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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - For Kay Lewis it was just one of those things: "If you want to make a difference you've got to step up to the plate and lead," she said.

The Department of Health and Social Services has named Kay Lewis the new CEO of Stanton Territorial Hospital, starting in January 2009.

With 25 years of experience in the health industry as well as administrative experience, Kay Lewis will be the new CEO of Stanton Territorial Hospital starting in January 2009. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo

Lewis had been the CEO for the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority for the past year and a half before she decided it was time for a change.

"They had previously put out a competition for the position," she said. "They were unsuccessful in their original recruitment so I decided to put my name in."

Lewis brings 25 years of health care experience with her, including six years in the role of chief planning officer for the Prince County Hospital project on Prince Edward Island. She has travelled many times across the country in her capacity as a national board member of the Canadian Council of Health Service Executives or as a surveyor for the Canadian Council of Health Service Accreditation.

She was also awarded the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Administration when working in P.E.I. in 2004.

Lewis is expecting the transition to be a challenge but one she will look forward to once she completes her time at her current position.

"Acute care is always challenging," she said. "It's a new team there and it will require some focusing on itself and clarity and direction as we move forward. I'm not all that familiar with their processes so it'll be a learning curve to get a sense of their priorities and current issues and how best we can address them and move forward on things."

Health Minister Sandy Lee said it's been almost six years since they've had someone with a strong background in hospital administration at Stanton and looks forward to working with Lewis.

"As minister I've seen her work and she's highly respected as a health care administrator," she said. "She's been an important player in our health care delivery system and her skills and background will be used to its maximum at Stanton."

Lewis said the issues NWT health care faces are very similar to those found across the country.

"Addressing the dollars to meet the core services and the expectations the public has and to make sure you have adequate access to services always needs to be addressed," she said. "Being able to adapt to new technologies and what that brings, not only in how we practise but in consumer expectations. We need to be able to adapt to a changing health care industry.

"I think there is certainly high expectations of service delivery at Stanton and that can be difficult with the fiscal reality of things."

Lewis said it's not going to be one person who changes Stanton for the better.

"It's not one individual but it's up to a team addressing the issues and I look forward to developing that team and taking on the challenges we have ahead. I'm anticipating good support."