A message from Dr. William Reichman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Dr. Anthony Melman, Chair, Baycrest Board of Directors.
As the new Chair of the Board of Directors and the new President and CEO of Baycrest we have spent much time this past year taking the measure of this extraordinary place we have the privilege of leading.
We began by conducting a comprehensive internal review of all aspects of the organization as well as an external review of our clinical services and organizational infrastructure. This analysis led to the introduction of our new program management model,which is designed to consolidate our many strengths and help us improve in areas where we need to do better. The stage is now set for the development of a strategic plan that will position Baycrest as number one in the world for innovative geriatric care, research and education.
In April, in a show of confidence in our ability to lead the world in aging innovation, particularly in the area of brain health, the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation awarded Baycrest $10 million to help establish a Centre for Brain Fitness. The government funding will be matched by private donations.
This initiative marks the beginning of an exciting and challenging chapter in Baycrest’s storied history. The Centre for Brain Fitness will proactively transform the aging process through the development of evidence-based technologies and interventions for detecting and preventing neurocognitive decline, repairing and rehabilitating function when the brain is damaged by disease or injury, and maintaining cognitive abilities so that Ontarians and others across Canada and around the world can live independently for as long as possible.
The funding announcement is timely because, despite the fact that Canadians are now living longer healthier lives, the demographic reality is that in 25 years nine million of us will be 65 of older. An aging population means a dramatic increase in the prevalence of memory disorders and dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease predicted to have the highest economic, social and health cost burden of all diseases.
In this annual report we have published a cross-section of opinions and expectations around growing older and it is clear that maintaining brain health is a top priority. Members of the baby boom generation want and expect to maintain autonomy and independence for as long as possible and avoid ending their lives in nursing homes.
The world is watching and waiting for Baycrest to do for brain health in the 21st century what was done for cardiovascular health in the 20th century. This is why we are focused on expanding our knowledge of aging and the brain and putting it into practice around the world, whether it be new ways of keeping the brain fit, new diagnostic tools for measuring cognitive status that can be used in the home or a clinical setting, or through our brain rehabilitation programs.
With the unwavering support of our staff, donors, families, volunteers and external partners, our first year at Baycrest has helped us set in motion a process that we believe will make us the very best at what we already do so well.
Dr. Anthony Melman |
Dr. William Reichman |
