Peterborough Regional Health Centre president and CEO Dr. Peter McLaughlin is hanging up his stethoscope after more than five decades as a doctor in many capacities in the medical field.
McLaughlin — who has been at the hospital for 17 years, first as chief of staff and later as CEO and president after the hospital parted ways with Ken Tremblay in November 2014 — announced his retirement Wednesday, with it effectively starting at the end of May 2023.
“It has been an absolute privilege to lead this team of dedicated people, who have worked so tirelessly to provide the highest quality of care to the people of our community and region, often in the face of incredible challenges,” McLaughlin said.
Working in many facets of the medical field, McLaughlin held a professorship of medicine at the University of Toronto and was a staff cardiologist with the University Health Network and he remains a member in good standing with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
He has focused much of his time as a doctor in the pursuit of gaining a better understanding of the effects and treatment of congenital heart disease through the authoring of more than 120 original articles, 175 abstracts and a book. He has presented lectures and demonstrations focused on that interest in many countries including, Canada, The United States, Europe and China.
McLaughlin has also served terms as governor of the American College of Cardiology, president of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, president of the Canadian Cardiovascular Academy and director of Cardiology at the University of Toronto.
He said he is moved by the amount of support provided by the teams throughout his time in leadership roles at the hospital.
During his time as president and CEO, McLaughlin worked with Peterborough Housing Corporation to develop affordable, supportive housing for seniors, which garnered him an award for Leading Governance Excellence from the Ontario Hospital Association.
He also received national recognition for work with the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) in safe handover and clinical cultural competence initiatives, his handling of EPIC, a recent regional clinical information system modernizing how hospitals deliver care and many others.
“The board is so grateful for Peter’s leadership, first as chief of staff and most recently as president and CEO of PRHC,” said Louis O’Brien, chair of PRHC’s board of directors.
“He has been an exceptional leader, and we are thankful for his vision and his commitment to providing the best possible care and support for our patients and community. His thoughtful, steady and compassionate leadership style has earned him a great deal of respect, and he will be deeply missed.”
The board is planning a national search to find the best candidate to replace McLaughlin.
He has agreed to continue until about May 31, 2023, at which time his replacement will take over his role.
“Peter has set the leadership bar very high, and we will search for a dynamic, visionary individual to build on his success and achievements as PRHC strives to continue meeting the health care needs of the diverse, rapidly-growing and aging population we serve,” O’Brien said.
Looking back on his time at Peterborough Regional Health Centre, McLaughlin said he is proud of what they were able to accomplish with such a dedicated staff.
“While the road we have travelled has not always been an easy one, I believe today, PRHC is well-positioned for continued growth and success as a regional provider of acute care, and great things are still to come for those who will carry the legacy of this organization forward,” he said.
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