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Martin named new chief of staff for HHS Dr. Lorne Martin has been appointed the new Chief of Staff for Halton Healthcare Services (HHS). Martin, currently the Medical Director of Emergency Services at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, will take over the position on September 1, replacing Dr. Sol Stern, after serving in the role for nearly five years. Stern announced his intention to step down in January. "Dr. Stern has provided exceptional guidance to the senior team and board of directors through some very challenging times and issues, including SARS, physician recruitment and development, balancing quality of clinical care with financial accountability, the recent transfer of Georgetown Hospital and leading major revisions to the professional staff bylaws," said Murray Paton, chair of HHS board of directors. Martin served at HHS's chief of staff from 1994 to 2001 and will continue in his role as Medical Director of Emergency Services, which he's held since 1992. DR. LORNE He joined the MARTIN active medical staff of the Department of Family Medicine at the OTMH site in 1983. In 1998 he played a critical role in the amalgamation of OTMH and Milton District Hospital, and was appointed HHS's first chief of staff. "Dr. Martin provided tremendous leadership and excellent advice to the board on issues regarding medical services to the hospital during his previous tenure as chief of staff," said John Oliver HHS President and CEO. "He was instrumental during the amalgamation of our Milton and Oakville hospital sites and has always been an articulate advocate of emergency medicine." "It is a very exciting time for Halton Healthcare now that our reach has been extended in the Halton Region with the transfer of Georgetown Hospital. Responding to the unprecedented growth of our communities is definitely one of our major challenges," said Martin. "I'd like to see HHS continue to build on the existing excellent working relationships, and function as one cohesive organization to expand services and maximize the quality of care for the region. However, I think each hospital should be supported in maintaining their unique culture throughout this process; it enhances our ability to provide the best possible care to our patients."