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Message from the CEO, August 14, 2007


As hard as it is to believe, over a month has gone by since I joined  Baycrest as President and CEO. I have continued to learn a great deal about our organization from the comments and suggestions of staff, families and clients as part of what I refer to as my Talking and Listening tour initiatives. Overall, the consistent theme is that we are a very special organization and occupy a unique niche in the local, provincial and national healthcare systems.  We are looked to as leaders in aging and as a result, excellence in care, research and education is expected of us from many varied interested constituencies.

Clients, families and staff are actively sharing with me their observations and suggestions for ways in which we can be even better. I recently met with families of the Apotex and Hospital Advisory Committees and members actively shared with me their  suggestions for ways in which we can create and maintain the most responsive and caring milieu possible in our clinical settings. I have also been visiting the dining areas in the Apotex so I can introduce myself to clients and hear their comments. I intend to do the same in other settings as I have found it to be a remarkably rewarding activity.

In one recent visit I noticed one of our residents sitting quietly and having her lunch. I asked if I could sit with her for a while and introduced myself. She welcomed me to the seat beside her and our conversation began, focusing first on food and then eventually broadening out as she told me all about her experiences as someone living here at Baycrest. She talked clearly and with conviction about such things as the need for all of our staff to speak respectfully to the elderly. There was no doubt as I listened to her that it was important for me to hear what she had to say. After about a ten minute conversation, as I was about to leave, she pulled on my shirt sleeve and looked me directly in the eyes in a manner I cannot adequately describe. Holding that penetrating stare she asked, Are you going to try to make life better for us here? After I gathered my thoughts for a moment about the very simple, yet very complicated question, she had asked me, my answer to her was, Yes, that is the only reason I have come here to Toronto.

I was in fact answering not just on behalf of myself, but on behalf of everyone working at Baycrest, because, to use a metaphor, whether we are dancers in the ballet or working behind the scenes taking tickets, cleaning the theatre, counting receipts or obtaining sponsorship, in order for the ballet to be beautiful everyone has to have a sense of ownership and commitment in everything that we do.

Baycrest more than any other organization is in a position to make life better for the elderly today and tomorrow--not just for our clients living here or visiting our campus, but, for  elderly persons the world over. That is because our Research activities and clinical strengths give us the ability to develop new understandings of aging and its consequences and to develop best practices for the care of older persons. This is a great strength and a great responsibility that we have assumed.

These types of experiences and all of the insight I am receiving in our meetings and conversations with clients,  families and staff will inform a SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities, Threats) document. We will use this to take a fresh look to see if we are on track with our goals, and decide where we need to put our emphasis to be successful. If any organization is capable of achieving such a lofty vision of transforming aging, focused on brain functioning including mental health, it is Baycrest. But, as we reach out to impact the rest of the world, we must ensure that in our daily work here, we are applying the very best care practices possible to our local clients and their families. We must work very hard to ensure that we don't lose sight of this.

I want to thank families, clients and community members for their support to date. I look forward to meeting many more of you in the weeks ahead.

Bill Reichman

Baycrest President & CEO