Jennifer Burns-West Returns as Vice President Clinical and Chief Nursing Executive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 6, 2026

(Lindsay, ON) – Ross Memorial Hospital is looking forward to welcoming back Jennifer Burns-West as the hospital’s new Vice President Clinical and Chief Nursing Executive when she returns on April 13, 2026.

Jennifer has longstanding roots within Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH), having started at the hospital as a Registered Nurse in the early 1990s. Over the course of 30 years, she went on to serve as a Critical Care and Medical Program Educator, Emergency Department Manager, and Director of our Surgical, Obstetrical, Pharmacy, Health First and Dialysis programs.

In 2021, Jennifer lead RMH’s COVID-19 drive-thru vaccination team. The drive-thru vaccination clinic opened at the Lindsay Exhibition Fairgrounds in March 2021 and ran until August 2021, providing more than 62,000 vaccinations and serving roughly 500 vehicles a day. The set-up removed barriers for people with mobility challenges and helped create a comfort zone for what can be an anxious experience, resulting in RMH receiving an Accessibility Award from the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Among Jennifer’s other numerous achievements was serving as Director of our Surgical Program while successfully navigating the surgical waitlist impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She was also instrumental in the hospital’s transformative implementation of Epic, a shared digital clinical information system shared with neighbouring hospitals in the region.

Most recently, Jennifer has been serving as the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer at Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) since late 2025. Prior to that, she had been HHHS’s Vice President Clinical and Community Programs, Chief Nursing Executive since 2023.

Quotes

“I’m honoured to be returning to Ross Memorial Hospital, where my career began and where I have spent meaningful years alongside an incredible team. Ross Memorial has always been a place of innovation, compassion, and commitment to community, and I’m excited to help build on that strong foundation. I’ve dedicated my career to advancing quality, patient-centred care, along with fostering a healthy, engaged workplace, and I can’t wait to continue that work with the RMH team as we serve the patients and families relying on us.”

- Jennifer Burns-West, incoming Vice President Clinical and Chief Nursing Executive, Ross Memorial Hospital

“Jennifer’s extensive leadership experience and strong connection to Ross Memorial make her an outstanding fit for this role. Having worked alongside her for many years, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication, insight, and collaborative approach she brings to every challenge. We are delighted to welcome her back to RMH and look forward to the leadership she will provide as we continue striving to be the best for our patients, people, and community.”

- Veronica Nelson, President and CEO, Ross Memorial Hospital

Quick Facts

• Jennifer is a member of the Steering Committee for the Seniors Care Network, who is responsible for the organization, coordination and governance of specialized geriatric services (SGS) in the Central East Region of Ontario Health East.
• Jennifer served as President of the Lindsay Skating Club from 2008 to 2022.

 

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For more information, contact

Ryan Young

Communications and Public Affairs Officer

Ross Memorial Hospital

M: 705-328-4548

ryyoung@rmh.org