Page 40 - Tropic Magazine Issue 13

INDUSTRY • HEALTH

Cairns Private Hospital CEO, Ben Tooth

Private universe “Rather than aim for work-life balance,

I try to be focused and be fully present
Tropic sits down with Cairns when either at work or with the family.”
Private Hospital CEO Ben Being fully present in the moment
Tooth for a chat about local rather than attempting multiple tasks
health care. at once is an important distinction for
Ben as he approaches the six-month
Words Gavin King mark in the role of CEO at one of the
city’s largest organisations. Cairns
Ben Tooth is a busy man, to put Private Hospital continues to grow and
it mildly. Apart from running an expand its service offering, playing a
organisation with more than 560 crucial dual role in both local health care
employees and 100 specialists in the delivery and the economy.
complex arena of health and hospital
care, he also sits on the board of Cairns Tropic: You’ve been in the role of CEO
Penny and is a committee member for nearly six months. Are you enjoying
of the North Queensland Primary it?
Healthcare Network. On top of those Ben Tooth: I’m enjoying the
career responsibilities, he is also the role immensely and the broader
proud father of two young children responsibilities that come with it. As
alongside his equally busy wife who you would expect the focus has now
works full-time in the legal profession. shifted to setting the objectives for
This juggling act of life requires focus, our services and driving the vision for
balance and, according to Ben, not the entire organisation rather than
burning the house down. focusing on non-clinical aspects as I
“We try to juggle the demands of family did in my previous role as Commercial
life and full-time work as best we can,” Manager. We have a brilliant team of
Ben tells Tropic. “That is by keeping the clinicians and managers across our
kids alive and preventing the house facilities and I feel completely supported
from burning down.” by them. In total, there are over 560
Jokes aside, Ben has a unique take on employees and over 100 specialists
the popular notion of work-life balance. associated at our facilities in Cairns.

40 • Tropic • Issue 14