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New IT appointments at Cancer Care Ontario

TORONTO — Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) has hired Sharon Pfaff (pictured) as Deputy Chief Information Officer and promoted Steve Hall to the role of Chief Technology Officer.

The two positions, which took effect this month, will be instrumental in CCO’s efforts to support its healthcare professionals, improve the safety of cancer patients and enhance overall system performance.

Sharon Pfaff will play a critical role in driving the implementation and management of CCO’s Information Technology (IT) strategy. A nurse by background, Ms. Pfaff brings 30 years of healthcare and IT experience to this leadership role.

Most recently, she was the first Chief Executive Officer at the Consolidated Health Information Services, where she was instrumental in implementing an award-winning IT system at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and the Windsor Regional Hospital.

Her accomplishments in that role include launching QUEST for eCare, and leading the deployment of an electronic health record for the region. Ms. Pfaff was also the eHealth Lead for the Erie St. Clair LHIN.

In this new role at CCO, Ms. Pfaff will oversee and ensure the successful delivery of CCO’s key information programs -– including the Wait Times Information Program and the ColonCancerCheck Information Program. She will also ensure that sound technical and project management operations and services are delivered through the IT Operations group and the Project Management Office.

As Chief Technology Officer, Steve Hall will be responsible for providing strategic technology leadership for CCO and for its partners and stakeholders. Steve will be the chief advisor to the Chief Information Officer on technology strategy; his team will be responsible for comprehensive technology architecture and planning, technology standards and policy, and systems security.

Steve has been with Cancer Care Ontario for almost five years, and holds a Master’s Degree in Science, from Queen’s University. He is currently the Director of Information Technology, where he is responsible for providing CCO’s technology support and disaster recovery planning.

These appointments mark an important milestone for Cancer Care Ontario, as it continues to improve the performance and accountability of cancer services through information and e-health technologies.