Bob Baynham Bob Baynham, president and chief executive officer of Headwaters Health Care Centre, announced his retirement at Tuesdays's monthly meeting of the hospital's board of directors, effective July 18.

In a press release Wednesday, the board said the directors "reluctantly accepted Mr. Baynham's resignation" and quoted board chair John McDermid as saying the board was "well prepared to begin the recruitment process for a new President and CEO."

The board said its goal is to announce the new CEO at its annual general meeting on June 17.

"Through his many years of dedicated service, Bob has built a vibrant organization with a strong management team in place to meet the challenges facing our health care system. Thanks to Bob we have an excellent team at Headwaters Health Care Centre, and while we will say good-bye in 2008 to an exceptional President and CEO, he will leave us well positioned to carry on," Mr. McDermid said.

"Under his stewardship we have enhanced the strength of community partnerships to advance patient care and local access to patient services, such as our partnership with Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket that offers leading treatment in cardiac care closer to home."

Mr. Baynham came to the hospital in its top job in 2001, following more than 20 years of senior hospital management in small, medium-sized, regional and large teaching hospitals.

He said that under the CEO's leadership, Headwaters had developed a strong sense of strategic direction that helped realize a number of accomplishments.

Dr. Jeff McKinnon, the hospitals chief of staff, said Mr. Baynham's "focus on quality of care and his vision of patient-centred care have truly changed the culture of our hospital to raise the level of a patient's experience.

"Bob was instrumental in building a strong Foundation that raises over $1 million annually through the generous support of our community to purchase equipment the Hospital needs to continue to provide the finest patient care."

Mr. Baynham said it was "my privilege to serve Dufferin-Caledon," adding: "My years with Headwaters have been challenging and deeply fulfilling from both a professional and a personal perspective, and I would like to thank the Board of Directors, Foundation, Auxiliary, physicians and staff for their friendship and support. "I believe our team is strong and will enable Headwaters to continue to provide great care and to meet the challenges that lie ahead."

Headwaters currently serves 110,000 residents in Caledon, Orangeville, Shelburne and Dufferin County. The hospital operates two sites - Headwaters Orangeville, a 108-bed acute care hospital and Headwaters Shelburne, a 33 bed chronic care hospital.