To the leaders of AFHTO’s member organizations: As AFHTO’s President, I’m writing to let you know our board of directors is launching the search for its next CEO. With a combination of sadness and support for her decision, the board received notice from Angie Heydon, AFHTO’s first ED/CEO, that she would like to retire from this role at an appropriate point after the 2016 AFHTO Conference in October and before the end of the fiscal year in March 2017. Angie started with AFHTO in August 2010 as our association’s first employee. In her first year she worked tirelessly to engage virtually all FHTs in the AFHTO membership. Two years later she helped AFHTO to welcome NPLCs and any other interested interprofessional primary care organization into this association. Under her leadership, we have seen AFHTO grow its engagement with FHTs and NPLCs, the support services it offers to members, and the influence it exerts in the health system. With last week’s introduction of the Patients First Act, AFHTO members are heading into significant change. I can assure you that Angie and the AFHTO board have carefully worked through steps to ensure a smooth transition and continuing strength in our collective ability to lead and shape the direction for primary care. We see plenty of evidence of that strength, from AFHTO’s influence on government’s direction in the Act, growing interest and strong support for our work to advance measurement, governance, leadership and improvement, and the tangible support shown through government’s commitment to increased funding for compensation in primary care teams. As the Act moves through the legislative process to what we expect will be enactment on April 1, the next AFHTO CEO will be ready to fully take up the role. Angie will continue to provide support on these key files as long as needed. Our CEO search is now underway. Tony Woolgar, Legacy Partners Executive Search, has been contracted to assist. As a first step the search notice has been posted on AFHTO’s website. With Tony’s expert leadership and guidance, the board anticipates it will find the ideal candidate to become AFHTO’s next CEO. We are aiming to conclude the search by end of September so we can introduce the next CEO at the AFHTO 2016 conference. We hope to see you there to meet the new CEO, and to join in a thank you to Angie for her service to our membership and wish her well in the next stage of her life. Sean Blaine MD Family Physician, Stratford, Ontario Clinical Lead, STAR Family Health Team President, Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO)
