Board of Directors

Michael Adamcryck, Chair

Michael Adamcryck is a dynamic banking professional. A private investor through his company, Adamcryck & Associates Inc., Michael focuses on investing, financing and providing advice regarding, growth, expansion, acquisitions and succession planning to small- and medium-sized enterprises within Leeds and Grenville. In his past, Michael was regional vice-president at Royal Bank of Canada, leading a team of 250 people across the retail branch network in eastern Ontario. Prior to banking Michael had ownership interests in light manufacturing, Home Hardware Building Centre and retail operations focused on the outdoor industry.

Michael currently sits as the chair of St. Lawrence College, the College Employer Council of Ontario, and the City of Brockville Economic Development Advisory Committee. He is also a board member with 1000 Islands Masters Swim Club and an advisory board member with Homeward Bound.

Michael has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Laurentian University along with a Graduate Degree in Management and a Masters of Business Administration from Athabasca University. Michael lives in Brockville with his wife Amanda and son Burke.

Sara Piracha, Vice Chair

Sara Piracha has gathered over 20 years of experience in the non-profit and corporate sectors. She is highly skilled in strategic and operational planning, project and program leadership, policy and governance development, marketing, public relations and revenue generation (fundraising, sponsorship, public sector support). Currently, Sara provides consulting services to a variety of non-profit organizations and municipal governments.

Her expertise in fundraising, institutional leadership, advocacy, strategic planning, policy development and governance has been strengthened by her community and civic activities. She proudly served as part of Canada's United Nations Delegation to the World Summit on Social Development and the World Summit for Children.

As an active volunteer, Sara has served as a member on various boards and committees including the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children, the Canada 125 Corporation, the Aga Khan Foundation, The United Nations Rights of the Child Caucus, The Ottawa Chamber Music Festival Society, the Ottawa Boys and Girls Club, YMCA of Brockville and Area, YMCA Canada, l'Academie Catholique Ange-Gabriel Parent Council and is a volunteer member of the palliative care team at Brockville General Hospital.

Tom Bingham, Director

Tom Bingham founded Bingham & Bingham Consulting and Design Services Inc. in February 1998 and directed the operations of its health care division until his retirement in 2015. During that time Tom was involved, as the principal consultant, on numerous multi-hospital service consolidation, capital development and restructuring projects including a four-year engagement as a hospital consultant with the Ontario Ministry of Health.

In 1994 Tom was appointed to the position of vice-president of corporate services at Queensway-Carleton Hospital. Through this role, Tom was involved in providing support to the Ottawa Valley Hospital Alliance and its numerous multi-site service integration projects. Tom originally joined the Queensway-Carleton Hospital as director of laboratory services and was responsible for developing the Valley Laboratory Program, the first fully integrated laboratory service delivery system in Ontario.

He has been an active participant on numerous government and hospital association committees and task groups where his knowledge and leadership in the field of laboratory reform was universally acknowledged.

Jim Cooper, Director

Jim Cooper is the President, Chief operating Officer of Brockville manufacturer, Canarm Ltd. He began with the organization in 1978, and took over as president in 2007. Since then, Canarm has become a national leader within its industry. In 2012 through 2020, Canarm was named one of Canada's best managed companies by CIBC, Queens school of business, National Post and Deloitte professional services.

Jim is well known for his support of community services. In June 2017, Jim received an honorary diploma from St. Lawrence College. In 2013, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce, which recognized the extensive volunteer work he has done within Brockville and surrounding areas. Since 2006, Jim had served on the Brockville YMCA Board from 2005 to 2012 and as Board chair from 2010 to 2012. Jim is the past chairman of the Student Advisory Council for Loyalist College's Business Sales and Marketing program in Belleville.

Jim is a longtime supporter of BGH. Since 2003, he has co-chaired the palliative care annual fundraising golf tournament. Over $3 million dollars has been raised by this single-day event. From 2015 to 2017, he sat as a director on the Brockville and District Hospital Foundation's Board.

James Eastwood, Director

James Eastwood is a partner at Eastwood, O’Reilly Law Offices (practicing in association), in Brockville.  

James obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Toronto, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (with distinction) from Carleton University. His law practice is focused on family law and employment law.  He has represented clients in multiple levels of court, including the Ontario Court of Appeal, and he has appeared before a number of administrative tribunals.

James spent much of the past 25 years coaching kids’ sports but has now transitioned to Board work, having gained experience in this area by providing legal services for a variety of boards of directors during his legal career.

 Jeremy Hobbs, Director

Jeremy Hobbs is the Superintendent of Human Resources, Facilities and Information Technology for the Upper Canada District School Board, which encompasses 27,000 students, 4,000 faculty and staff at 90 schools. Jeremy’s portfolio includes responsibility for a combined operating and capital budget of over $100M along with almost 300 staff across his three departments.

Having started his career as a teacher, Jeremy worked on IT strategy in Ottawa-Carleton and Peel District School Boards and then moved to the UCDSB in 2004. In addition to his work in public education, Jeremy is involved with the community, having served on the Board of the Brockville and Area YMCA as Vice Chair, the Upper Canada Swim Club as President, the Brockville General Hospital Redevelopment Subcommittee and the St. Lawrence College Board of Governors.

Denise Kall, Director

Denise Kall has been a faculty member at St. Lawrence College in the School of Baccalaureate Nursing since 2012. She teaches primarily in first year, introducing students to the profession of Nursing and in third year to introduce students to community health nursing. Denise holds a Bachelor of Nursing degree from the University of New Brunswick and a Master of Public Health (Nursing Specialization) from Lakehead University. She is a Certified Canadian Nurse Educator from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN).

Prior to joining the College, Denise spent over 20 years working in public health as a program leader in reproductive health, a project leader in early child development, the coordinator of a safe communities coalition, as well as various portfolios in health promotion. Earlier in her career, she led the transition from separate postpartum/nursery units to a combined mother/baby unit at the Ottawa Civic Hospital and held clinical instructor positions in maternal/child nursing at both the University of Ottawa and University of New Brunswick.  Outside of teaching and nursing, her interests include canoeing and camping.

Catherine Macdonald, Director

Catherine Macdonald was the President of a food and nutrition product manufacturing company for 17 years. She spent her career forging relationships with many of the largest food companies across North America and Europe. She has over 30 years of experience in the food and service industries, gaining expertise in sales, marketing and operations in distribution and manufacturing businesses.

Catherine is chair of the board of one of Canada's largest safety supply companies and an international mining supply company; she has been a board member for both companies since 2008.

Catherine is a director of the Thousand Islands Playhouse and as well as serving as co-chair of for A Moonlit Night, the Playhouse’s annual fundraising event. She is on the gala committee for the Haddan Eby bi-annual fundraiser for Camp Oochigeas, Ontario’s largest camp for children with cancer.

She has a degree in Political Science from McMaster University and she completed the ICD Board Governance program for SME at the Rotman School of Management - University of Toronto.

Catherine is married with three children, all of whom are working in Ottawa.

Eleanor Newman, Director

Eleanor Newman is a recently retired educator who served in senior leadership roles in District School Boards, the Ontario Ministry of Education, and the Eastern Ontario Staff Development Network. She holds a Master of Education from Queen’s University, a Master of Arts in Canadian Studies from Carleton University, and certification as an Ontario Teacher, Principal, and Supervisory Officer.

Eleanor is trained in the Carver’s Policy Governance model and is recognized for her innovative thinking, her ability to inspire and to develop the capacity of others, and her skill at building consensus for moving forward.

Eleanor is an Honorary Life Member of the Ontario Music Educator Association and member/treasurer of the Brockville Community Choir.

Dave Publow, Director

Dave Publow worked for the Ontario Ministry of Finance – Assessment Division, beginning in 1968, and ended his career as the property assessment commissioner for Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Counties in 1999. David moved to Brockville in 1970 and has been an active part of the community since that time. He and his wife Judy have two adult children and are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren.

David has served on many boards and committees over the past 45 years. He served on the Board of Providence Care Hospital in Kingston for 10 years, ending his tenure in 2012. He was a member of the board of directors of the Brockville & District Hospital Foundation for many years, and continues to co-chair the Friends of Palliative Care Golf Tournament Committee – a fundraiser for BDHF Palliative Care. He was named Brockville's Citizen of the Year in 2009.

David is the former chair of the Marguerita Residence Corporation – an affordable seniors' housing organization, and is currently the chair of the Development Committee for Wall Street Village Project – part of the Marguerita Residence Corporation.

Bob Snelgrove, Director

W. Robert (Bob) Snelgrove is the president and CEO of GerrAudio Distribution, a company he founded in 1979 while studying at the University of Waterloo. GerrAudio caters to the technical needs of major performing arts centres and international touring musical artists.

His career in audio design and sound reinforcement has fostered a dedication to the arts reflected in his charitable work with local and regional theatre groups, including the Brockville Arts Centre. He is a longstanding member of the Audio Engineering Society, the Canadian Acoustical Society, and the Canadian Institute of Theatre Technology.

Bob joins the team with six years' experience on the Board of Governors for St. Lawrence College, the latter portion of which he acted as vice chair. During his tenure with St. Lawrence College, Bob worked with the chair on the recruitment of a new College President and CEO. He now looks forward to serving his community in the health sector as a member of the hospital board.

Brian Van Mierlo, Director

Brian Van Mierlo is a retired Chartered Professional Accountant, who has operated an accounting practice for the past 25 years.

Previously, Brian was a commercial account manager with the Bank of Montreal, and Chief Financial Officer in the manufacturing, commercial properties and hospitality industries.  Currently, Brian serves as the treasurer for the Brockville and Community Living Association.

Brian has been a long-serving community volunteer. His board and volunteer experience has included Family and Children’s services of Leeds and Grenville, Big Brothers, Rotary Club of Brockville, and the Brockville Soccer Club. 

Nicholas Vlacholias, President and Chief Executive Officer, Board Secretary

Nicholas (Nick) Vlacholias joined Brockville General Hospital as President and Chief Executive Officer in July 2017. Previously, he served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) leading a team comprised of clinical departments and corporate services. Nick has more than 20 years of experience transforming and integrating health care organizations into high-performing centres. Prior to joining CHEO in March 2012, Nick served as the Chief Operating Officer at Cornwall Community Hospital where he successfully led the complex merger of the two Cornwall Hospitals.

Nick is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1990.

Nick has participated as a Director with the Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association (EORLA), and over the past five years he has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the newly amalgamated Mohawk Medbuy Corporation and its predecessor organization Medbuy Corporation.

Dr. Andrew Hamilton, Chief of Staff, Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee

 Julie Caffin, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive

 Julie joined Brockville General Hospital in 2017 and serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive. Previous positions have been in both community and tertiary, academic health care organizations.

Julie has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Carleton University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Honours Degree from York University and a Master of Health Sciences Degree from the University of Toronto. She is certified in Advanced System Leadership from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management Executive Program and is a Fellow in The Ivy Academy Community Shift Executive Leadership Program. Julie has successfully completed the Advanced Good Governance certification through The College Centre of Board Excellence. She is an active member of the College of Nurses of Ontario and has an Adjunct Academic appointment in the Queen's University School of Nursing.

Julie has received recognition awards from Kingston Health Sciences Centre including the Team Award for Leadership with the Emergency Department Information System Implementation project and Team Award for Care for her efforts introducing the Inter-professional Collaborative Practice Model. She was nominated to the Canadian College of Health Leaders for a National Nursing Leadership Award.

Julie was appointed to the St. Lawrence College Board of Governors in September 2018 and is currently Vice-Chair.  She is also a member of the Board of Directors at St. Vincent de Paul in Kingston.

Dr. Karim Somani, President of the Medical Staff Association

Dr. Karim Somani received his medical degree from the University of Alberta in 2002 and completed his residency in general surgery in 2007.

Dr. Somani has practiced as a general surgeon in Brockville since 2010.

He assumed the responsibilities of the president of the Medical Staff Association in June 2021, with a particular focus on physician-wellness.

Dr. Kristin Finkenzeller, Vice President of the Medical Staff Association

Bio and headshot coming soon!