In our 50th anniversary year, the College will profile a few long-term members and health leaders. Meet Robert (Bob) Smith. Community service is very important to Bob, who has served on numerous provincial and national health associations and committees that focused on health policy, strategy, and research. He has served as a Director on the Boards of the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, Canadian Hospital Association, and the Board of the Canadian Stroke Network. He is currently President of the Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society, Public Adjudicator for the BC Law Society, and member of the Vancouver Foundation Honorary Governors Council. In 2012, Bob received the College’s Honorary Life Member Award.
Bob joined the College in 1981 and received his Fellowship certification in 1991. Bob’s experience with the College helped encourage continuous learning throughout his career. He views membership in the College as a critical element in leadership development for any health care career. Reflecting on the College’s 50th anniversary and his career, Bob states that the largest shift in healthcare has been the regionalization structural change of the industry along with the increased use of business analytical frameworks management decision making. Bob takes pride in being a long-term member of the College and of the continuing work he sees being done every day.
Bob served as Executive Director of the BC Arthritis Society, Deputy Director of the Cancer Control Agency of BC and held CEO positions at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, the Capital District Health Authority in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the Fraser Health Authority in Surrey, BC. Bob was also Vice President of the Stentor Innovation Centre which specialized in telecommunications applications for health services. More recently, Bob was an Adjunct Professor in the Sauder School of Business he lectured in Health Management, Strategy and Leadership. Bob has worked latterly as a health management consultant with INSITE Consultancy, Inc.
