THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Interior Health will be saying goodbye to two board members when their appointments expire at the end of the month.

Rosanna McGregor was appointed to the board in February, 2006 while David Gillespie climbed aboard March, 2008.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to acknowledge the commitment of my colleagues to the betterment of health services for patients within Interior Health,” Board Chair Norman Embree says. “It has been a pleasure to work with both of them.”

The Board of Directors functions as the governing body for Interior Health, providing oversight on the organization’s strategic direction to the Senior Executive Team, which is responsible for day-to-day operations. Board members are appointed by the Province of British Columbia.

McGregor is a Secwepemc woman and member of the Williams Lake Indian Band. She is also the executive director of the Cariboo Friendship Society.

“One of my main interests during my service on the Board has been to ensure that Interior Health considers the needs of the Aboriginal population in a culturally sensitive and meaningful way,” says McGregor, who will also retire as Chair of the IH Aboriginal Health and Wellness Advisory Committee. “I am pleased to see that Interior Health has now signed Letters of Understanding with six First Nations in the region, and I applaud the dedicated group of employees who believe in the cause of Aboriginal Health.”

Gillespie joined the board after retiring from his Kamloops law practice. He served as the chair of the governance committee earlier in his appointment. He is also a former chair of the B.C. Automobile Association and current director of the B.C. Lottery Corporation.

“Interior Health is the most important organization in the Interior dealing with people’s health. Everybody has a stake in how health care is provided,” says Gillespie. “I am proud of what Interior Health has accomplished in the last six years, and I look forward to seeing further advancements in the years to come.”

Interior Health’s Board consists of nine Directors appointed by the Minister of Health through a process established by the government’s Board Resourcing and Development Office.

New appointments to the Interior Health Board are expected to be made in early 2014.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013