The new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) Treena Slate, stepped into her new role earlier this month, replacing Brian Schoonbaert who retired on April 5th.

Slate is no stranger to the Westman Region, or to the healthcare landscape, having grown up in Gilbert Plains, and receiving her nursing degree at Brandon University. With over 30 years in healthcare and 15 years in a leadership role, Slate brings a wealth of experience and knowledge into the position of CEO.

Slate says she has worked in most every section or 'category' in the healthcare system over the span of her career.

"I always wanted to be a nurse and went into nursing right after high school," she shares. "I moved to Calgary shortly after I graduated because I graduated at a time when there were no nursing jobs here, which is hard to believe now.  We were out there for about 9 years and then we decided to move back to be closer to family.  And so, within the Brandon Regional Health Centre I worked as an ER nurse, and then from there I went to various management positions within the organization."

"Along that path I also had opportunity to work as a Public Health Nurse, which gave me a wonderful understanding of more upstream approaches to health care and the community aspect of healthcare," she continues. "And then during the pandemic I was placed into a director position within the Brandon Regional Health Centre, and then the Chief Nursing Officer role for the region about 4 years ago."

In addition to Chief Nursing Officer for Prairie Mountain Health prior to accepting the CEO position, Slate also held the title of Regional Lead - Acute Care Services with PMH.

"I've worked in community and long-term care, and acute care, and it's given me a broad view of the health care system in general," she says. "And I think also working in urban and rural has also broadened my perspectives."

Ms. Slate acknowledges that it's been a very challenging time for our healthcare system, yes in the last 5-10 years but more specifically coming out of the pandemic. 

"But on the other side of that what I see is opportunity, and I also see a growing optimism around health care.  I think with new people joining healthcare careers there's a sense of rejuvenation. I also think that although we are really struggling with health human resource challenges, I also see that there are also opportunities to be innovative and to inspire growth and change within the healthcare system."

Please listen to more with Treen Slate, CEO of Prairie Mountain Health!

"Prairie Mountain Health has an incredible team of over 7,500 individuals providing quality health care to the residents of PMH," she says, "and I feel very fortunate to work alongside these dedicated staff.”

"I'm just very excited and I feel very privileged to take on the leadership role at Prairie Mountain Health," adds Slate, "and I look forward to continue fostering relationships with rural communities, and all our stakeholders and partners, and our staff!"