Sunrise Health Region President and CEO, Suann Laurent has announced Dr. Phillip Fourie as Senior Medical Officer (SMO) for the region, effective October 15, 2012.
Dr. Fourie has practiced family medicine in Yorkton for over ten years, coming to Yorkton in 1999 from South Africa where he completed his medical degree at the University of Stellenbosch in 1995. Dr. Fourie also holds a Diploma in Anesthesia from the College of Medicine of South Africa. Past-president of the Saskatchewan Medical Association, Sunrise Health Region Medical Association, former Chief of Family Medicine for the Sunrise Health Region, and SMA board of directors member since 2005, Dr. Fourie has served on several regional and provincial committees since 2000: Primary Care, e-Health, Pharmacy Information Program, Recruitment, Ethics, and Finance. Dr. Fourie will commence the duties of Senior Medical Officer for Sunrise Health Region on October 15, 2012 and will continue working as a family physician in Yorkton.
"I am happy to have Dr. Fourie join our executive leadership team," says Laurent.
"We are fortunate to have someone with Dr. Fourie's experience to provide the leadership for continued transformation of our health region and to enhance team engagement."
Leaving the position is Dr. Michael Bishop who served as SMO since formation of the region and whose career in medicine has spanned 47 years.
"Dr. Bishop's steadfast leadership has fostered a positive environment upon which to grow our organization into the future, " adds Laurent. "Our region has benefited from his wisdom and experience and I am grateful to have witnessed Dr. Bishop's tireless dedication to his patients and his profession."
Dr. Michael Bishop served the region as a family physician in the Kamsack area since 1965. In 2003, Dr. Bishop became the first Senior Medical Officer for the newly formed Sunrise Health Region and was Senior Medical Officer for the former Assiniboine Health District from 1998 until amalgamation in 2002. Dr. Bishop helped to set the stage and the foundation for medical structure in the region and led formation of the Practitioner Advisory Committee composed of licensed physicians, dentists, and chiropractors in the health region.
