Alan Wildeman, the former board chair of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), has passed away.
He died on June 16 at the age of 72.
Wildeman joined the CKHA's Board back in 2018, becoming its Chair in 2021.
Deb Crawford, CKHA's current chair, spoke to reporters on Monday and had nothing but good things to say about him.
"He was an extraordinary leader, a dedicated public servant, and above all, from the perspective of everyone at the hospital, he was a very kind and thoughtful individual," she said.
Wildeman and Crawford served together on the board for a short time, with Crawford replacing Wildeman as chair after he completed his two-year term.
She explained that having Wildeman lead during the COVID-19 pandemic helped the hospital navigate during one of the toughest times in modern history.
"He guided our organization through an important period of the pandemic, and at that time he led us with clarity, integrity, and a commitment to high-quality care," added Crawford.
She also credited Wildeman with advancing the Wallaceburg hospital redevelopment project and launching CHKA's withdrawal management unit.
