Spafford brings 20 years experience to Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills hospitals

Halton Healthcare has added a “values-based leader” to the management team who they believe will help develop meaningful connections in the community.

The regional healthcare organization, which provides a wide range of hospital and community healthcare services in Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville, announced Thursday (Sept. 28) the appointment of Adrienne Spafford as the new Chief Communications Officer and Vice Presidente Strategy & Partnerships.

Spafford joins the regional healthcare team from Ontario Health, where she is currently the Vice President, Ontario Health Teams Strategy & Policy.

“I am thrilled to join Halton Healthcare’s leadership team, and to engage with the communities inside and outside the organization’s three hospitals” says Spafford. “Halton Healthcare has a strong reputation for operational excellence and meaningful relationships with community members.

“I look forward to building on that tradition to foster even stronger collaboration with our health system partners, including through the Connected Care Halton Ontario Health Team.”

Spafford, who has more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications, stakeholder relations, policy, and strategy, joins Halton Healthcare after an extensive search process.

Her experience comes from previous roles with the Ministry of Health, the Premier’s Office, Infrastructure Ontario, the Ontario Long-Term Care Association, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and as Chief Executive Officer of Addictions and Mental Health Ontario.

“Adrienne is the right person to lead in this new role,” says Halton Healthcare President & CEO Melissa Farrell. “She has a proven track record in fostering meaningful connections to community members, health system partners as well as team members. She is also widely known as a values-based leader who is focused on developing and implementing meaningful strategies that improve patient care.

“She is joining the team at an exciting time as we continue to focus on our community partnerships and enhancing our programs and services. Adrienne’s work will be key as we continue to prioritize the needs of our growing communities.”

Spafford starts in her new role with Halton Healthcare on Nov. 20, 2023.