After more than 35 years of dedicated service to the healthcare sector, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care’s President and CEO Carol Lambie has shared her plans for retirement once the hospital is able to find her replacement.
Carol is Waypoint’s inaugural President and CEO, having joined the hospital in 2008 during the divestment of the former Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene from the Ministry of Health. She was appointed as the new Public Hospital Corporation was formed and her leadership was instrumental in the transition and development needed during that time.
“Carol’s leadership and expertise both for Waypoint and in her many regional and provincial roles will be missed. She is a thoughtful, compassionate and progressive leader, and is a champion of Catholic health care values. The board of directors is sad to see her leave, but are also excited for Carol as she moves to this next phase to spend more time with her family. We know her passion and support for mental health and the work she has put into building collaboration across health care and all sectors will continue.”
Betty Valentine, Waypoint Board Chair
Carol leaves Waypoint with a solid foundation of strong relationships and partnerships extending across the region and province and a new Strategic Plan focused on patient centred care, research and partnerships. She has also worked tirelessly to support Waypoint and the healthcare sector for the last 18 months during the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most challenging times in healthcare.
“Everything Carol does is tied to serving the most vulnerable and finding ways to ensure our patients and clients, and the community have access to the care and treatment they need. She is also an advocate for the people who serve, and is committed to the well-being and safety of staff and health care workers across the province, particularly in these last months of the pandemic,” said Valentine.
While divestment to a Public Hospital was a major event for Waypoint, Carol has also been at the helm for the launch of the Waypoint Research Institute, planning and building of the new Atrium building and integrated campus, implementation of the hospital’s first electronic health record which includes a partnership with The Royal in Ottawa and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Science in Whitby, the planning and opening of the Community Health Hub in Midland and the development of the innovative Central Ontario Health Team for Specialized Populations.
“I have been fortunate to work with experts and champions, whether from our own frontline staff, our patients and their families, the many board members Waypoint has had in the last 13 years and our senior team, to provincial and regional leaders in health care and many other sectors throughout my career. Without this support so much of what has been accomplished would not have happened. I know the collaboration will continue to make good things happen at Waypoint, regionally and provincially for people needing mental health and addiction services,” says Lambie.
Through the years Carol has supported many local and regional organizations. In recent years she has been heavily involved in provincial leadership, having been chair of the Catholic Health Association of Ontario, Addiction and Mental Health Ontario and Mental Health Partners, as well as chairing and co-chairing various Ontario Hospital Association and provincial government committees.
“We know that Waypoint, our patients and staff, and the mental health and addiction sector will continue to benefit from Carol’s dedication,” said Valentine. “The board is pleased to have her continued support as the search for her replacement begins in these next few weeks,” said Valentine.