CIHI announces Dr. Brian Postl as new Board Chair

Appointment effective immediately

OTTAWA, Aug. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Brian Postl as the new Chair of its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Dr. Postl is presently the Dean of Medicine at the University of Manitoba, He has served on CIHI's Board of Directors as Vice-Chair since 2007, and as a representative for the Prairies, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

In his home province of Manitoba, Dr. Postl has assumed many leadership roles throughout the health care system. From 1999 to June 2010, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Prior to this, he has served as Vice-President, Clinical Services, of the Winnipeg Hospital Authority; Department Head of Pediatrics and Child Health for the University of Manitoba; as well as Department Head of Community Health Sciences. He continues to practise medicine through the Children's Hospital Northern Referral and Medical Clinics, and as visiting pediatrician to Rankin Inlet in the Northwest Territories and communities in northern Manitoba.

In addition to his work on CIHI's Board of Directors, Dr. Postl is Board Chair of the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) and the Chair of the Manitoba Health Research Council.

"Brian Postl is well known to both CIHI and to the health care community at large in Canada. As someone who has worked both on the front lines of health care and on the management and planning side, we could not ask for a better person to guide our work into the future. His vision, leadership and insight will help ensure that we continue to produce information that is accurate, timely and relevant to the needs of the health care system," says CIHI President and CEO, John Wright.

"I am honoured to serve as Chair and to have an opportunity to build on the impressive legacy of data-based service provided by CIHI," comments Dr. Postl.

Dr. Postl replaces Graham W. S. Scott, who has served as CIHI Board Chair for the past six years. Mr. Scott is leaving CIHI to join Canada Health Infoway as Chair of the Board.

"I would also acknowledge the remarkable contribution of departing Board Chair Graham Scott and wish him well in his new endeavour that is so important to Canadians," says Dr. Postl.

For further information: Angela Baker, 416-549-5402, Cell: 416-459-6855, [email protected]