Mid Island Heath Alliance
The Challenge
Qualicum Beach and its surrounding Mid Island communities face a critical shortage of both primary care facilities and healthcare professionals, leaving roughly 9,000 residents without regular access to a family doctor or basic health services, with a projected need of 20-30 doctors in the next 3-5 years due to retirement, population growth and physician practice models.
Our Approach
The Mid Island Health Alliance is tackling this gap by forging strong partnerships with local and regional stakeholders—municipal leaders, health authorities, clinics, and community groups—to pool expertise, share resources, and build the physical infrastructure necessary for comprehensive, team based primary care. By cultivating an interdisciplinary network of physicians, nurse practitioners, allied health providers, and social supports, the Alliance aims to relieve strain on existing services, ensure coverage during shortages or absences, and create a resilient model that delivers equitable, coordinated care to every resident now and into the future.
Expanding Access — Reducing Disparities
Strengthening Healthcare Resilience
Our Team
The Mid Island Health Alliance (MIHA) is a volunteer led, Incorporated Not For Profit Society, of experienced business and health care professionals whose role is to facilitate and advocate for Primary Care services for residents within the region of Oceanside. Each brings a diverse set of skills and talents to any project.
Our Origins
Through Community Networking and the Qualicum Beach Newcomers Group we recognized our shared vision to improve primary care in the community and began gap analysis research in 2024.
Susanne Cunningham - Director & Chair
​
With over four decades of progressive leadership in nursing and perioperative services, Susanne Cunningham has held senior executive roles across major academic and community medical centres in Canada and the United States. As Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Perioperative Services, she directed multidisciplinary teams of professionals, overseeing complex surgical, ambulatory, and perioperative platforms. Her expertise spans large-scale health system redesign, operational efficiency, clinical governance, and workforce development. A certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, she has successfully applied process improvement and change leadership strategies to enhance patient safety, expand surgical capacity, and implement transformative technologies such as EPIC electronic medical records and advanced hybrid operating rooms.
In addition to her executive career, Susanne was a Sessional Instructor at the University of Victoria, where she taught Global Health and Nursing Research, emphasizing climate change, refugee health, disaster response, and the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. She holds a Doctor of Health Administration, a Master of Arts in Organizational Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, complemented by her early foundation as a registered nurse. Deeply committed to community advocacy, she serves as Chair of the Mid-Island Health Alliance, championing improved access to primary care in the Oceanside region of Vancouver Island, An accomplished speaker and author, she has published on topics ranging from workplace violence in nursing to medical assistance in dying, reflecting her dedication to advancing health care policy, education, and patient-centred care.
​
​
​
Marilyn-Harvey-Heinz - Director
​
Marilyn is a dynamic leader and creative strategist with more than 45 years of experience in luxury resort and urban retail, including her tenure as Fairmont Hotels & Resorts General Manager for Retail in North America, Europe, and Mexico. Known for her entrepreneurial approach, Marilyn has a rare ability to take ideas from vision to reality—overseeing every stage from concept development and design to construction, merchandising, and strategic marketing. Her career has been marked by delivering profitable, turnkey solutions for national and international brands, forging strong vendor partnerships, and developing innovative products, brands, and growth strategies. Highlights include working with the MacMillan Health Organization in London, UK, to create inclusive fundraising models and launching the Pink Ribbon Teas initiative with the Breast Cancer Society in Vancouver across several Fairmont Hotels.
​
Since moving from Canmore, Alberta, to Qualicum Beach in fall 2022, Marilyn quickly recognized the urgent need for improved primary care in the community. She became a founding member of the Mid Island Health Alliance (MIHA) and now serves as MIHA’s representative on the Fair Care Alliance steering committee, advocating for increased access to health care north of the Malahat. With her blend of strategic insight, creative energy, and ability to build strong networks, Marilyn continues to drive forward initiatives that make a tangible difference in the health and well-being of her community.​
​
​Lynn Bury - Director
​
Lynn brings extensive experience in healthcare policy, physician recruitment, and community engagement, having served as Director of Health Policy for the Professional Association of Internes and Residents of Ontario and later as Director of Marketing and Recruitment for Health Force Ontario. She played a key role in developing Ontario’s first physician job board, launching regional Community Development Officers, and successfully led in the recruitment of over 400 physicians from the U.S. to underserved areas across the province.
Her background combines strategic planning, stakeholder collaboration, and strong expertise in marketing, media relations, and healthcare workforce development. A newcomer from Ontario in 2022, Lynn became involved in MIHA in the spring of 2024 and is excited to be able to support and give back to her new home community through involvement with MIHA.
​
Mission
To improve primary care access for Mid Island communities by collaborating with local and regional partners to build the space, resources, and systems needed to optimize health care for the future.
Vision
A community where every resident has equitable access to primary health care supported by a strong collaborative network that ensures continuity of care and reduces disparities
