What do you call an individual who holds two jobs, is a contributing author, presenter, AND mom to two active, young boys. One word – busy!
Kristin Taylor is currently the Faculty Lead with the Ontario Hospital Association’s (OHA) Principles and Applications of Health Law course as part of the OHA’s Continuing Education Program. She first became involved in the Program 10 years ago, when she began as an Instructor, and since that time she has overhauled the course in an attempt to address participants’ needs and to truly apply the legal principles to practical situations.
In addition to her role at the OHA, Kristin also spends her days as General Counsel to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Prior to her arrival at CAMH in March 2009, Kristin was a partner with the Health Law Group at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. She graduated from Laurentian University in 1993 with a degree in Philosophy and Bioethics. Not knowing what exactly to do with that degree, she decided to head off to Uganda for two years where she co-founded a Non-Governmental Organization focused on the funding of business initiatives started by women raising orphan children. In 1996, Kristin entered Dalhousie Law School, which is where she first fell in love with Health Law.
Kristin’s wealth of knowledge and experience has been extremely helpful to the OHA – prompting the Association to ask her to be a contributing author over the last few years to Toolkits on the Quality of Care Information Protection Act (QCIPA), as well as one on the Disclosure of Critical Incidents. She has also presented at close to two dozen OHA conferences, webinars and workshops over the years on a variety of issues; including quality reviews, privacy, and mental health-specific topics. More recently, Kristin has been very involved in Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) work. She is a member of a FIPPA Advisory Committee and working groups, and she chaired a mandatory session for hospitals in July on exemptions and exclusions.
When asked what makes her most proud during her time with the OHA, she identifies the evolution of the Principles and Applications of Health Law course. Over time and with her involvement, the course structure has changed to streamline the content, and incorporate teaching by practitioners and lawyers – which helped to better apply the law to the internal reality of hospitals. Kristin also helps to ensure that year-to-year, changes are made to reflect the hot issues being faced by the health care sector participants. She is very proud of her role in the Health Law course, and she loves the opportunity to teach those in the health care field.
Another shining moment in Kristin’s career took place this past fall when she was selected as one of Lexpert's Rising Stars - Leading Lawyers under 40 in Canada. She was nominated by CAMH and she was the only public sector lawyer this year and the first every health law lawyer ever to win. She is extremely proud of this recognition and is very pleased to represent the health care sector in this way.
In Kristin’s view, what has changed most in health care over the last few years is the transforming legal landscape that hospitals are expected to function within. With Broader Public Sector directives, the Excellent Care for All Act (ECFAA), FIPPA, and amendments to other Acts that move hospitals towards full transparency and accountability, she finds that there is never a dull day! Kristin believes the complexity of the health care landscape is largely unknown in the private sector.
Kristin is a working mom of two young boys (aged 4 and 6 years), so there is no time for hobbies or other extracurricular activities! However, she does claim to know quite a bit about Star Wars, and can kick a mean penalty shot.