The Board Chair for Southern Health has been reappointed to another two-year term.

"I'm honoured personally that my work continues as the Board Chair," says Abe Bergen of Kleefeld. "It has given me the opportunity to learn a lot about health and about boardmanship, that's been great."

Bergen says he has taken a course through the Institute of Corporate Directors to ensure the work of the board continues with excellence.

"I also feel like the whole health transformation, both the ongoing operations as well as the health transformation in the province, we have a better handle on that today than we did two years ago," says Bergen. "And we're honoured to be part of that transformation."

Bergen says in the first two years, he definitely achieved what he set out. The two years saw a change in leadership with Jane Curtis taking over for Kathy McPhail as Chief Executive Officer.

"That kind of senior leadership change was very significant," says Bergen. "Then moving from there into a new mandate for government and seeing the depth of which they are doing transformation, big learning curve but very worthwhile and glad to be part of it."

Looking ahead to the next two years, Bergen says there are probably between 20 and 25 people in the region, including himself, that is part of the Shared Health transformation. He expects that might be the most significant piece over the next 24 months.

The province has also appointed Debbi Bergner-Fortier of Letellier and William Osachuk of Gardenton. Bergen says they take over for Viola Peters of Steinbach who did not seek reappointment and the late Judith Siemens of Winkler who passed away in spring. Patricia Brennan of Oak Bluff and Ramona Coey of Lorette were also reappointed.

Bergen says it his opinion they have good representation on the board, both in terms of geographic distribution as well as skill set that people bring to the table.