‘When I look back at my tenure, I am filled with gratitude. I am an incredibly lucky person to work with so many incredible people doing such important work’
Carmine Stumpo came to Orillia eight years ago to take the helm of Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. The hospital recently announced Stumpo will be leaving his role as CEO/president on April 2 to take a position with Mackenzie Health Care.
Stumpo, however, is not leaving Orillia. He reveals that and much more in this Q and A with OrilliaMatters editor Dave Dawson.
OrilliaMatters: You came to Orillia in 2018 to take your first president/CEO job. As you look back, what was the biggest surprise upon taking the role and what was the biggest challenge as a ‘newcomer’?
Carmine Stumpo: When the announcement of my appointment at Soldiers’ was made, I was ‘warned’ by my Toronto colleagues about moving to a smaller community, as the expectation is to engage in local events.
I was surprised at how many opportunities existed, working with partner agencies and local businesses, particularly with groups like the Chamber of Commerce. What was even more surprising is how much I enjoyed that part of the job. There as so many motivated community leaders who care so deeply about health and the hospital, it became one of the many positive experiences over the years.
OrilliaMatters: How would you describe your leadership style and how has that evolved since you began at OSMH?
Carmine Stumpo: Over my 7-8 years at Soldiers’, I have come to appreciate the power of leading through partnership. Whether it is how we work within the Couchiching Ontario Health Team to help integrated care across different sectors or how we work between hospitals to navigate access to care, no one can succeed in healthcare alone.
OrilliaMatters: The pandemic created the biggest challenges the healthcare sector has faced in our lifetime. Upon reflection, what was the hardest part of that, professionally? How did you stick-handle that crisis at OSMH?
Carmine Stumpo: The pandemic changed the way we needed to think about supporting our staff. We cycled through periods of not having enough staff due to high vacancy rates, to not enough experienced staff as so many were early in their career.
Having an ongoing, healthy recruitment pipeline became and remains a priority. We upped our game, making education for physicians, nursing and allied health professions a strategic priority to ensure we always engaging the next generation of providers.
OrilliaMatters: You took a key role to steward Roberta Place through the tragedy the pandemic inflicted on that facility. Explain how difficult that was, how you were able to help, how important that process was and how you got through it.
Carmine Stumpo: There were a number of unfortunate and tragic events during the pandemic. Being surrounded by an incredible team was the single most important way we got through it. And we were able to maintain these strong relationships years after the fact.
OrilliaMatters: In recent years, OSMH has expanded its bed capacity and surgical services and established a family medicine teaching unit while embracing the province’s move to a health-team approach. How have you facilitated that evolution, why is it important and how has it changed health care in Orillia and Simcoe County?
Carmine Stumpo: Orillia has always been well-positioned to deliver high quality integrated care based on long-standing relationships. Matching this strength with the evolving provincial priority seemed like a natural fit.
I give a lot of credit to the OSMH Board of Directors, who early on, was able to see the value in the Ontario Health Team concept and supported the organization’s focus on this key strategy. We were able to make key investments as a hospital that paid off in spades, supporting the health and well-being of the community in not only acute care, but also primary care and home care.
OrilliaMatters: Talk of a new hospital has seemingly been just that for decades. Under your leadership, that process has advanced significantly. Explain how you were able to manage that, how important that is to the community and how difficult, perhaps, it might be to leave when the job is not finished.
Carmine Stumpo: I am so excited with the future of OSMH and in particular the new hospital development. The emerging partnership with Lakehead University will be a game-changer for the success of both organizations and this region as a whole.
Working with our partners within the Government of Ontario and in particular our MPP Jill Dunlop, were key to the success.
Although I will no longer be with OSMH, it will remain my community hospital and I will be cheering from the sidelines with the ongoing success!
OrilliaMatters: I know you’re an avid jogger, cyclist, swimmer (Polar Dipper) … you also like to woodwork and even sewed masks during the pandemic. How important is balance and stress-busting in the life of a professional and why are you an advocate for such non-work activities?
Carmine Stumpo: There are a number of reasons why I advocate for work life balance. I feel it important to lead by example by being active in something – for me it is running but everyone has their own thing. Any time we can integrate stress relief in the worklife engaging in events like Charlee’s Run/Walk or riding your bike to and from work, goes a long way.
I also enjoy trying different things, which can sometimes be a humbling experience, especially if you have seen me golf lately.
OrilliaMatters: When you look back at your tenure as president and CEO of OSMH, what do you see as your legacy as the hospital’s leader during that time?
Carmine Stumpo: I try not to think in terms of legacy. When I look back at my tenure, I am filled with gratitude. I am an incredibly lucky person to work with so many incredible people doing such important work.
OrilliaMatters: What will you miss about your role at OSMH and living in Orillia?
Carmine Stumpo: Following up my last response, I will miss the people that I have had the privilege to work with. I will still be calling the Orillia area home, so you will still see me running and cycling around town.
OrilliaMatters: What will your new role at Mackenzie Health look like?
Carmine Stumpo: I am excited to start the next chapter or adventure in my career. Mackenzie is a larger, multi-site facility in the Greater Toronto Area. Although the context may be different, I plan on leading the way I always have, making my rounds across all areas of the hospital on a regular basis, connecting with the people who deliver excellent, compassionate care.