April 14, 2011
GRANDE PRAIRIE – After a thorough search and interview process, the Board of Alberta Health Services has appointed Dr. Chris Eagle as President and CEO. Dr. Eagle will serve a five-year term, effective April 1, 2011.
Dr. Eagle, who has been the Acting President and CEO, has served in a variety of leadership roles throughout his 34-year career in health care in Alberta.
“Dr. Eagle’s appointment marks another milestone in the relatively young history of Alberta Health Services. The foundational work of amalgamation is behind us. Our focus now is on reaching the performance targets in the 5-Year Health Action Plan,” said Board Chair Ken Hughes.
“I want to congratulate Dr. Eagle on his appointment and the AHS Board for choosing an outstanding candidate,” said Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Health and Wellness. “Since being appointed as Acting President and CEO on November 24, 2010, Dr. Eagle has shown himself to be a strong and capable leader. His thoughtful, engaging and responsive style will serve AHS and Albertans very well as we continue to build the best-performing publicly funded health care system in Canada.”
In accepting the appointment, Dr. Eagle emphasized his commitment to the 5-Year Health Action Plan; to the important role of local managers in decision making; and to the importance of improved relationships focused on improved patient outcomes. At the Board meeting today, Dr. Eagle announced $190 million in new funding for four new initiatives to improve performance in high-priority areas: emergency department wait times; cancer care access; growth in continuing care beds and services; and timely access to a range of surgical procedures including cataracts, hip and knee replacements and cardiac surgery.
“We are announcing these initiatives now to underscore the importance of moving more quickly. Albertans want to see, the Board wants to see, and I want to see, greater emphasis on the areas where we can make the greatest difference in the quality of patient care,” said Dr. Eagle. “We are moving forward on the 5-Year Health Action Plan with clear actions, clear targets and now, new funding to improve the quality of patient care.”
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than 3.7 million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
Formerly President and Chief Operating Officer in the Calgary Health Region, Dr. Eagle is a Professor at the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta and holds an adjunct appointment at the University of Victoria.
Dr. Eagle graduated from the University of Calgary (MD 1977) and the University of Western Ontario (MBA). He specialized in cardiac anesthesiology. In 1991, he was appointed Professor and Head of the Department of Anesthesia at the University of Calgary. He has published more than 70 articles and has made many addresses to various professional societies, many in the area of health care quality and safety. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (1981), Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiologists (1982), and Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthesia (1995).
Dr. Eagle has had a long career in health care administration. He has served as Executive VP and Chief Clinical Officer, VP and CIO of the Calgary Health Region, Associate Chief Medical Officer, Executive Director of the Foothills Hospital (Calgary), and Head of the Department of Anesthesia. He has also served as Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary. He has served as Chair of the Specialty Committee of Anesthesia, Chief Examiner in Anesthesia, and Examiner in Anesthesia for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Dr. Eagle has served as a Board member on a number of health organizations. He was on the inaugural Board for the Health Quality Council of Alberta and currently serves on the Board of the Canadian Institute of Health Information.
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