The board members of the new provincial health authority have been named.

It is the first milestone as the province transitions from 12 regional health authorities into one.

“This distinguished group of five women and five men come from a range of professional backgrounds, including governance, accounting, medicine, law, education and business,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said in a news release. “Their experience in these industries will play an integral role in guiding the transition to a single health authority and achieving our goal of delivering high-quality health care for the entire province.”

The 10-member team is:

R.W. (Dick) Carter, Chairperson, Regina

Grant Kook, Vice-Chairperson, Saskatoon

Brenda Abrametz, Prince Albert

Marilyn Charlton, Weyburn

Judy Davis, Regina

Robert Pletch, Regina

Donald Rae, Yorkton

Rosalena Smith, Pinehouse Lake

Dr. Janet Tootoosis, North Battleford

Tom Zurowski, Saskatoon

The board will not take over officially until the fall when the new Provincial Health Authority Act is proclaimed. But they will work with existing regional boards in an advisory capacity until then.

“We share a truly remarkable opportunity to build a strong foundation for the Saskatchewan Health Authority and to improve the quality of care patients receive across our province,” chairperson Dick Carter maintained.

The first job will be to appoint a chief executive officer.

The government announced in January that it would amalgamate the 12 regions into one.