October 23, 2024
Michelle Palmer is passionate about her community. As a long-time Londoner and Executive Director of Creative Team Solutions, she recognizes the importance of health care to a community's wellbeing. It's with this in mind that motivated her decision to accept an invitation to join London Health Sciences Centre's (LHSC's) Community Advisory Committee (CAC).
Formed in October 2024, LHCS’s CAC provides a direct connection between LHSC and the community it serves. Chaired by LHSC’s Supervisor, David Musyj, the 10-member committee is comprised of a diverse group of individuals from London who provide advice and recommendations to LHSC’s leadership team. They ensure the needs, views and opinions of the community are considered as the hospital continues its work to strengthen its operations.
“We are thrilled to launch this Community Advisory Committee as a step toward strengthening our transparency and relationship with the community,” said Musyj. “The insights and recommendations provided by this committee will help shape a more inclusive and responsive LHSC.”
For Palmer, these insights include a passion for inclusivity and a unique perspective on the challenges faced by those with developmental disabilities. When asked why she chose to join the CAC, Palmer’s response was clear.
“Health services affect every citizen, so investing in the success of LHSC is a shared responsibility,” she said. “Being given the opportunity to ensure the challenges faced by people with developmental disabilities are represented is why I wanted to be involved.”
Supporting LHSC goes beyond Palmer’s personal commitment; it’s about positively impacting the entire community.
“Helping the hospital to be successful will benefit everyone. I am excited about the opportunity to help in any way I can,” she stated. “My hope is that the advisory committee can provide insight and feedback in order to assist leadership in improving health care for all who require it.”
The committee is prioritizing feedback as a vital component of its strategy. One of their first actions will be to design comprehensive surveys – one aimed at gathering insights from LHSC staff and physicians and the other from the public. The surveys will cover topics such as community health priorities, experiences with LHSC services, and suggestions for improvement. The results will play a critical role in advising LHSC’s executive leadership team on strategies that address key community needs and concerns.
“The insights gathered by the CAC have the potential to reshape our operations and improve the overall experience of care provided to the community,” said Musyj. “By prioritizing and listening to community input, LHSC can better align its services with the needs of the people it serves.”
Learn more about LHSC’s Community Advisory Committee members.