Sept. 29, 2021
Today we’re announcing the new Chair and Vice-Chair of Healthcare Excellence Canada’s Board of Directors, as well as five new Directors. Our volunteer Board of Directors is a committed group of 14 leaders who are passionate about improving healthcare, with – and for – everyone in Canada.
The Chair, Vice-Chair and new Directors were elected at the inaugural annual general meeting Sept. 29, 2021. The Board of Directors has successfully overseen the amalgamation of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute and Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement into Healthcare Excellence Canada.
The new Chair and Vice-Chair are:
Erik Sande (Chair), President of Medavie Health Services
Blair O’Neill (Vice-Chair), practising cardiologist with Alberta Health Services and professor of medicine with University of Alberta
Five new Directors have also joined the Board:
Feisal Keshavjee (Director), Senior Vice President, Health Partnerships & Transformation, Home Health Services, CBI Health
Jane McMullan (Director), Former Health Industry Executive and Past Board Chair, William Osler Health System
David Price (Director), health system improvement & patient safety champion and Co-founder of Greg’s Wings
Ian Rongve (Director), Assistant Deputy Minister, COVID Response & Health Emergency Management Division, Ministry of Health, Government of British Columbia
Jocelyne (Jo) Voisin (Director), Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch, Health Canada
"By teaming up to form Healthcare Excellence Canada, we have created greater capacity to support our partners to turn proven innovations into lasting improvement in healthcare quality and safety," notes Erik Sande, Chair, Board of Directors. "It is my pleasure to welcome to the new Directors joining our Board from across the country and to thank our parting colleagues for building the foundation to deliver on this promise."
The Board also took this opportunity to thank departing Directors, including HEC’s inaugural Co-Chairs, for their tireless contributions to successfully healthcare quality and safety, as well as uniting CPSI and CFHI:
Ronald Guse (Co-Chair): Former Registrar, The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba
Lynn Stevenson (Co-Chair): Former Associate Deputy Minister, Health Services, British Columbia Ministry of Health
Marcel Saulnier (Director) Former Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch, Health Canada
Dean Screpnek, Former Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Standards, Quality and Performance, Alberta Heath
"Right now, healthcare systems are responding to the challenges and uncertainties of the pandemic with tremendous innovation and we have an opportunity to expand the reach of proven approaches so more people can benefit,” says Jennifer Zelmer, President and CEO. "Thanks to the hard work of our Board, staff and people across the country, we’re poised to share our new five-year strategy and I’m optimistic about what we can achieve together."
On October 13, join us to learn more about Healthcare Excellence Canada’s new strategy focused on shaping a future where everyone in Canada has safe and high-quality healthcare.
About Healthcare Excellence Canada
Healthcare Excellence Canada is an organization with a relentless focus on improving healthcare, with – and for – everyone in Canada. Launched in March 2021 from the amalgamation of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute and the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement, Healthcare Excellence Canada has greater capacity to support partners to turn proven innovations into widespread and lasting improvement in patient safety and all the dimensions of healthcare excellence. We believe in the power of people and evidence and know that by connecting them, we can achieve the best healthcare in the world. HEC is an independent, not-for-profit charity funded primarily by Health Canada.
The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.
