This past year has been one of transformation for OVH, including new leadership at both the Board and organizational levels. The first year as Board Chair for Nancy, and Mark stepped into the role of President and CEO in January 2025. While we’re energized by what lies ahead, we also believe it’s important to pause and reflect on the many achievements that led us here. 

One of the more significant milestones was completing year one of our 2024–2029 Strategic Plan Integrated Care for Healthier Communities. This plan is our roadmap to ensure patients get the care they need — when and where they need it — and to deliver an extraordinary patient experience through our honoured to care culture every step of the way. 

Our new Vision — integrated care for healthier communities — reflects our deep commitment to a seamless, people-centred health care journey. Our Mission — delivering an extraordinary patient experience through our honoured to care culture — reminds us that at the heart of everything we do is empathy, compassion, and high-quality care. 

The title of this Year in Review, Shaping the Future of Care Together, speaks to our shared journey. It’s built around Oak Valley Health’s three strategic priorities: people, connections, and growth — and the strong foundation of safety, quality, and innovation that supports them.

People

We are incredibly proud of our teams and the compassion they bring. One inspiring story highlights Teresa Givelas and Leanne White — co-recipients of the Honoured to Care Award for courage — who worked together to support Mental Health patients with extraordinary dedication. We also took major steps to support our own people by launching the first phase of our new human resources system, Workday.

Connections

This year, we were thrilled to announce a new partnership with Unity Health that gives our patients quicker access to advanced cardiac procedures — while enabling them to recover closer to home. We also highlight our Seniors Home Support program, which delivers integrated, team-based primary care to homebound seniors — making care more accessible and personal.

Growth

2024/2025 was a year of expansion and investment in the communities we serve. In Uxbridge, pre-construction began on the new hospital redevelopment project, a new Community Health Clinic opened, and we announced the expansion of our Family Medicine Teaching Unit to Uxbridge, opening the doors to four new future Family Medicine residents. At Markham Stouffville Hospital, our Outpatient Pharmacy expanded its services to all patients, community members, and staff — reinforcing our commitment to equitable, accessible care. 

Quality patient care

Our journey toward becoming a High Reliability Organization (HRO) is underway, with a renewed focus on quality and consistency. We also launched our first Patient Experience Plan, forged ahead with our new patient experience survey that collects information to shape our Patient-Reported Experience Measures ), and you’ll read about Don Ambrose, a patient whose story shows how HRO principles make a meaningful difference.

Enablers and accelerators

Innovation is helping us deliver more efficient and personalized care. This year’s highlights include Bolt, Sparkles, and Spenser — three robots who are already making a difference in how we care for patients. We’re also advancing digital health tools, artificial intelligence, and clinical systems to better support both patients and care teams.

The future of care

Though we’re new to our roles, we are fully committed to this path. We know that year two of any strategic plan is often more demanding than the first year — but we’re ready to lean in, together, and continue building OVH into the best place to work and receive care. We are also grateful for the strong foundation built by our former Board Chair Mike Arnew and former President and CEO Jo-anne Marr.  

Looking ahead, we’ll stay focused on becoming an HRO, modernizing our digital infrastructure, expanding our academic and research strategies, and developing a new People Plan focused on staff wellness, recruitment, retention, and equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. With the expansion of the Uxbridge campus of care underway, we will turn our attention to creating more capacity at the Markham site. This includes the planning and development of a new building to support ambulatory care services, building a residential hospice, and refocusing care services to better respond to the needs of our growing community. 

We’re deeply proud of all that’s been accomplished — and energized for what’s to come. None of this would be possible without the passion and dedication of our people: staff, physicians, midwives, volunteers, Board and Foundation members, and our valued community partners. 

Thank you for all you do. We are truly honoured to be part of this journey with you — working together to shape the future of care.

Warmly,

Nancy Sanders
Chair, Board of Directors

Mark Fam
President and CEO