Medical dean named to provincial health board
Dr. Preston Smith, dean of the College of Medicine, has been appointed as a member of the Saskatchewan Health Authority Board of Directors.
By University CommunicationsThe announcement was made this morning by Health Minister Jim Reiter.
“Dr. Smith is highly respected as a medical educator and health care administrator with extensive experience in Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia,” Reiter said in a government news release. “His unique perspective is a valuable addition to the 10 member board as it helps guide the formation of the Saskatchewan Health Authority.”
The Saskatchewan Health Authority Board is currently acting in an advisory capacity to help guide the transition from 12 Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) to a single provincial health authority. During the transition period, the current RHA boards remain in place to govern RHA operations.
Since starting as dean in 2014, Smith has led the college’s extensive restructuring to improve all facets of medical education and research, and leads collaboration and innovation across the university’s health sciences. Smith also serves as the university's vice-provost health; in both capacities, he has built effective relationships and partnerships across Saskatchewan’s healthcare system.
Before coming to Saskatchewan, Smith was the senior associate dean of education at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine. He played a key leadership role in developing the new Dalhousie medical education program in New Brunswick, which required critical relationship-building with health system partners. As part of his commitment to rural healthcare, he was instrumental in starting four new family medicine residency programs in P.E.I., N.B. and N.S.
Leading the board is Scott Livingstone, a U of S alumni (BSP’88, MSc’94) and new CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority.