CEO Report

February 2026

Table of contents

1.0 Strategy in Action

Excellence in Care: Powered by Discovery

  • Accelerating clinical trials and partnerships
  • Adaptive bowling for amputee rehabilitation
  • Clinical areas add new volunteer roles
  • Transportation Services support more off-site events for veterans
  • SGS ambulatory project update

A Vibrant Workforce

  • Black History Month celebrations and learning events

Partnering for Impact

  • Molecular Imaging and Theranostics partners with high-schoolers for talent development
  • EDIB in our Care Partnerships

2.0 Operational Updates

  • Third-party review assesses animal care in research
  • New patient x-ray policy
  • Updated masking requirements

3.0 Recognition

  • Ontario Health recognizes CT imaging team for efficiency
  • Pop-up pap clinic screens its 500th participant

4.0 CEO Activity

  • Tour of Urgent Care Centre with MPP Rob Flack; Mayor’s State of the City address; From the CEO’s Desk; London Police gala

5.0 Federal/Provincial Updates

  • Ontario: Six cancer drugs to be fast-tracked; Funding for 1,800 more primary-care professionals
  • Ontario: Funding for 1,800 more primary-care professionals

1.0 Strategy in Action

Excellence in Care: Powered by Discovery

Accelerating clinical trials and partnerships
Lawson is creating new positions, Clinical Research Navigators, within the operational team to help researchers expedite clinical trial start-up and streamline the maintenance of research projects by providing a comprehensive concierge service. As a dedicated point of contact, the Navigators will bridge communication between research teams and administration, ensuring tasks are completed accurately and on time. Recruitment for these positions will begin within the quarter.

At the same time, Lawson is actively connecting with external stakeholders to bring in new clinical trials that align with our established research strengths. These collaborations will provide our patients with early access to innovative treatments that are not yet available in standard clinical care.

Adaptive bowling for amputee rehabilitation
When a group of four patients attending amputee rehabilitation expressed a love for bowling, recreation therapist Natalia Gagnon introduced them to adaptive bowling to support their passion and rehabilitation goals. This group of patients has been participating since January 2026. Participants use the bowling alley at Parkwood Institute.

Adaptive bowling is designed to be accessible from either a seated or standing position, with adaptive techniques and equipment to accommodate prosthetic use, balance challenges and varying levels of mobility. It supports a holistic approach to recovery and encourages lifelong leisure participation after amputation. Physical, cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial rehabilitation benefits include: better strength, endurance and activity tolerance; improved ability to practice decision-making; increased confidence following amputation; and peer support and education.

Clinical areas add new volunteer roles
As we continue to highlight the impact of volunteers across the organization, we also connect and work closely with departments and program areas to create and expand meaningful volunteer roles. Over the past month, new roles have been introduced at St. Joseph’s Hospital in the following departments, clinics and programs: Surgical Pre-Admission Department, Rheumatology Clinic, Pain Management Clinic and Trauma and Violence Specialized Primary Care Program (TVSPCP). There has been a marked increase in awareness throughout the organization and community of the impact of volunteers and their role in supporting and assisting in clinical areas.

SGS Ambulatory Optimization Project Update
As part of the Specialized Geriatric Services (SGS) Ambulatory Optimization Project, we are beginning Phase 1 of a realignment designed to better meet the needs of older adults requiring specialized geriatric care. Effective January 23, 2026, Parkwood Institute’s Geriatric Day Hospital began the transition to the newly formed Specialized Intervention Team, which will provide targeted care to patients within our SGS clinics, including Aging Brain and Memory, Falls Fracture Frailty and Mobility (3FM), General Geriatrics, Nurse Practitioner, and Cognitive Neurology Clinics. A key driver of this work has been to define our core purpose as SGS Ambulatory Services and clarify who we are best positioned to serve and who will benefit most from our specialized care.

Key changes include: The Specialized Intervention Team will provide targeted interventions to patients in SGS ambulatory clinics, while ensuring every patient has a Most Responsible Provider (MRP) overseeing their care to align with the Public Hospital Act. Referrals from SGS Inpatients to the Day Hospital are no longer accepted. Patients discharged from inpatient care will be referred to appropriate community-based services, such as Ontario Health at Home and Community Support Services, including programs like Let’s Go Home (LEGHO). Resources from Day Hospital programs - which include the Physical Maintenance, Parkinson’s Education, and Parkinson’s Exercise Programs - will transition to focus on specialized intervention services. Patients will be connected to appropriate services to ensure their care needs continue.

Crucially, these changes help meet demands for an aging population, provide targeted support, are aligned with the Public Hospitals Act, and improve patient-centered care. They do not result in any job losses.

A Vibrant Workforce

Black History Month celebrations and learning events
In recognition of Black History Month, the EDIB Office organized three engagement opportunities inviting leaders, staff and volunteers to celebrate the legacy, leadership and contributions of Black communities to Canada’s social progress. The events were: storytelling presentations to honour the enduring legacy of Black Canadians and affirming the role of Black leaders in shaping institutions, communities, and collective futures, with focus on contributions to health care and society; culinary experience collaboration at two hospital sites with Yaya’s Kitchen to highlight the food traditions of African, Caribbean and Black communities. A virtual discussion examining how power, expertise, and perceptions of credibility influence whose voices are trusted in healthcare and workplace settings is scheduled to take place Feb. 25 and be led by by Masika Mahabir, CEO and Founder of Diversity Nexus.

Partnering for Impact

Molecular Imaging and Theranostics partners with high-schoolers for talent development
St. Joseph’s has initiated a high-school outreach partnership with Bruce Power and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) to bring students on-site to learn about downstream health-care, science and technical careers enabled by medical isotope production. This initiative – spearheaded by Molecular Imaging and Theranostics at St. Joseph’s, Lawson, and London Health Sciences Centre – supports early workforce awareness, Indigenous engagement and long-term talent pipeline development across the nuclear and health-care systems. The first cohort of students is expected to visit in late February.

EDIB in our Care Partnerships
The Care Partnership office hosted an EDIB focus group to better understand what support is needed for inclusive and meaningful Care Partner engagement. Five care partners participated and shared feedback on what motivates involvement, barriers to participation, and experiences of inclusion, communication and power dynamics within the health-care system. Key themes included the importance of clear feedback loops, realistic recruitment messaging (including time commitment), proactive accommodation and reaching individuals who are not already familiar with the Care Partnership Office. These insights will inform updates to recruitment approaches, engagement practices and future community-based outreach efforts. These updates will be designed this fiscal year and implemented within the next few months.

2.0 Operational Updates

Third-party review assesses animal care in research
As previously reported, we commissioned a third-party review of our practices and facilities in research involving animals at Lawson. The panels review included a tour of the facility and extensive interviews with animal-care staff, researchers, leaders, senior staff and animal-care partners. That is now public, and information will be distributed to the board separately on February 18.

The report is scheduled to be shared with St. Joseph’s staff, physicians, health-care partners and the broader community on Feb. 19, with media interviews scheduled for Feb. 19. St. Joseph’s is committed to addressing the recommendations as soon and as comprehensively as possible.

New patient X-ray safety policy
Based on improvements in imaging technology and scientific evidence, St. Joseph’s and LHSC have discontinued the routine use of patient lead shields during diagnostic X-rays.

Lead shielding was introduced in the 1950s when our understanding of radiation and technology was limited. Current diagnostic X-ray equipment is designed to reduce overexposure and use 95 per cent less radiation than previous equipment, eliminating the need for lead shields. Patient lead shields can also block important anatomy or interfere with image quality. This change aligns with national recommendations and leading hospitals across North America. Information has been posted on our public website and is being shared widely to patients and staff across a wide range of communication channels.

Updated masking requirements
New masking requirements have come into effect as we continue to prioritize protecting patients, residents, staff, physicians, researchers, volunteers and our community. New as of Feb. 16: At St. Joseph’s Hospital, masking is still required in the Urgent Care Centre but will no longer be required for all direct patient care in ambulatory/outpatient areas and inpatient settings. Masking is still required for all direct patient care in inpatient clinical settings at Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care, Parkwood Institute Main Building, Finch Family Mental Health Care Building and Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care including waiting rooms, open nursing stations and charting areas within clinical spaces. Masks are recommended but are not required in common spaces including hallways, break spaces, cafeterias, office spaces, auditoriums, and/or laboratories. For visitors, masks continue to be recommended, but not required for all patients/residents and visitors, with some exceptions.

London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) will remove masking requirements in all direct patient care activities on Feb. 16. St. Joseph’s has decided to be cautious and retain masking in most inpatient areas with the exception of St. Joseph’s Hospital, as those areas serve a highly vulnerable population, including many individuals living in congregate settings elevating the risk of respiratory virus transmission. St. Joseph’s will reassess the need for masking in inpatient areas for direct patient care in the coming weeks.

3.0 Recognition

Ontario Health recognizes CT imaging team for efficiency
Kudos to the St. Joseph’s Imaging team, which received word from Ontario Health that St. Joseph’s six-month average of CT patients per operating hour is the highest in among acute/teaching hospitals in the West region (a geographic area stretching from Hamilton and Waterloo to Windsor). The team’s average is 5.1 patients per operating hour, a flowthrough that considerably outpaces comparator hospitals. This reflects both the efficiency of St. Joseph’s CT operations and the dedication of its staff to excellent patient diagnostics and treatment.

Pop-up pap clinic screens 500th patient
As reported earlier, our innovative “pop-up pap” clinics, designed to screen people for cervical cancer and serve people who do not have access to a primary care provider, continues to generate widespread interest. Now billed as a pop-up cervical check (the new name reflecting a shift to HPV testing as a better test needing less frequent screening), the most recent drop-in session in January drew 97 patients from the community. That brings the total number of patients served to more than 500 people, across six sessions starting in early 2024.The Colposcopy team, led by Dr. Robert Di Cecco, Medical Director of St. Joseph's Colposcopy Clinic, is already planning its next drop-in screening session, tentatively planned for May 2026.  The team is also being recognized as Community Champions by Community Living London during an event in late February.

4.0 CEO Activity

  • We were pleased to be host to a tour of the Urgent Care Centre with Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, on Jan. 28. Discussions included the increase in patient volumes, the changing acuity level of patients visiting the UCC and the need for more funding. Following the tour, Minister Flack met with senior leaders to discuss overall hospital operations.
  • Several members of the St. Joseph’s team attended the Mayor’s annual State of the City Address on Jan. 28. It was heartening to see and speak with so many people invested in the wellbeing of this community.
  • We distributed From the President’s Desk quarterly newsletter electronically.
  • I attended the Police Gala on Feb. 12 and remain grateful for that continued partnership

5.0 Federal/Provincial Updates

Ontario

Six cancer drugs to be fast-tracked
The Ontario government is fast-tracking access to six new life-extending cancer treatments through the Funding Accelerated for Specific Treatments (FAST) program. Patients will be able to receive treatments for new drugs – for lung cancer, leukemia, prostate cancer, lymphoma, colorectal cancer and liver cancer – a year sooner under this pilot program.

Funding for 1,800 more primary-care professionals
The Ontario government is investing $30 million to expand the province’s primary care health-care workforce. This new funding includes $4.5 million to add to the skillsets of 1,400 registered nurses for primary care in chronic diseases, immunizations, cancer screening, and maternal and child care; $8.5 million to create 170 additional education seats for primary-care care nurse practitioners; and $16 million for another 150 seats for physician assistants. The funding is intended to support the province’s plan to connect every Ontarian to primary care by 2029.