Formal partnership between Lakehead, OSMH, supporting future of health care in Orillia and surrounding region
from left: Peter Caldwell, second vice-chair Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and board member of Lakehead's Board of Governors, Ligaya Byrch, chair of OSMH Board of Directors, Carmine Stumpo, OSMH President and CEO, Dr. Moira McPherson, Lakehead President and Vice-Chancellor, Kathy Tuckwell, vice-chair Lakehead Board of Governors, and Brandon Rhéal Amyot, member Lakehead Board of Governors.
March 21, 2023 – Orillia, Ont.
Earlier today, Lakehead University and Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that has the opportunity to have a profound impact on health care within the region.
Joined by members of the board of directors and senior leadership teams at both institutions, Dr. Moira McPherson, President and Vice-Chancellor of Lakehead University, and Carmine Stumpo, President and CEO of OSMH, formalized a long-standing relationship.
“We recognize the health human resource challenges that currently exist within the province of Ontario and right here in Orillia,” said McPherson. “Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital and Lakehead University share a common commitment to the healtand wellbeing of the communities around us.”
“This MOU formalizes our mutual desire to collaborate further and establish a strong and active partnership that benefits our students and employees, and our community.”
The announcement also comes at a critical time for both institutions. The University is looking toward the future with the addition of 10 new programs of study at the Orillia campus in the next 10 years – programs that align with the socio-economic needs of the region. And, OSMH is moving forward with transformation of health in Orillia through integration of services, including a new hospital build.
“The time is now for healthcare and education providers to respond to the rapid growth being felt in Orillia and surrounding areas, and to prepare for the future,” said Carmine Stumpo, OSMH President and CEO.
“There are natural synergies between our two organizations and through this agreement we look forward to building on an already solid foundation of partnership, particularly in addressing the challenge of health human resources.”
Areas of possible collaboration between the University and Hospital are outlined in the MOU – from academic and non-academic program development, to scholarly and health-related projects and research, to collaborative long-term planning, such as opportunities for sharing of human and capital resources.
“Lakehead and OSMH are integral to the growth of the City of Orillia and the region of Simcoe County, and we are excited to see where the formalization of this relationship with the hospital will lead,” added Dr. Linda Rodenburg, Interim Principal of Lakehead’s Orillia campus.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 10,000 students in THE’s 2022 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) is located in Orillia, Ontario (just 114 kilometres north of Toronto) and serves more than 440,000 residents in North Simcoe Muskoka. OSMH provides a comprehensive range of programs and services, including medical, surgical and emergency care, dialysis, obstetrical and paediatric care, mental health and rehabilitation services. For more information please visit our website at www.osmh.on.ca.