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‘I’m tired’: Health P.E.I. CEO to resign after three years of steering health care through the pandemic

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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Well being P.E.I. CEO Dr. Michael Gardam can be stepping down as CEO of Well being P.E.I.

In an e mail distributed to employees on July 31, Gardam stated he gave discover to the Well being P.E.I. board on July 28 that he could be leaving his function as of March 29, 2024.

In an interview with reporters on Monday afternoon, Gardam listed a number of private causes for his deliberate departure.

He desires to be nearer to his household in Ontario. He has begun serious about semi-retirement. He has additionally thought of returning to academia and educating, which he known as his “old flame.”

However the toll of main a well being system by means of the COVID-19 pandemic was additionally a key motive.

“I’m sort of a part of the nice resignation after the pandemic, to be trustworthy with you. That was a really tiring three years. And it actually takes lots out of individuals,” Gardam stated.

“P.E.I. did rather well throughout the Omicron wave – higher than, I feel, some other province. However wow, did we work onerous at that, to attempt to hold our system as it’s, working. And, it simply, it truthfully tires you out.”

When requested if he has been supplied one other place, Gardam stated he had not. 


“I can let you know, I do not need one other job in Canadian well being care. Actually, proper now, I am drained. If I could make enhancements from the surface – advising in – then that is what I am going to do. However it’s tiring on daily basis to get up and suppose, ‘Do I’ve sufficient employees to run the ICU?’” – Well being P.E.I. CEO Dr. Michael Gardam


“I can let you know, I do not need one other job in Canadian well being care. Actually, proper now, I am drained,” Gardam stated. “If I could make enhancements from the surface – advising in – then that is what I am going to do. However it’s tiring on daily basis to get up and suppose, ‘Do I’ve sufficient employees to run the ICU?’” he stated.

Earlier than transferring to P.E.I. in late 2020, he served as chief of employees at Humber River Hospital in Toronto. He had a coronary heart assault whereas on-shift on the hospital throughout the first wave of the pandemic.

He later stated the stress of working in well being care throughout the pandemic was a contributing issue to the assault. After recovering, he moved to P.E.I. along with his associate. 

Gardam’s tenure with Well being P.E.I. started when he joined the well being authority’s government management workforce in January 2021. He took over as appearing CEO the next April and stepped into the function completely in October.

He has been unusually outspoken concerning the challenges dealing with well being care in P.E.I. and has, at instances, made pointed criticisms concerning the governance of the province’s solely well being authority. 

Dr. Michael Gardam, CEO of Health P.E.I., speaks at the health authority's annual general meeting in November 2021. Gardam has said he plans to leave his position in March 2024. - SaltWire file
Dr. Michael Gardam, CEO of Well being P.E.I., speaks on the well being authority’s annual normal assembly in November 2021. Gardam has stated he plans to go away his place in March 2024. – SaltWire file

Through the interview on July 31, Gardam acknowledged the construction of Well being P.E.I.’s governance has not essentially modified.

However he stated he believes the province’s well being care is in a greater place than when he began in 2021.

In a letter to employees on July 31, Gardam pointed to the province’s transfer in direction of collaborative follow medical properties and improved hiring processes for well being employees. He additionally stated the province is transferring towards extra data-driven decision-making.

Gardam additionally stated he doesn’t plan to decelerate within the 9 remaining months of his tenure. The province’s grasp settlement for docs must be modified to make being a household physician “extra engaging,” he stated, including work is required to make the well being authority a “welcoming associate” with UPEI for when the college opens its new medical college. 

Gardam stated he believes Well being P.E.I. has a really sturdy government management workforce.

“Any certainly one of my members of my senior management workforce might develop into CEO tomorrow in the event that they needed to. We have got a very sturdy workforce,” Gardam advised SaltWire. In an announcement, Well being Minister Mark McLane thanked Gardam for his work in well being care, including that there was “quite a lot of progress made.” 

McLane stated he would meet with the board of Well being P.E.I. “to debate subsequent steps in succession planning and guaranteeing a clean transition.”



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