Marty Brown
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 04/98) - Dr. Keith Best doesn't officially start his new job as CEO of the Keewatin Health Board until the begininng of the new year.

But he's so keen on the prospect of this new challenge and the challenge of living in Nunavut that he's been in and out of the office in Rankin Inlet all last week.

"I'm still at the stage of identifying concerns," he said. "But one thing I know is that we will be more efficient and more effective. We need very seriously to use business strategies."

Dr. Best is recognized as balancing administrative and financial know-how with extensive practical experience in health, community care and social service delivery systems in the United Kingdom and Western Canada.

"The next 10 years are going to be really exciting in the Keewatin. But the new territory (Nunavut) offers a real challenge for professionals. Whatever we do here requires innovative thought. You can throw money at the situation but that's not the answer."

He says he's committed to the job and will move gradually toward change. Dr. Best plans on concentrating on the task at hand, so much so, that his wife won't be moving here until June.

The new CEO agrees with the vision for Nunavut, outlined by the Office of the Interim Commissioner, and wants to offer programs and services in an integrated and holistic manner.

"Aboriginal people have embraced holistic healing for years. Doctors don't know everything. We must encompass all appropriate methods of making someone well."

In 1977, as part of the Queen Elizabeth's 25th anniversary jubilee celebrations, Dr. Best was presented with a medal for his special contributions to human services, particularly his work with special needs children.

"I still like to work with troubled teens, so I hope to do some volunteer work after I get settled."

Dr. Keith Best brings a lot of experience to his new position. He has worked in all the major health areas of health care, first as a registered psychiatric nurse, then director and district manager of Albert's Family and Social Services programs and assistant director of the Barrhead Hospital District of Alberta. He has run acute and long-term facilities, managed service programs and advocated for the mentally disabled.