OHA Celebrates 80 Years and a New Name for its Convention & Exhibition

Ontario Hospital Association
200 Front Street West, Suite 2800
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3L1
Tel: (416) 205-1345 Fax: (416) 205-1360
Visit our Web Site: http://www.oha.com

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Attention: Assignment Editors/Health Reporters

OHA HealthAchieve2004
Advancing Leadership & Accountability

A new name for an OHA favourite – it is Convention time again! Celebrating OHA's 80th anniversary, this year's OHA Convention & Exhibition is being held November 15-17, 2004, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Our Convention now has a new name, OHA HealthAchieve, which positions the show for future growth and reflects its importance in the health care industry.

This year's OHA HealthAchieve2004 theme, “Advancing Leadership & Accountability”, is timely as hospitals continue to face unique challenges posed by fiscal limitations and the growing expectations of patients. As hospital and health care leaders gather together for this event, the focus on effective accountability measures and leadership skills will be central to strategies for improvements. While hospitals face mounting change over the coming months, continuing to work together to support leadership and accountability will help to better meet the needs of patients, and enhance the health care system.

OHA HealthAchieve2004 is already shaping up to be quite an event. Delegates at this year's convention will be treated to numerous educational sessions, high-profile speakers, networking opportunities, as well as our unparalleled exhibit floor with over 300 exhibitors. Attended by some 7,300 delegates in 2003, the convention always attracts CEOs, senior administrators and numerous other health care professionals from all over the province.

Convention Highlights include:

Monday, November 15

The OHA Official Opening Session features Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra since its formation 18 years ago. As a professor at the New England Conservatory of Music, he is also a much sought after corporate lecturer and has given countless CEOs and managers a conductor's insight into leadership, creativity, coaching and teamwork. Zander co-wrote the best-selling book, “The Art of Possibility,” with his wife.
At The OHA Feature Theme Session, Noel Tichy, a professor and head of the University of Michigan Business School's “Building the Leadership Engine” executive program will be speaking. He is also the head of the Global Leadership in Health care Program and has launched the Global Corporate Citizenship initiative in partnership with the corporations GE and P&G. He has authored numerous articles and books including, “The Leadership Challenge”, a 1997 bestseller on Business Week's top ten list. Also presenting at this session will be Celia Sandys, who is the granddaughter and leading authority on Winston Churchill, as well as an author and popular speaker on the life and times of the great historical leader. Ms. Sandys has written five books covering his political and private history, including a biography used in a PBS documentary and a soon-to-be produced major television series. She also founded the training development program, Churchill Leadership, for all those who aspire to lead.
The Administrative Professionals Session will feature Mike Lipkin, the President of Environics/Lipkin, the specialist motivation company in the Environics Research Group. Mike Lipkin is renowned for his ability to motivate others with his speaking talents. He has worked in 22 countries with over one million people, successfully providing them with confidence and insight. He is also a best-selling author, currently publishing his third book.

Tuesday, November 16

The OHA presents Newt Gingrich at its Financial Management Session. Mr. Gingrich is the architect of the Contract with America that led the US Republican Party to victory in 1994, and the Speaker of the US House of Representatives until 1999. He has won several awards for his contributions to health care and Time magazine named him “Man of the Year” in 1995. Presently, he is CEO of the Gingrich Group, a member on the Defense Policy Board, and is a news and political analyst for the Fox News channel.
The Honourable Bob Rae, Ontario's 21st Premier, will be speaking at the Green Health Care Session. He was elected eight times to federal and provincial parliaments before retiring from politics in 1996. Now a partner at an international law firm, his clients include government, corporate and charitable organizations. He has extensive experience in negotiation, mediation and arbitration, and speaks and consults widely on issues of public policy. Rae, an Oxford graduate, is the author of two books, From Protest to Power and The Three Questions.
The Nursing Session will feature Stephen Lewis, the recipient of the Pearson Peace Medal and the Companion of the Order of Canada. Mr. Lewis was the Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, the Canadian Ambassador to the UN and is now the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. One of Canada's most influential social commentators, he was recently named Maclean's magazine's “Canadian of the Year.”
Join one of Canada's leading corporate governance researchers at the Trustee Session as Dr. Richard LeBlanc describes his ground breaking research involving the study of 39 boards of directors and interviews with almost 200 directors. His dynamic presentation includes a top ten list for making your board and individual directors more effective, starting immediately.
Presenting at the Rural & Northern Health Care Session is Fred Lee, owner of a prestigious consulting firm dedicated to hospital and patient management. He has been a senior manager at two hospitals, implementing his nationally awarded SHARE program, produced the American Marketing Association's first marketing certification course for hospital managers and has also worked for Pfizer. Lee's consulting work for the Walt Disney Company spawned the authoring of one of his books, If Disney Ran Your Hospital – 9 1/2 Things You Would Do Differently.

Wednesday, November 17

At the OHA Closing Theme Session, Dr. Robert Sapolsky will combine cutting-edge science with compassionate humanity to help you discover more productive ways for coping and dealing with stress in everyday life. Dr. Sapolsky is a renowned brain researcher and as well as a stress expert. His sharp observations and practical advice are delivered with great candor, humour and wit.
The Honourable George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care will wrap up the OHA HealthAchieve2004 with an address to delegates.

During OHA HealthAchieve2004, visit the Media Room located in Room 103A, Metro Toronto Convention Centre or call 416-585-3537. For a full listing of Convention sessions, visit the OHA web site at www.ohahealthachieve.com.

For further information:
OHA Public Affairs
416-205-1371