For the second time in a row, Quinte Health Care has reached out to North York General Hospital to fill its senior-most administrative position.

Stacey Daub, vice president of strategy, integration, and digital health at North Your General, has been appointed CEO of Quinte Health Care, succeeding Mary-Clare Egberts who came to Quinte from the same hospital a decade ago.

Daub, who has also experience at smaller hospitals having worked at Headwaters Healthcare in Orangeville, said she believes Quinte Health Care is poised to be a leader among rural hospitals in Ontario.

She stressed that in her view, the relationship between communities and hospitals is critical and works both ways, with the community needing to be committed the supporting the hospital and the hospital committed to helping the community.

She said it is clear that connection exists in this region.

“There has to be a deep connection to the community from the hospital and the other way around,” she said. “It is an interrelated system.

“It is clear to me already that there is a deep commitment in our communities to their local hospitals.”

To that end, she said she is eager to get out and about throughout the region and begin making connections.

“It is important to get out across the community and to have the opportunity to meet local leaders and local citizens,” she said. “COVID will make that a different challenge but we will have to be creative.

“It is clear the needs of rural and urban communities are very different. That is why it is critical to meet those communities where they are. I hope to have plenty of opportunities to hear from the community.”

When it comes to the financial challenges for smaller hospitals, Daub said it is imperative for the hospital to continually work to educate area MPPs and the ministry about those challenges.

“We have to do a good job of education and we need to come forward with solutions,” she said. “We need strong leadership to talk about our unique features. And we need to build new models in partnership with key groups in our community.

“Quinte’s diversity provides a great opportunity. I am not at all daunted by that. I see it as an opportunity to do great things.”

In introducing Daub to the media Wednesday, QHC board chair David McKinnon said besides her experience at both large and smaller hospitals, the board was impressed by Daub’s “grace, humility and remarkable leadership skills.”

Daub will take over as president and CEO of QHC on Jan. 4.