Paediatric physician brings more than 18 years of leadership experience to role
Southlake Regional Health Centre’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce Dr. Charmaine van Schaik as the hospital’s new Chief of Staff following a comprehensive nation-wide search. A former Chief of Paediatrics at Southlake, Dr. van Schaik served as the leading local healthcare expert during the hospital’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
“Dr. Charmaine van Schaik has been a leader at Southlake for the last 18 years,” says Patrick Horgan, Chair of Southlake’s Board of Directors. “She consistently demonstrates the exemplary care that Southlake is known for, and owns her role to improve healthcare through her leadership and advocacy. Combined with her outstanding credentials and experience, Dr. van Schaik is the ideal person to take on this critical role at an important time in Southlake’s history.”
As Chief of Staff, Dr. van Schaik will chair the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee while overseeing the quality and privileging of medical staff, including dental, midwifery, and extended-class nursing staff at Southlake. While directly accountable to the Board, she will work collaboratively with the President and CEO, Arden Krystal, and the Senior Leadership Team to deliver the leading edge care Southlake is known for.
“Dr. van Schaik is a well-respected physician in our community and we are beyond thrilled to have her join Southlake’s Senior Leadership Team,” says Arden Krystal, Southlake’s President and CEO. “She has been a valuable member of our team, which was highlighted repeatedly during the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward to continue working with her to champion Southlake’s future and redevelopment efforts.”
During her time at Southlake, Dr. van Schaik has acted as a Physician Leader in multiple capacities, as well as a previous Chief of Paediatrics and Medical Director of the Paediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) Satellite Clinic when it launched at Southlake in 2009. Most recently, she served as the Co-Medical Lead for the hospital’s COVID-19 Vaccination Committee where she was instrumental in promoting community awareness through regular appearances in local media. When she is not seeing patients, Dr. van Schaik advises Ontario’s Ministry of Health on paediatric cancer care as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at POGO.
“It’s an honour to be appointed as Southlake’s Chief of Staff and I’m excited to step into this role,” says Dr. van Schaik. “I’m grateful to have been a part of this organization for many years and I’m looking forward to collaborating with staff and physicians from across the organization to provide the best care possible to our patients.”
Dr. van Schaik will replace Dr. Steven Beatty who has held the role Chief of Staff since 2013 on August 29.
