Dean Forster

Extensive experience and leadership within the health and disability management realm. Worked entire career performing health, wellness, and disability management functions, providing a wide range of interventions and assessments across a wide variety of working environments and industries for the past 25 years. Worked extensively with insurers, including WCB, LTD insurers, and Auto insurers and collaborated with all key stakeholders in the process.

Working in a variety of roles from a service provider and consultant to many years as a manager, gained a well-rounded perspective of the disability management process. Possesses meticulous regard for detail and accuracy and can lead teams and make decisions in fast-paced, unpredictable and stressful environments. Eager to learn and continue to grow professionally.

Manager, Functional Specialties at Shared Health Manitoba (2022-01 – Present)

Provincial HR Shared Services

• Manage teams of employees providing Benefits, HR Information Systems, and Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health to health care employees throughout Manitoba
• Implementation and Configuration of HR Systems as per Collective Agreements
• Provision of Injury Near Miss intake services and administration
• Lead transition of Benefits administration

Manager, Occupational Safety & Health at Southern Health-Sante Sud (2018-09 – 2022-01)

• Oversight of all aspects of Occupational Safety & Health program including Disability Management, Injury Near Miss intake, WCB reporting and claims management, and Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention program
• Lead and manage ergonomic assessment program
• Liaise with Senior Leadership to develop Occupational Safety and Health programming and report on metrics
• Work within a multi-union environment to meet Collective Agreement provisions

Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention (MSIP) Education Facilitator at Southern Health-Sante Sud (2014-06 – 2018-09)

• Develop injury prevention strategies and training materials
• Delivery of Training seminars and Educational sessions to employees
• Provision of Ergonomic Assessments
• Development of Safe Work Procedures for compliance with Health and Safety legislation
• Liaise with Disability Case Coordinators to ensure employee safety

Occupational Therapist/President at Resolve OT Consultants (2002 – Present)

• Hired, trained and developed staff consultants
• Responsible for all operations including supervision of staff, marketing, program quality assurance, service delivery, and performance
• Assessment services including Job Hazard Analysis, Post-Offer, Pre-Placement Testing, Ergonomic / Work Site Assessments, and Functional Capacity Evaluation
• Delivery of Health, Wellness, and Injury Prevention Seminars
• Return to Work Assessment, Coordination, and Program Development
• Disability Case Coordination
• Catastrophic Injury Case Management

Regional Manager, British Columbia at Northern Rehabilitation & Consulting Services Inc. (1999 – 2002-06)

• Assessment services including Functional Capacity Evaluation, Job Demands Analysis, Post-Offer, Pre-Placement Testing, Ergonomic and Work Site Assessments Disability Case Coordination
• Return to Work Assessment, Coordination, and Program Development
• Occupational Therapy Assessments
• Cost of Future Care Assessments
• Developed and established market share for the company in British Columbia
• Hired, trained and developed staff consultants
• Responsible for all regional operations including supervision of staff, marketing, program quality assurance, service delivery, performance

Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation in Occupational Therapy – School of Medical Rehabilitation, University of Manitoba

Certified Functional Assessment Specialist – Virginia Commonwealth University

Post-Offer, Pre-Placement Testing – Matheson & Associates

Health Services Leadership and Management Certificate – Red River Polytechnic