Board of Directors

Dr. Wilbert J. Keon, O.C., M.D., F.R.C.S.

Board Chair

Dr. Keon was born and raised in Sheenboro, Quebec.  He received his M.D. from the University of Ottawa.  His post-graduate education was from McGill, Toronto, and Harvard Universities.  Upon completion of his medical and scientific training, Dr. Keon moved to Ottawa in 1969 and founded the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.  Dr. Keon was the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute until April 2004 and his vision and leadership built the institute to an international centre of excellence for cardiac care, research and education.

Innovation has been a hallmark of Dr. Keon’s career, having drawn research grants totaling $65 million.   His clinical innovations are numerous but most notable include the pioneering of surgical reperfusion in  acute heart attacks during the early 1970s, the first use of Jarvik7-70 artificial heart in Canada in 1986, and in 1989 the first Canadian infant heart transplant.

Dr. Keon has received numerous medical scientific awards as well as many civic awards, including the Order of Ontario, The Order of Canada, and membership in the Order of Saint Gregory the Great from Pope John Paul II.  He was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1990, where he served until mandatory retirement in May 2010.  In this later capacity, he has participated in numerous major health and science related reports.

In 2007, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) presented him with their highest award, the F.N.G. Starr Award; he was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame for this enormous contributions to the understanding of disease and the improved health and well-being of people everywhere.

In February 2011 he was appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Champlain Local Health Integration Network. 

JOCELYNE BEAUCHAMP - Vice-Chair

Born in Sudbury where she studied Sociology at Laurentian University, Jocelyne Beauchamp has lived in Eastern Ontario for the past 28 years.   

She brings to the LHIN a broad knowledge of social and community health issues.  After seven years of working in community development, Madame Beauchamp joined the Ottawa Office of the Ministry of Community and Social Services in 1988.  For the next ten years, she occupied a variety of positions within the Ottawa Office, from French Language Services Coordinator to Program Supervisor for programs for persons with developmental handicaps in Prescott-Russell and Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry. 

In 1998, Madame Beauchamp joined the Regional Office of the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care as a Program Consultant.  Her porfolio included home care programs such as the Community Care Access Centre, a number of home support programs for seniors as well as programs for persons with an acquired brain injuries.  She presided and managed the evaluation of proposals for 100 new long-term care beds in Ottawa and Frontenac County.  She also worked closely with local hospitals to improve transition between acute care and long term care facilities for seniors.

After leaving the Ontario Public Service in 2003, she opened and managed a successful franchised restaurant, purchasing a second one in 2005.  She recently sold her restaurants and is a partner in another business.

Appointed April 18, 2011 for a three-year term.

Elaine Ashfield

Elaine Ashfield is a native of Barry’s Bay and now resides in Ottawa and Calabogie. She is currently the Chief Privacy Officer and an Executive Director at Canadian Blood Services. Elaine has degrees in nursing and law from the University of Ottawa. She worked as a critical care nurse at Wellesley Hospital in Toronto and then at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Elaine started her legal career practicing primarily in the areas of litigation and health law at Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall. In 2001, she became in-house Legal Counsel at Canadian Blood Services. In her role as Chief Privacy Officer, she chairs the National Organ Privacy Advisory Committee, which is made up of members from each participating province. The committee is responsible for ensuring the new national organ registries being built by Canadian Blood Services meet applicable privacy laws and standards.

Appointed June 2, 2011 for a three-year term.

Marie Biron

Marie Biron has been involved in the Ottawa area community as an elected school board trustee from 1998 to 2010, including roles as chair and vice-chair. She also occupied the position of vice-chair of the Provincial Association of Francophone Catholic School Boards. Previously, Marie represented parent interests in education as regional director of the Provincial Federation of Francophone Parents and as chair of the Association of Francophone Catholic Parents in the Ottawa area. From 1982 to 2010, Marie worked for the Public Service of Canada in various positions related to communications. Marie now provides consultation services on governance issues related to school boards. She is currently a member of the University of Ottawa’s Standing Committee on Francophone Affairs and Official Languages and chair of the Fondation des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est. Marie studied education and history at the University of Ottawa.

Appointed June 2, 2011 for a three-year term.

Alexa Brewer 

Alexa Brewer has extensive experience in the health field, as a nursing practitioner, administrator and educator and as a senior manager within the federal government.  She has worked in the areas of health policy, strategic program design, planning and evaluation of complex projects.  Working in various branches of Health Canada, she developed a strong background in program development and analysis and in reorientation of programs to meet changing and/or emerging priorities and resource constraints.

Long interested in the use of technology to support health service management and delivery, she has contributed to the development and implementation of the federal components of national health information infostructure and surveillance networks, including developing evaluation and accountability reporting frameworks. 

In her final position with the federal government, as Senior Director of the Information Management Strategies Division, Treasury Board Secretariat, she was accountable for improvement of the management of government information holdings, compliance with legislative and policy requirements and supporting cost-effective electronic service delivery.

Appointed April 28, 2010 for a three-year term.

Linda Keen

Linda Keen is currently a consultant in safety and risk management with Keen Associates. She is a keynote speaker internationally on the subject of safety and quality with the International System Safety Society. She is a Certified Corporate Director as a graduate of the Director's College which is sponsored by the Conference Board of Canada and McMaster University.

She worked for twenty years with the federal public service, starting as a scientist with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and moving to the departments of Industry and Natural Resources, becoming a senior assistant deputy minister. From 2001 to 2008, she was the President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, including the chairing of the International Atomic Energy Commission's international review of nuclear safety.

She was a member of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation's Cancer Fundraising Cabinet and a member of the board of directors and governance committee for Service Coordination, an agency providing services for disabled persons.

She is a scientist by training and mentors young scientists and engineers in Canada and internationally as they enter leadership positions.

Appointed January 5, 2011 for a three-year term.

David Somppi

David Somppi, P.Eng. has been a resident of Carleton Place, Ontario since 1988. He graduated (BASc/MASc in Electrical Engineering) from the University of Waterloo. His professional experience (primarily in the high technology sector) includes technical, management and business responsibilities.

His volunteer experience includes governance and committee responsibilities on committees of council and non profit organizations. He served as chair of the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital, was a founding member of the Lanark County and Town of Smiths Falls Substance Abuse Network and as chair of the Carleton Place Health Village Committee. David is an aspiring musician and an active member of the Canadian Ski Patrol System.

Appointed June 17, 2010 for a three-year term.