Ontario hospital association names new executives

Toronto, ON November 3, 2003 The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) has named Hilary Short as it new president & CEO, and Tony Dagnone as the chair of its board of directors for 2003-2004.

A long-serving member of the staff at OHA, for the past several months Ms Short served as interim president & CEO. Previously, she held the positions of chief operating officer and vice president of member relations, policy & public affairs. From 1999-2001, Ms Short was seconded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to serve as chief of staff to Elizabeth Witmer, minister of health and long-term care.

Tony Dagnone became CEO of London’s University Hospital in 1992 and was appointed president and CEO of London Health Sciences Centre in October 1995. Prior to joining University Hospital, Mr Dagnone spent 25 years at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, including 15 years as the president and CEO.

Mr Dagnone was chair-elect of the OHA Board for 2002-2003, and sits on several committees related to healthcare. He is a former chair of the Canadian College of Health Service Executives. In addition, Mr Dagnone has devoted countless hours to community service and professional organizations including the United Way and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In 1992, he was granted an Order of Canada for his work in the community and leadership in healthcare, and in 2003, he was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.

The OHA is a voluntary organization representing approximately 159 public hospital corporations, or 225 sites, in Ontario. Among its members are all the public hospitals in Ontario as well as the province’s psychiatric hospitals and approximately 200 other health-related organizations.