Veteran health care executive joins Lakeridge Health senior management team in Oshawa

A health care executive who began his career in Washington, D.C. helping minority businesses succeed and spent the last two decades working for government health care organizations in Ontario is Lakeridge Health’s newest member of its senior leadership team.

Brian Pollard was named Health System Executive, Clinical, effective April 8.

Pollard will be responsible for healthy aging, long-term care, complex continuing care, regional nephrology and diabetes and family and community medicine at the Durham Region hospital group.

Pollard will also lead population health engagement as part of Lakeridge Health’s work related to inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and anti-racism.

“I’m truly honoured to join the Lakeridge Health team,” he said. “I’m thrilled about being a part of a team that embraces the importance of empowering people to live their best health and fosters a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and ant-racism. I look forward to sharing my knowledge, skills, and experience at one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in Ontario.”

Brian Pollard, Lakeridge Health

Pollard has provided strategic and operational leadership in increasingly senior roles in complex business environments for more than 20 years, including the Government of Ontario, Ontario hospitals and in government policy advocacy and consulting. He has led several challenging initiatives, including transforming the health care and long-term care systems to be sustainable, ensuring a higher quality of care.

“We are excited to welcome Brian Pollard to the Lakeridge Health team,” said Lakeridge Health President and CEO Cynthia Davis. “Brian brings a wealth of experience, strategic vision, and proven leadership that aligns with Lakeridge Health’s vision of One System. Best Health.”

“Brian joins us at a time of growth at Lakeridge Health and in Durham Region. We’re confident that his expertise and acumen will play a key role in helping us to drive innovation, collaboration, and system transformation.”

Prior to joining Lakeridge Health, Brian served as the Assistant Deputy Minister for the Long-Term Care Capital Development Division at the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care, where he was responsible for implementing the largest development program in recent provincial history and the construction and opening of thousands of beds.

He has also held other assistant deputy ministerial roles in Long-Term Care MLTC, as well as key roles in the Ministry of Health with responsibilities for regulating, funding, and setting policy. Pollard also held executive roles at the Ontario Long Term Care Association and clinical program administration roles at University Health Network and Lakeridge Health.

He started his career at ICF (Inner City Fund) in Washington, D.C.