June 13, 2017 (Vancouver) – HealthCareCAN is proud to announce Tony Dagnone, as the recipient of its 2017 Legacy of Leadership award for his decades of service to the health of Canadians in various leadership roles.
The prestigious award recognizes exceptional individuals who have made long-lasting and outstanding contributions to advancing Canada’s health system and have demonstrated significant and sustained commitment toward the enhancement of the health of Canadians.
“Throughout his tenure as a leader in our health system, Mr. Dagnone has positively and significantly changed the face of Canadian healthcare at the provincial and federal levels,” said Bill Tholl, President and CEO of HealthCareCAN. “I could not think of a more worthy individual to nominate for this award.”
“People achieve leadership often not by what they do and who they do it with but really why they do it. That’s typical of Tony,” said Dan Ross, Past Chair of the Board of London Health Sciences Centre. “People believed in him, trusted him, and they followed him as a result of that because he rarely disappointed, it was remarkable.”
Tony Dagnone embarked on an illustrious healthcare career at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. At age 36, he became the hospital’s executive director, and subsequently its president and CEO. During his 25-year tenure at Saskatchewan’s major teaching hospital, Mr. Dagnone directed expansion projects and facilitated the development of new tertiary care programs, including Saskatchewan’s first CT scanner and MRI. He was instrumental in developing outreach and community-based healthcare services, including Kinsmen Children’s Centre, Ronald McDonald House, and the Geriatric Assessment Unit/Day Hospital, first of its kind in Canada.
In 1992, he was recruited to London, Ontario as President and CEO of University Hospital. Mr Dagnone was a leading force in London’s successful 1995 voluntary merger of three Hospital campuses including Victoria Hospital. As a result of this historic merger, the newly formed London Health Sciences Centre, became one of Canada’s largest academic Hospitals.
During a time when putting the patient first was a radical idea, Mr. Dagnone embraced the notion head on. In 2009, in his role as Commissioner of Saskatchewan’s Patient First Review, he penned a report entitled “For Patient’s Sake” which was hailed by the community as a must-read for every politician, health administrator and health professional in Canada.
“I don’t think there’s a part of the report I don’t try to apply on a daily basis,” said Dan Florizone, President and CEO of the Saskatoon Health Region and former Saskatchewan Health Deputy Minister. “He opened up the channels of communications with providers and through focus groups and structured events that we worked with him on, he brought the heart, the perspective and that experience with him. He was fully engaged. He was and remains an icon to people like me and people in the system.”
Mr. Dagnone has held numerous leadership positions, including Board Chairman for the Canadian College of Health Leaders, Chairman of the Ontario Hospital Association, Board Member of Cancer Care Ontario. Currently, Tony serves on the Board of London Health Sciences Centre Foundation and advises several national corporations involved in the healthcare enterprise.
In addition to excelling in his many leadership roles, Mr. Dagnone has also received several awards, including the Order of Canada (1991), the Queen’s Jubilee Medal (2003), the Canadian College of Health Service Executives (CCHSE) Distinguished Service Award, CCHSE’s first Honorary Life Member award (2008), and the Regents Award by the American College of Healthcare Executives (2009).
HealthCareCAN’s Legacy of Leadership award was presented at the 2017 National Health Leadership Conference on June 13, 2017 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
HealthCareCAN is the national voice of healthcare organizations across Canada. We foster informed and continuous, results-oriented discovery and innovation across the continuum of healthcare. We act with others to enhance the health of the people of Canada; to build the capability for high quality care; and to help ensure value for money in publicly financed, healthcare programs.
Learn more about our organization at www.healthcarecan.ca. Follow us on Twitter: @HealthCareCAN or Facebook: healthcarecan.soinssantecan.
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For more information:
Lucie Boileau, Director, Communications, Marketing and Government Relations
HealthCareCAN
613-241-8005 ext. 205 |613 462-5604 | lboileau@healthcarecan.ca
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