The Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation is pleased to announce that Suzanne Saatchi has assumed responsibilities as full-time executive director.
Suzanne will take the lead in building the team, organizational and operating structure and culture for Bowen’s new health centre, as well as nurturing key relationships with provincial and regional health authorities. In short, as we build the facility, Suzanne will be instrumental in putting together what happens inside.
Suzanne has an MBA in Strategic Management from the Sauder School of Business at UBC. Previously she was a management consultant specializing in healthcare operational planning, operational readiness assessments, and strategic planning for clients that included Burnaby Divisions of Family Practice, Provincial Health Services Authority, Fraser Health, and Northern Health. Prior to that, as a General Manager for the Fraser Health Authority, she was responsible for implementing facility and non-clinical operations in two new successive large-scale hospital projects at Surrey Memorial Hospital, the Critical Care Tower and the Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre.
“We feel very fortunate that Suzanne was among a number of strong candidates for this position,” says Tim Rhodes, BIHCF President. “She has a proven record of success in getting health facilities up and running and a great understanding of how the health care system works. Her engaging personality and energy will be a huge asset to the Foundation and to the Bowen community.”
The BIHCF is also pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to our board of directors, who will add to the board’s bench strength in key areas.
Maria Turnbull is associate executive director with Vantage Point, where she specializes in assisting B.C.’s not-for-profit health sector in the areas of board governance, management, strategic and operational planning, and human resources systems. Maria has lived on Bowen for 10 years and in her spare time is a team manager for the Bowen Island Football Club.
Maija Tiesmaki is a researcher and strategist with the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research where she leads strategic initiatives to develop the health research talent B.C. needs for healthier people and communities. She has lived on Bowen for five years and previously served as a member of our Health Services Committee.
We are excited by these latest additions to our health centre team. We have assembled a strong core of talent and experience to navigate us through the coming months as we build a health centre that is there when the community needs it most.
We continue to rely on the generosity of our community to deliver on our vision of bringing health care close to home. If you haven’t done so, go to bowenhealthcentre.com/donate-now/ and join your neighbours in helping to make this vital asset a reality.
