Sheila Weatherill, the former head of the Capital Health Region, was one of five people named to the Alberta Health Services Board Friday. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)Alberta Health Services appointed five new members to its board Friday, including the former CEO of Edmonton's Capital Health, Sheila Weatherill.

Weatherill, the former head of Capital Health, received almost $3.5 million in severance when the provincial government eliminated health regions three years ago to create the provincial health board.

The appointments also include Ray Block, former president and chief executive of the Alberta Mental Health Board, cardiologist Ruth Collins-Nakai, Don Johnson, a Taber town councillor, and Eldon Smith, emeritus professor of medicine at the University of Calgary.

The four of five of the appointments were made to fill gaps left by board members who resigned following the controversial firing of Stephen Duckett.

Health and Wellness Minister Gene Zwozdesky said Weatherill's severance should not be an issue now, as she will only be paid $1 a year for serving on the board.

"The fact that Sheila has volunteered to work as a board member basically for free is a tremendous statement of the woman's character," he said.

The appointments were necessary after four board members resigned after Duckett was fired as the health services CEO late last year. Many of those who stepped down accused Zwozdesky of interfering in that decision.

Duckett's termination came less than a week after he refused to talk to reporters about a meeting on the province's ER crisis because he claimed he was too busy eating a cookie.

Video of Duckett's exchange with reporters was viewed more than 100,000 times on YouTube.