The following has been sent on behalf Dr. Ben Williams, Vice President Medicine, Quality, Research and Chief Medical Officer.
I write to advise of changes to the Executive Medical Director team welcoming Dr. Kelly Cox and wishing Dr. Will Orrom the best in his upcoming retirement.
Dr. Will Orrom will retire from his role as Executive Medical Director, Surgery, Ambulatory Care, and Cancer Care Strategy, effective October 31. Will began his leadership journey in 1996 as the chief of surgery at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton for a couple of years before he went off to New Zealand. After coming to B.C. in 2000, Will spent five years as Medical Director/ Chief of Surgery at Island Health before becoming an Executive Medical Director in 2019.
Will’s deep commitment to equitable, high-quality patient care is evident. Over the years, Will has used his signature collaborative and no-nonsense approach to lead the expansion of surgical volumes, advocate for improvements to patient care such as establishing formal trauma programs at both Victoria General Hospital and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, and securing funding for critical equipment. His reputation for telling the truth, high-level of integrity, and level-headedness were integral to the successful negotiation of critical service contracts including the anesthesia and pediatric surgery contracts, enabling recruitment into both of those areas.
When I asked several colleagues about Will, the sentiments are unanimous with my own in that he is one of the most fun, hilarious, kind, and smart colleagues. When you saw that Will was on call, you felt a sense of relief. He is not one to shy away from tough conversations, setting high standards, and always leading by example.
After retirement, Will plans to continue to be part of our Island Health family doing surgical assists. He will also travel the world and the seven seas with his wife Alice, look after his grandchildren and spend time with their adult children. He’s looking forward to more skiing, working out, yoga, guitar playing and singing with friends, improving his French skills, picking up another language, reading books, staying calm, and generally “trying not to turn into a grumpy old man”.
Dr. Jeff Kerrie will be expanding his Executive Medical portfolio to include Laboratory Imaging and Diagnostic Imaging Medicine, effective immediately. Executive Medical coverage for the remaining part of Dr. Orrom’s current portfolio will be shared in the fall.
I am pleased to welcome Dr. Kelly Cox to our Executive Medical Directors leadership team. Dr. Cox has been appointed Executive Medical Director, Nanaimo Acute and Community, and Cancer Centre.
Dr. Cox moved to Nanaimo in 2011 as a consultant pediatrician from Halifax, N.S. where she completed her residency training. She discovered her passion for leadership in her role as Medical Lead for Pediatrics. She was involved in improving the care for children and youth with presented mental health crises and leading the team through both COVID and the pediatric respiratory surge. She took on the role of Site Medical Director at NRGH in March 2024 and has had lots of fun working to support physician leaders to address their most pressing concerns. She is motivated to create a culture of care that includes patients, families, and providers. Dr. Cox feels that collaboration, communication, and curiosity are key principles to creating this shift. Dr. Cox enjoys spending time with her family, which often involves driving her kids around and watching their sporting activities! She also has a formal mindfulness practice that helps her stay grounded through the waves of life.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Kelly Cox to this new role and in wishing Dr. Will Orrom all the best in his retirement.
Dr. Ben Williams