reconciliation and providing culturally safe care.

In addition to the virtual session, hundreds of individuals and dozens of teams wore orange shirts to honour survivors of residential schools and remember children who did not come home. Their visible presence throughout our hospital sites showed a recommitment to listening, acknowledging and working towards reconciliation. Flags across all sites were lowered in recognition of lives lost and the strength and resilience of survivors.

Listening to volunteer voices
A survey of volunteers, with 164 respondents, showed extremely high levels of satisfaction: 95 per cent agreed they received the training they need to do their volunteer role; 99 per cent agreed that within the area they volunteer, others treat everyone with respect, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or age; and 98 per cent are overall satisfied with their volunteer role. About 83 per cent indicated that they receive feedback about how well they do their role.

The most-mentioned motivator for volunteering was to give back to their community, followed by a way to build their resume and because they have a personal connection to St. Joseph’s.

Vaccination: Our Best Shot
Vaccination clinics began across our site on Oct. 15. Reminders to staff, physicians, students and volunteers included five key behaviours to help protect themselves and others: get vaccinated; practice good hand hygiene; wear a mask when appropriate; live a healthy lifestyle; and stay home when feeling unwell. At the same time, in conjunction with our Infection Prevention and Control Team, we have updated masking guidelines to reflect the higher seasonal prevalence and risk levels in the community of influenza and COVID.

Partnering for Impact

Share the Spirit helps community health and wellbeing
Our annual Share the Spirit campaign launched Sept. 14 as St. Joseph’s community exhibits its mission to support broader community needs and advocate for vulnerable persons. The campaign encourages staff and physicians to support St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation, United Way Elgin Middlesex or both. Throughout the four-week campaign, the St. Joseph’s community has an opportunity to make a one-time donation, make a payroll gift and/or participate in fun fundraising activities. This year’s sponsored employee, Valentina Raigoza, scheduling clerk for Food and Nutrition Services at St. Joseph's Hospital, says giving back goes beyond making a financial contribution and extends also to helping out and advocating for people needing support. 

2.0 Operational Updates

New St. Joseph’s parking garage 
Staff, physicians and volunteers attended a drop-in session on Sept. 29 to learn more about the latest plans for the new Grosvenor Street parking garage, view concept drawings, speak with the project team, ask questions and share feedback. They also got a preview of the proposed design through virtual reality. About 100 members of the broader community attended an evening open house, to good engagement and generally positive feedback.

Interdisciplinary Model of Care Review update
On Oct. 15, communication went out to all parties and staff of an update to the service delivery model in our mental health inpatient, regional outpatient and outreach program. Following a comprehensive Interdisciplinary Model of Care Review, we will be creating 82 new full-time and 24 part-time direct care roles, including registered practical nurses, personal support workers, occupational therapy/physiotherapy assistants, social service workers and therapeutic recreation assistants in our Mental Health Care Program. We will be removing 83 full-time and 31 part-time registered nurse roles. As of Oct. 15, we anticipate the number of impacted RN roles to be 60 full-time and 25 part-time positions, based on current vacancies and transfer opportunities.

This change is not about reducing care. We’re re-aligning how care is delivered and ensuring patients receive care that matches their mental health, recovery and whole person needs, while making the best use of our resources and the diverse skills and expertise within our teams.

3.0 Recognition

Long-service recognitions
On Sept. 23, we celebrated 948 staff, credentialed professional staff and volunteers whose time with St. Joseph’s spans five to 50 years, in five-year increments. The evening of celebration recognized recipients with a commemorative pin and a reception. Attendees included 287 long-service recipients and 100 leaders.

Cheryl Forchuk receives Canadian Nurses Association highest honour
The Canadian Nurses Association has honoured Lawson scientist Cheryl Forchuk, RN, PhD, with the Sapphire Award to recognize Forchuk’s 50 years of sustained, significant and innovative contributions to nursing and to national and global health care. Forchuk, who is also Distinguished University Professor of Nursing at Western University, has secured or contributed to more than $52 million in research funding across 124 projects; written 12 books; written more than 200 peer-reviewed publications; and made hundreds of academic presentations. Her work has shaped policy, informed practice and driven system-level change in addressing mental health and homelessness.

4.0 CEO Activity

  • On Oct. 2, we were pleased to welcome London's three area MPPs – Teresa Armstrong, Terence Kernaghan and Peggy Sattler – for a visit to our Urgent Care Centre (UCC). The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the important role the UCC plays in our community and the work our teams do every day to provide timely care for the 51,000 patient visits every year.
  • I was pleased and proud to attend Tribute Dinner on Oct. 14, and to experience the community support that underpins excellence in care at St. Joseph’s Health Care London.

5.0 Federal/Provincial Updates

Canada

Health Minister announces $80M for precision cancer research
Health Minister Marjorie Michel has announced $80 million towards the next phase of the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network. The research funding will go towards precision and personalized medicine and enhancing equitable care across Canada.

Ontario

Province targets ER wait times
A new Emergency Department Action Team (EDAT), backed by more than $47 million in funding over four years, is intended to reduce emergency room wait times and improve patient care at 26 hospital sites across the province. The initiative will focus on improving hospital operations, addressing delays and botlenecks in emergency care and helping patients move more efficiently through assessment, diagnosis, treatment and discharge. The team is led by Dr. Abdel-Rahman Lawendy, who is the J.C. Kennedy Chair in Orthopedic Surgery at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, and is orthopedic division Head at St. Joseph’s and at London Health Sciences Centre.

Vaccines against flu, COVID, RSV now available
Ontario has launched its fall immunization programs and encourages everyone to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they become available, as well as RSV immunization for those eligible. The initial supply of COVID-19 vaccines and flu vaccines will be available for high-risk and priority groups (hospital patients, hospital staff, long-term care residents, seniors) became available Sept. 28.. Starting Oct. 26, free flu and COVID-19 shots will be available at participating pharmacies, public health units and participating doctor and nurse practitioner offices.

Primary care teams to be expanded
The Ontario government has announced its third round of Call for Proposals to expand interprofessional family care teams. It has has committed more than $250 million in this round  to connect an additional 600,000 patients to primary care providers province-wide.

Ontario offers medical-school funding for five-year family doctor commitment
More than 2,000 Ontario medical students will have their education costs covered by the province if they commit to working as family doctors anywhere in the province for five years. The province’s to $220-million expansion of the Ontario Learn & Stay funding will support four cohorts of students starting residencies between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2030. Eligible students will receive funding that can retroactively cover medical-school tuition, books and other costs. The province estimates the program could connect to two million people to primary care.

Over-the-counter hearing aids to be approved
The Ontario government is taking the next steps to enable the sale and use of Health Canada approved over-the-counter hearing aids. As part of the Health Innovation Pathway, the province is advancing proposed regulatory changes that, once passed, will give Ontarians with mild to moderate hearing loss more convenient and accessible options for hearing support. The province says this new measure will not replace or impact Ontario’s existing model of hearing aid prescription and coverage and instead will provide an additional option for Ontarians.