RCH Foundation announces 2011-2012 Board of Directors

Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors 2011- 2012
Top Row Left: Steven Osachoff, John Ashbridge, Gary Pooni, Jason Cook (Director, Site Operations RCH), Dwight Ross (Treasurer), David Worthington ( Vice-Chair) , Dr. John Blatherwick, Adrienne Bakker ( CEO and President )
Bottom Row Left: Lisa Spitale, Belle Puri (Chair), Sharon Domaas, Helen Sparkes, Erin O’Halloran
Absent: Meldy Harris, Dr. Laurence Turner

New Westminster, B.C. – October 19, 2011 -- Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation (RCHF) has announced its Board of Directors for 2011-2012, Three new directors were elected at the Foundation’s annual general meeting:

Erin O'Halloran of Ladner is a Hospital Specialist with the Infectious Disease team at Merck Canada. She has an MBA from Royal Roads University.

Meldy Harris of Delta is a Certified Financial Planner at Sunlife of Canada. Previously, Meldy was a teacher and political strategist.

Steven Osachoff of Vancouver is an Investment Advisor with the Larry Osachoff Investment Team at RBC Dominion Securities in New Westminster. Steven is a 2003 honours graduate from Queen’s University.

Re-elected to the Board are: Belle Puri (Chair), David Worthington (Vice-Chair), Dwight Ross (Treasurer), John Ashbridge, Dr. John Blatherwick, Sharon Domaas, Gary Pooni, Helen Sparkes, Lisa Spitale, and Dr. Laurence Turner.

“We are fortunate that the RCH Foundation Board is a group of dedicated volunteers and donors who are focused on the growth of our hospital and most importantly, on the much-needed expansion plans that are currently in-front of government,” says Adrienne Bakker, CEO and President of the foundation. Bakker is optimistic that government will soon make a major investment announcement and partner with RCH Foundation donors

“Plans are underway to redevelop and expand the Royal Columbian Hospital site, but something needs to be done immediately to relieve the strain. RCH is building a new multi-purpose suite that will accommodate hundreds more critical cardiac and stroke related patients a year, as well as other life saving procedures,” says Adrienne Bakker, CEO and President RCHF. “Thank you to the support of our donors and our committed team at RCHF, we have reached the $2 million mark of our $2.8 million goal.”

Royal Columbian Hospital lies at the heart of the fastest growing health authority in BC., namely Fraser Health. The number of people aged 50 – 79, those most likely to need cardiac and neurological services, is growing by 20% every year.

Centre of Excellence since 1862: BC's first hospital
RCH is a provincial and regional referral hospital providing specialized care for trauma, cardiac services, neurosciences , high risk maternity and neonatal intensive care for 1.6 million seriously ill and injured people from Fraser Health, the Lower Mainland and across the province. RCH is also a provincial teaching hospital with a UBC Clinical Academic Campus onsite.

Raising funds since 1978
Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation (RCHF) is a provincial and regional independent charitable foundation that raises millions of dollars annually to help fund priority equipment needs, facility enhancements, research, education and innovation at RCH. For more information about Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, visit www.rchfoundation.com or contact us on 604 520 4438.

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For more information contact:

Julie Coghlan
Director, Marketing and Communications
Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation
Direct: 604 523 8860
Cel: 604 360 0517
Julie.coghlan@fraserhealth.ca
www.rchfoundation.com