Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) announced Monday morning that president and CEO Carolyn Plummer has been placed on an immediate medical leave of absence.
Veronica Nelson, currently vice president and COO at Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Lindsay, has been appointed acting president and CEO at HHHS effective June 12.
“The HHHS board of directors would like to thank CEO Plummer for her hard work and dedication, particularly during the past few months,” said HHHS board chair, David O’Brien, in a press release. “We recognize the importance of looking after her health. We wish her all the best as she addresses her medical issues.”
Nelson has been temporarily seconded to HHHS from her role at Ross. She previously worked at HHHS as a medical radiation technologist and has been an executive leader at the Lindsay hospital since 2015, previously serving as interim lead there from March 2019 to April 2020.
The release notes Nelson’s strengths include, “leadership, community collaboration and project management.” She is the co-lead of the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Ontario Health Team and has recently been overseeing the diagnostic imaging and laboratory departments at both HHHS and Ross.
O’Brien said the board has “the utmost confidence in [Nelson’s] ability to take on the significant responsibilities associated with this position.” Plummer had been overseeing the amalgamation of healthcare services in the Highlands, after the Minden emergency department was shuttered June 1.
Nelson said she’s ready to hit the ground running in her new role.
“I know how incredibly important HHHS and its services are to patients, residents, clients, and the community,” Nelson said. “HHHS and RMH are both organizations that mean a great deal to me. I am excited to bring my skillset and experience to working with the HHHS board of directors and team members throughout the organization.”
