Special Edition: Appointment of Chief Operating Officer positions
On March 3, our board chair Kip Woodward, announced that I would be retiring next month and handing the responsibilities of President and Chief Executive Officer to my colleague Mary Ackenhusen.
I am delighted that Mary has been appointed as she not only brings outstanding experience and leadership to the role, but will ensure continuity given that she is already a member of our Senior Executive Team. While Mary does not officially become President and CEO until Monday, April 14 we have already discussed what needs to be done to support her transition and bring that same level of continuity to the Vancouver Community of Care when she departs her current position.
With that in mind, I am confirming the appointment of Vivian Eliopoulos and Laura Case to the VCH Senior Executive Team to take on responsibilities for the executive leadership of Vancouver Acute and Vancouver Community respectively.
As Chief Operating Officer – Vancouver Acute, Vivian will oversee the operations associated with VGH, UBC Hospital and GF Strong. She is currently Executive Director of Vancouver Acute so her familiarity, knowledge and extensive relationships within that sector position her well for this new executive position.
A registered nurse by profession, Vivian has enjoyed a 32 year career in Healthcare – 30 years of which have been within VCH. Key leadership roles during this time have spanned both clinical and corporate portfolios including Critical Care, ED, Trauma Services, and Clinical Information Systems. Vivian oversaw the significant improvement in ED wait times early on in her tenure at VA in 2010 as well as the successful implementation of the 3M award winning ICARE/Ideal Transitions Home work.
Laura is currently Executive Director for Vancouver Community and will bring her broad clinical and administrative background to the role of Chief Operating Officer – Vancouver Community. Again, her familiarity with the Vancouver Community sector and its many stakeholders is integral to this position.
With over 27 years of experience in healthcare, Laura began her career as a registered and psychiatric nurse working in Emergency, Mental Health & Addictions, Home and Community Care and Pediatrics. Laura came to VCH from Fraser Health in 2011 where she was the Regional Director of Patient Flow. Since that time, she has played leadership roles on initiatives such as the establishment of Tertiary Mental Health Programs in Vancouver (Willow Pavilion, Willow Chest and BC Psychosis); and the operational redesign of the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health & Addiction.
With these appointments, we remain committed to a full integration between acute and community services. “One Vancouver” is something Mary has worked hard to achieve over the past three years, and Vivian and Laura are equally committed to continuing this work with a single vision, strategic plan, performance metrics and culture. Both Vivian and Laura successfully served as Acting COOs for Acute and Community while Mary was serving as the Acting CFO for six months last year.
Vivian and Laura will, along with Mary, commence their new roles on Monday, April 14. I encourage you to congratulate them on accepting this challenge and on the exciting new opportunities that lie ahead.