CCOHTA announces VP, HTA

May 03, 2004

OTTAWA — CCOHTA President and CEO Dr. Jill M. Sanders is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Gaucher as Vice President, Health Technology Assessment.

As Vice President, Mr. Gaucher has overall responsibility for managing CCOHTA ’s HTA directorate and its programs and staff. He will also serve on CCOHTA ’s executive management group.

Mr. Gaucher has been serving as interim VP, HTA since January 2004.

“Mike will play a pivotal role as CCOHTA grows and fulfills its role in the management of health technology as required by the Canadian Health Technology Strategy,” said Dr. Sanders. “The knowledge and expertise he has acquired in his 20 years of health care experience as a manager, practitioner and researcher will be extremely valuable to CCOHTA as we continue to build on existing relationships within the HTA community and evolve to meet the needs of Canadian health care decision makers.”

Mr. Gaucher holds an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy and a Masters in Business Administration. He has 15 years' experience in hospital pharmacy management where he was involved in strategic planning, policy and program development, research, and drug use/formulary management. Mr. Gaucher has worked extensively with hospital and provincial drug committees, including the Advisory Committee on Institutional Pharmacy Practice and the Formulary Committee of Saskatchewan Health.

Mr. Gaucher held a cross-appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor for ten years at the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan. He has been actively involved in several professional associations and has held executive appointments with provincial and national pharmacy organizations.

The Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment is an independent not-for-profit organization that provides timely and reliable information about health technologies to decision makers in the Canadian health care system. CCOHTA delivers a health technology assessment program, the Common Drug Review, and the Canadian Optimal Medication Prescribing and Utilization Service. CCOHTA is funded by the Canadian federal, provincial and territorial governments. More information about CCOHTA’s mandate and mission can be found at www.ccohta.ca

For further information contact Kirk Fergusson, Communications Director: 613 226-2553 ext. 276