Dr. Tom Feasby, a former dean of the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, has been appointed president and CEO of the Airdrie and Area Health Benefits Co-operative (AAHBC).
“I am honoured to be joining AAHBC during this critical time in health service delivery in Alberta,” Feasby said after the Jan. 19 announcement that he had assumed the role Jan. 1. “The model that is being developed in Airdrie for community-owned and directed provision of health and healthcare services is relatively unique.
“The co-op format fits well within the Canada Health Act and we expect that it will reduce pressure on the overall public burden of government healthcare budgets. The needs of the patients will direct all our planning and we also hope to improve overall health status within the population of the greater Airdrie area.”
The AAHBC – formally incorporated as a co-operative in Alberta in December 2016 – will provide primary and proactive healthcare and emergent/urgent care to residents of Airdrie and area.
Senior healthcare, mental health and addiction services, secondary health such as physiotherapy and acupuncture, as well as dentistry and eyecare will all be offered through the health co-op and membership is free.
The AAHBC plans to build a health park where residents can access healthcare in a one-stop shop. Capital funding for a new healthcare facility is not on the province’s books until 2035, leading the founding members of the Board of Directors of the AAHBC to come up with a made-in-Airdrie solution for providing healthcare to residents.
Feasby brings experience in leadership and executive roles in health service design to his new role. He has practiced medicine in the specialty of neurology and conducted significant research. He also brings experience in large-scale organizational administration to his new position with the AAHBC. He has been vice-president of Edmonton’s Capital Health Region and associate dean at the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
“We are fortunate and very pleased to have Tom join the AAHBC as our first leader,” said Stan Grad, AAHBC chairman. “His impeccable reputation of integrity and inclusive leadership sets an excellent example of how AAHBC will conduct itself as it develops health and healthcare programming for citizens of Airdrie and surrounding area.
“AAHBC began as a grassroots, made-in-Airdrie effort, to realize a common goal of becoming the healthiest city in Canada – Tom’s long history of community service is ideal as we pursue this goal.”
Feasby received a Medal of Distinguished Service from the Alberta Medical Association and an Honourary Doctor of Science Degree from Western University. He received his medical education at the University of Manitoba and the University of Western Ontario.
Feasby currently serves on the boards of directors of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and the O’Brien Institute for Public Health at the University of Calgary, where he continues to be a professor in the medical faculty.
“I look forward to working with the community and with key partners such as the physicians and other healthcare providers – Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services – to help develop the model and realize this vision,” he said.
