Patient & Family Advisory Committee

A Patient and Family Advisor is a person who has had a recent experience (generally within three years) of being a patient, or is the family member of a patient, and is interested in partnering with KDH staff and physicians to provide direct input into policies, programs and practices that affect patient care and services.

Patient and Family Advisors at KDH do one or more of the following:

• Share their healthcare experiences;
• Participate in committee work;
• Review or help create educational or informational materials;
• Work on short-term projects;
• Attend meetings of our Patient and Family Advisory Committee.

Patient and Family Advisors are welcome to provide input in person, by email, or over the phone. No special qualifications are required.

Meet our Patient and Family Advisors!

Bob Hale, PFAC Co-Chair 

Bob Hale worked for more than three decades in the steelmaking industry, retiring from Stelco Inc. of Hamilton, Ontario in 2006 as Manager in the steelmaking division. He also contributed to the industry in the role of Chair and Past Chair of the Niagara Chapter of the Iron and Steel Society. As Co-Chair of the Patient and Family Advisory Committee, Bob became an ex-officio member of the KDH Board of Directors in June 2019. He currently serves on the Governance Committee of the Board and is past Chair of the Quality and Safety Committee. On the provincial stage, he was a founding member of the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care’s Patient and Family Advisory Council. Bob holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Industrial Engineering from Ryerson University and a diploma in Business Administration from St. Lawrence College. He moved to the North Grenville area in 2008, and some time afterward underwent a successful total knee replacement surgery at KDH; this experience inspired him to become involved with the hospital in 2016 when the organization issued a call for Patient and Family Advisors. Bob brings to both the PFAC and the Board his experience as a patient and a keen desire to make a difference for other patients and their families.

Connie Parsons, PFAC Member

Connie Parsons came to Kemptville in 1984 as the new owner of Kemptville Florist, a local business she owned for nearly 20 years. During that time, she was a member of Kemptville Rotary and became the first woman President. After her life as a Florist, Connie went to South Korea for four years to teach conversational English. Upon returning to Canada, she worked for a local construction company as office manager and health and safety representative until her retirement. In 2017, Connie became President of the KDH Auxiliary, and after her two-year term assumed the position of Volunteer Coordinator for the Auxiliary. In this role she meets with every prospective volunteer and assists them with completing all the volunteer requirements and helping them decide which volunteer program would be the best fit for them. Connie also volunteers as a Greeter in the Emergency Department and assists in the Interim Long-Term Care/Convalescent Care unit with meal service and other activities. In addition, Connie conducts hand hygiene audits as a member of the Infection Prevention and Control committee at KDH. Connie joined the KDH Patient and Family Advisory Committee in 2024.

Jackie Smylie, PFAC Member 

Jackie Smylie is a dedicated health care professional and certified patient safety officer with extensive experience in quality improvement, accreditation, patient safety, risk management, and program evaluation for inpatient and community-based programs. Her professional experience includes the roles of Patient Experience Risk Specialist for Home and Community Support Services Champlain; Manager, Quality and Risk at Brockville General Hospital; National Accreditation Manager for Paramed Canada; and National Manager Accreditation for the Victorian Order of Nurses. Jackie holds an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science, Healthcare Administration and Human Nutrition, from the University of Guelph. She is currently Board Member, Vice Chair and Quality Chair, Senior Support Services, for Community Primary Health Care; previous volunteer experience includes serving as Board Member and Governance Lead for the Peer Support Network of Eastern Ontario and Board Member and Quality Committee Chair for Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health. Jackie joined the KDH Patient and Family Advisory Committee in 2022.

Tedd Wood, PFAC Member

A long-time resident of Becketts Landing, Tedd Wood was born in Montreal and educated in Fredericton, where he earned a degree in Forest Engineering. After university, Tedd worked for forest companies in British Columbia and Quebec. He moved to the federal government, working at the Canadian Forestry Service, and then to the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. Working on performance audits, ranging from the construction of the National Gallery of Canada, to a bridge in the Northwest Territories, to Cyber Protection of Critical Infrastructure, and international assignments, has provided a wide range of experience and opportunities to learn. At retirement he was the Principal responsible for Public Safety and National Security.  On the personal side, Tedd is married with two adult children and three outstanding grandsons. In fact, most of the family have been patients of KDH at one time or another. The family has always been so appreciative of the level of professional care as well as the compassion and friendliness of staff that make KDH so special. Tedd is also involved with the Ontario Woodlot Association as a board member of the Lower Ottawa Valley chapter and is a member of the provincial Communications Committee and an editor of the Ontario Woodlander. He is also a longstanding member of 46 years of the Alfa Romeo Club of Canada. Fortunate to be retired and looking for a way to give back to the community, Tedd plans to help KDH in any way he can. He joined the Patient and Family Advisory Committee in 2022.