NEWS RELEASE
WAYPOINT CENTRE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE
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Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care is pleased to announce our board of directors has approved the establishment of two new medical director positions, and to welcome Drs. Abhishek Mehra and Rob Meeder to these positions.
As Medical Director Outpatient Services, Dr. Mehra will focus on building partnerships and programs across acute and community services to enhance collaborations. Dr. Meeder, in the role of Medical Director for Child and Youth Mental Health, will support Waypoint’s existing youth programs and work with partners to improve accessible, coordinated and high quality mental health care for children and youth across the system.
“Waypoint is one of the members of the Central Ontario Regional Ontario Health Team for Specialized Populations, a group of ten partners working together to develop an Innovative Model of health care supporting mental health and addiction services in the region,” says Dr. Nadiya Sunderji, Waypoint Psychiatrist-in-Chief. “Our new Strategic Plan has a focus on leadership and collaborative partnerships in support of exceptional patient experiences and outcomes. These two new medical directors will help move these priorities forward.”
Triple Board certified in psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry and brain injury medicine, Dr. Mehra has practiced across the United States. He most recently held the position of Regional Chief of Psychiatry, Behavioral Health Services at Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville, Pennsylvania and was an Adjunct Professor at Kings College. He has held past leadership roles in Behaviour Health and Primary Care Services at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in Wyoming, and has led the implementation of integrated and collaborative care models via tele-psychiatry to strengthen access to high quality care for a rural population across the system.
Dr. Meeder completed his Doctor of Medicine at McMaster University and Pediatrics Residency at Western University, and has completed specialty training in child and youth mental health. He was the Clinical Lead for Behaviour and Mental Health with the Orillia Pediatrics Teaching Associates, and was a member of the Department of Pediatrics at Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital for many years. He is also a member of the Central Ontario Regional Ontario Health Team for Specialized Populations and has been involved in regional planning and clinical innovation for children and youth mental health care.
“Perhaps now more than ever, young people and their families need timely support for early intervention and prevention to give hope for the brightest possible future,” says Carol Lambie, Waypoint president and CEO. “In this new reality, we are also focusing on collaboration with primary care physicians, and community and acute care partners, as well as championing the adoption of technology such as tele-mental health care.
"Drs. Meeder and Mehra will be an important addition to our team to help us strengthen these areas and will play a key role in enabling better care integration with health care partners and providers.”
Dr. Meeder has been working from Waypoint’s Outpatient Program at the Community Health Hub since February 2020 and is currently providing his mental health clinic services virtually. Dr. Mehra is relocating to the area and will begin his duties later this fall.
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