Published by Ontario Veterinary College (519) 824-4120, Ext. 54401

October 20, 2006

New hospital director sees "tremendous opportunity"

Sometimes a fresh perspective is just what the doctor ordered. Wayne Coveyduck will put that theory to the test in the coming months as the new executive director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH).
Coveyduck, who started his new job on Oct. 1, is the first non-veterinarian to hold the top administrative job at the hospital in more than 20 years. He comes to the Ontario Veterinary College after 21 years of working in an acute care hospital environment — for humans.

“This was simply a great opportunity for me to try something new,” says Coveyduck, who began his career in his home province of Newfoundland and was most recently the CEO of the Temaskaming Hospital in New Liskeard, Ont.

“But I think what really convinced me to come here was meeting the dean and hearing her vision for the VTH. This is a tremendous opportunity to be involved in change, to help the organization grow in terms of admissions and the services we offer to clients, and to develop new facilities.”

Dr. Elizabeth Stone, OVC dean, said Coveyduck’s appointment comes at a crucial time in the college’s history. The VTH plays a central role in OVC’s teaching and research activities, handling approximately 16,000 cases each year in facilities designed to accommodate a fraction of that number.

“The OVC hospital is our window to the world,” said Stone. “We need to be more effective in meeting the needs of the animal-owning public and our referring veterinarians. This is essential in order for us to maintain the caseload necessary for learning and research. Plus our students need the hands-on experience of being part of a well-run service delivery team. Wayne brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from the human health sector which will help the OVC hospital achieve success.” Coveyduck said in the short term his top priority would be getting to know the people and finding out from them how the VTH is organized, what works and what doesn’t.

“They have all the answers. I need to figure out how to ask the right questions.” He sees being a layperson as an advantage, rather than a disadvantage, when managing the day-to-day business of a hospital.

“The clinicians have enough on their shoulders. They shouldn’t be distracted by the administrative process,” Coveyduck said. “I can lighten their burdens by making it easier for them to focus on what they do best — practising veterinary medicine.”