Hospital President & CEO to retire after 50-year career in healthcare

(Peterborough, ON) – The Board of Directors of Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) would like to announce that Dr. Peter McLaughlin has decided to retire in 2023 after 17 years with PRHC, during the last eight of which he has served as the hospital’s President & CEO.

“The board is so grateful for Peter’s leadership, first as Chief of Staff and most recently as President & CEO of PRHC,” said Louis O’Brien, Chair of PRHC’s Board of Directors. “He has been an exceptional leader, and we are thankful for his vision and his commitment to providing the best possible care and support for our patients and community. His thoughtful, steady and compassionate leadership style has earned him a great deal of respect, and he will be deeply missed.”

“It has been an absolute privilege to lead this team of dedicated people, who have worked so tirelessly to provide the highest quality of care to the people of our community and region, often in the face of incredible challenges,” said Dr. McLaughlin. “I am profoundly appreciative of the incredible support I have received over the years from our Board of Directors, the hospital’s leadership team, our healthcare workers, our community partners, the PRHC Foundation, our volunteers, and everyone else who has helped to shape healthcare in Peterborough and the surrounding region.”

Dr. McLaughlin has led PRHC with an unwavering focus on keeping patients at the forefront of every conversation and decision. During his tenure as President & CEO, PRHC has faced significant challenges and achieved many successes, including:

  • Highest possible standing from Accreditation Canada in 2017
  • An award for Leading Governance Excellence from the Ontario Hospital Association in recognition of PRHC’s collaboration with Peterborough Housing Corporation to develop supportive, affordable housing for seniors
  • National recognition by the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) for work in safe handover and clinical cultural competence initiatives
  • International recognition by the National Safety Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) for surgical safety standards
  • Successful implementation of Epic, a new, regional clinical information system that will transform the way PRHC and its partner hospitals deliver care for generations to come
  • Supporting the organization through the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Incorporating patient and family engagement into all levels of the hospital’s work and decision-making
  • Creating a culture of continuous quality improvement, with a focus on patient and staff safety
  • Providing leadership in the creation and continued growth of Peterborough Ontario Health Team
  • Fostering more collaborative relationships with partners in the community and across the region

“I’m so proud of what we have accomplished together, and while the road we have travelled has not always been an easy one, I believe that today, PRHC is well-positioned for continued growth and success as a regional provider of acute care, and that great things are still to come for those who will carry the legacy of this organization forward,” said Dr. McLaughlin.

The Board of Directors has struck a search committee and selected an external firm, Boyden Canada, to support a national search for a new President & CEO; additional details will be shared in the weeks ahead. Dr. McLaughlin has agreed to continue in his role until a successful candidate is selected, with a goal of retiring on or around May 31, 2023.

“Peter has set the leadership bar very high, and we will search for a dynamic, visionary individual to build on his success and achievements as PRHC strives to continue meeting the healthcare needs of the diverse, rapidly-growing and aging population we serve,” said O’Brien.

With five decades of healthcare experience and a distinguished medical career in cardiology, Dr. McLaughlin was formerly a Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto, and a staff cardiologist with University Health Network (UHN). He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the American College of Cardiology. Dr. McLaughlin graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School, and undertook post-graduate training at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, Toronto General Hospital and Stanford University Medical Center in California.

Dr. McLaughlin has had a long interest in investigation and treatment of the adult patient with congenital heart disease, and has published more than 120 original articles, 175 abstracts, one book, and has lectured and given demonstrations in his area of interest in the United States, Canada, Europe and China. He has completed terms as a Governor of the American College of Cardiology, President of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, President of the Canadian Cardiovascular Academy, and Director, Division of Cardiology at the University of Toronto.

Plans to honour Dr. McLaughlin will be shared closer to his retirement date.

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For more information: Michelene Ough | Director, Communications | mough@prhc.on.ca