Governance & Leadership
Through strong partnerships and shared accountability, our governance model helps ensure that healthcare organizations, providers, patients, caregivers, and community partners work together to improve care across Peterborough City and County.
The Peterborough Ontario Health Team (POHT) is guided by a collaborative governance structure that supports shared planning, communication, engagement, and coordinated decision-making across the health and community care system.
How POHT is Governed
Our governance structure is designed to support shared leadership, meaningful engagement, and coordinated decision-making across sectors.
The Peterborough Ontario Health Team brings together organizations and leaders from across the local healthcare system to support collaboration, identify priorities, and advance initiatives that improve care and health outcomes in our community.
Governance Structure
The POHT governance model includes leadership, advisory, and consultative groups that work together to guide planning, strengthen collaboration, and support healthcare transformation across Peterborough City and County.
Stewardship Committee
The Stewardship Committee helps guide the overall direction and priorities of the Peterborough Ontario Health Team (POHT).
It brings together partners from across the health and community care system to support collaboration, shared planning, and coordinated decision-making that improves care for the community.
Stewardship Core
The Stewardship Core helps guide the day-to-day leadership and coordination of the Peterborough Ontario Health Team.
This group supports planning, communication, community engagement, funding recommendations, and collaboration across partner organizations to help advance POHT priorities and improve care for the community.
Advisory Stewards
Advisory Stewards help represent and connect different healthcare and community sectors within the Peterborough Ontario Health Team.
They support communication and collaboration between sector-specific advisory groups and POHT leadership to help identify needs, share perspectives, and advance system-wide initiatives.
Consultative Groups
Consultative Groups provide insight, feedback, and community perspectives to help inform the work of the Peterborough Ontario Health Team.
They play an important role in helping the POHT understand community needs, improve services, and support more inclusive and person-centred planning.
Examples of consultative groups include:
Community patient, family, and client groups from POHT member organizations
Independent Community Physicians
Physician Think Tank
Join as a Lived Experience Partner
Patients, caregivers, family members, and community members all bring valuable perspectives that can help improve healthcare services across Peterborough City and County.
As a lived experience partner, you can share your experiences, identify opportunities for improvement, and help inform how healthcare services are planned and delivered.
No healthcare background is required—just a willingness to share your perspective and help shape the future of care.
Meet our Operations Team
The POHT Operations Team supports planning, coordination, communication, engagement, and implementation activities across the organization.
As Executive Transformation Lead for the Peterborough OHT, I am focused on expanding our impact in the community and helping reimagine what Ontario Health Teams can achieve together. Having grown up in this region, I am inspired by the opportunity to improve experiences for patients and healthcare professionals through collaboration, evidence-informed decision-making, and strong primary care partnerships. I bring experience from primary care practice, provincial advocacy, and established OHTs, along with an engineering background and PhD-level training.
Connor Kemp
Executive Transformation Lead
Courtney Evans
Executive Assistant
I provide administrative support to the Peterborough Ontario Health Team, helping coordinate operations and support collaboration across the organization. I am inspired by the opportunity to bring partners together to create a more connected, patient-centred health system that improves access, experiences, and outcomes for our community. I bring over 10 years of administrative, organizational, and leadership experience, supporting senior healthcare leaders and advancing collaborative initiatives across the Peterborough region.
Preyanka Sivacheliyan
Communications and Community Engagement Specialist
I lead communications and community engagement initiatives for the Peterborough Ontario Health Team, helping strengthen collaboration between patients, partners, healthcare professionals, and the community through strategic communications and meaningful engagement. I am passionate about building authentic relationships and ensuring community voices help inform and shape the future of healthcare across the Peterborough region. I hold a Master of Public Health, bringing a public health perspective to healthcare communications and community engagement.
Julie Raftis & Adrienne Padget
Local Communications Team
Provide communications support and coordination across POHT initiatives and partner organizations.
Melissa Houston
Program Coordinator (Primary Care Specialist)
I support the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of primary care and digital health initiatives across the POHT. I am inspired by the opportunity to collaborate with dedicated partners to advance integrated care and improve health outcomes for the communities we serve. I hold a Bachelor of Public Health (Honours), have worked in primary care in Peterborough since 2014, and bring a strong commitment to collaboration, continuous improvement, and evidence-informed decision-making.
Strategic Planning
A new strategic plan will guide POHT priorities and decision-making over the next four years.
The work of the Peterborough Ontario Health Team is guided by strategic priorities, collaborative planning, and ongoing engagement with healthcare providers, organizations, patients, families, caregivers, and community partners.
