Senior Team

Lori Marshall
President & CEO
519.352.6400

As President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Lori brings to the organization over 15 years of progressive leadership experience in Ontario’s acute and community care sectors, and a reputation as a patient-centred strategist with a track record of addressing complex issues through a shared vision and knowledge of the community and region. This is Lori’s third appointment as CEO, the first being in 2005 for Nipigon District Memorial Hospital and in 2014 for the Erie St. Clair Community Care Access Centre. She has served as Vice President at two hospitals including Oshawa General Hospital and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, where she held the positions of VP Patient Care before being promoted to Executive Vice President, Strategy, Performance and Aboriginal Health.

Lori is a Registered Pharmacist with the Ontario College of Pharmacists and a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. She holds a Health Leadership Certificate from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and a Masters in Health Administration from the University of Ottawa. Lori has a rich history of community service and has been active on many boards and committees at the provincial and local levels.

Meredith Whitehead
Vice President, Transformation & Chief Nursing Executive
519.352.6400

As Vice President, Transformation and Chief Nursing Executive (CNE), Meredith is responsible for Nursing and Allied Health, Professional Practice, Quality, Human Resources, Organization Development and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Under this portfolio Meredith fosters and builds connections that benefit our staff with respect to practice, quality and evolving standards. As the CNE, Meredith sits at the Board of Directors and provides strategic direction on the organization’s practice environment. The new strategic elements of this role include a major focus on developing CKHA’s Diversity & Equity framework. In addition, the VP, Transformation and CNE will be providing professional practice support to the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team and its pursuit of a Best Practice Spotlight Organization Designation with the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.

Meredith is a dynamic health care professional with over 15 years of experience as a Registered Nurse and over 10 of those years in progressive leadership roles in professional practice, operations and informatics.   Most recently, as the Chief Nursing Information Officer with the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie, she led a collaborative clinical systems strategy for four hospital partners.  A graduate from Nipissing University and Canadore College Collaborative Program in North Bay in 2006, Meredith completed her Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing and then her Masters of Science in Nursing from York University in 2010.  Her international certifications in both change and project management will be invaluable to CKHA and the delivery of local health care. 

Meredith is also a former Executive Board Member of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) and a current member of the Board of Directors of the Nursing Leadership Network of Ontario.

Aaron Ryan
Vice President, Performance & Chief Financial Officer
519.352.6400

As Vice President, Performance and Chief Financial Officer, Aaron brings with him a progressive employment history with 12 years of health care leadership experience. Most recently as the Director of Financial Services at Windsor Regional Hospital. Aaron’s familiarity with CKHA provides a great base to build on as he previously held the role of Director of Finance and Decision Support from January 2013 to September 2015. During this time at CKHA he developed several collaborative relationships both within the organization and across the broader community. As CKHA develops more partnerships with the community sector, Aaron’s experience as Director of Finance at the Erie St. Clair Community Care Access Centre from October 2007 to December 2012 will be invaluable to the organization.

In his current role as VP of Performance and CFO, Aaron is responsible for the leadership and direction of CKHA’s corporate services: Finance, Procurement, Decision Support, Planning, Capital Planning, Health Records, Digital Systems, Facilities and Support Services. In addition, with the movement towards Ontario Health Teams, he is responsible for working with other organizations and stakeholders to establish and sustain partnership opportunities.

Aaron is a graduate of the Odette School of Business, University of Windsor. He completed his Bachelor of Commerce in 2002 and completed his Master’s in Business Administration in 2009. Aaron is designated as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA).

Caen Suni
Vice President, Clinical Programs & Operations 
519.352.6400

As Vice President, Clinical Programs and Operations, Caen brings significant experience as a health care leader, planner and strategist with broad knowledge of integrating planning systems to create measurable success. In his previous role as the Vice President, Integrated Delivery Systems with the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network, he led the integration of health services in each sub-region of the LHIN, managing strategic opportunities and partnerships. Caen also brings with him 10 years community experience; from November 2010 to June 2017 he worked at the Erie St. Clair Community Care Access Centre as Senior Director, Strategy and Performance Management. His extensive community experience will be invaluable as CKHA continues to develop further partnerships with the community sector.

In his current role as CKHA’s VP of Clinical Programs and Operations, Caen is responsible for the leadership and direction of the organization’s seven clinical programs and services: Chronic Disease Management, Diagnostics & Therapeutics, Emergency & Critical Care, Ambulatory & Virtual Care, Mental Health & Addictions, Surgery, Women & Children’s Program. This role works collaboratively with the VP, Transformation and CNE and the Chief of Staff to ensure the adoption of quality and practice standards across the organization.

A graduate from University of Ottawa, Caen completed his Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences with Specialization in Political Science in 2004 and completed his Masters of Business Administration, Executive Management from Royal Roads University in 2012.

Alan Stevenson
Vice President, Mental Health and Addictions
519.352.6400

As Vice President, Mental Health and Addictions, Alan brings vast experience to CKHA as a long-standing mental health leader in the community in his role as CEO with the Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton Kent (CMHA Lambton Kent).  In his dual role as CEO of CMHA Lambton Kent and Vice President of CKHA’s Mental Health Addictions Program, both organizations are provided with the ability to make decisions about mental health and addictions care in tandem.  This unique arrangement provides patients and their families with a stronger network of programs and services and will also result in a more efficient alignment of health care resources.  The relationship between both organizations also brings greater focus to the mental health and wellness of staff and physicians.

Alan began his professional career as a front line community mental health worker. He has dedicated his career to improving the lives of people with mental health challenges through advancing the quality of mental health care and supports. Throughout his career, Alan has been recognized as an innovative health care leader and a champion of collaboration.  Alan holds both Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Social Work from the University of Windsor, and a Masters Certificate in Health care Leadership from York University, Schulich School of Business Executive Development Program.   

Dr. Pervez Faruqi
Chief of Staff
519.352.6400

As Chief of Staff, Dr. Faruqi’s top priorities are to improve the quality of medical care and patient experience at CKHA. He brings to the role significant leadership and professional experience and a strong desire to support quality of care, improved patient experiences and work with administration to strengthen the organization.

Dr. Faruqi has been a consultant Paediatrician at CKHA since 2010 and previously held the role of Chief of Paediatrics. Prior to that he practiced medicine in Nova Scotia for five years at the Guysborough, Antigonish and Strait Health Authority (GASHA), where he chaired the Quality Review Committee. Before moving to Canada, Dr. Faruqi practiced medicine in the United States for seven years where, in addition to several recognitions for teaching, he won America’s Top Pediatrician, 2004-2005.

Since 2010, Dr. Faruqi has also been an Adjunct Professor of Paediatrics at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to learning and education, including having been a lead preceptor and supervisor for both medical and nursing stud

Annette Zimmer
Senior Executive Assistant & Governance Coordinator
519.352.6400

As Senior Executive Assistant to the President & CEO, Chief of Staff and Governance Coordinator for the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Board of Directors, Annette is highly qualified having over 28 years of healthcare and governance experience.  Previously she held the position of Executive Assistant, Corporate Coordinator to the CEO including providing support for the executive leadership team and the Board of Directors at the Erie St. Clair Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), a position she held from 2002-2017.  Her administrative leadership is instrumental in achieving the Mission, Vision and Values of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance in support of best governance practice for the Board of Directors, Board Committees and Senior Leadership Team.