Getting to know the new CEO
Mary Ackenhusen officially took office this week as President and CEO of Vancouver Coastal Health. Mary has taken the opportunity in this week’s VCH News to share some of her background, both personal and professional, and to open the door for discussion on how she can guide VCH in her new role.
Be sure to check Mary’s People in Profile, and Up for Discussion blog post.
About Mary
As President and Chief Executive Officer of Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), Mary Ackenhusen leads the largest academic and tertiary health authority in British Columbia.
A member of the VCH Senior Executive Team since 2007, Mary has distinguished her collaborative leadership style by fostering a patient-centred approach to care, innovation and the redesign of services to enhance quality and efficiency. She has served as the Chief Operating Officer – Coastal, as well as the Chief Operating Officer – Vancouver, leading the largest community of care within VCH. In 2013, she served as acting Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Systems Development and Performance.
Prior to joining VCH, Mary served on the Fraser Health Authority’s leadership team for almost a decade. She led Fraser Health’s facility planning and real estate, systems analysis and performance improvement, and new business development. In 1990, she became Director of Quality and Operations at INSEAD, an international business school based in Fontainebleau, France.
Mary is a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Master of Business Administration program and the West Virginia University’s Industrial Engineering masters and undergraduate programs. In 2013, she was named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network.
Lori Baker
Congratulations Mary! I certainly enjoyed your vision during your time at LGH. I look forward to seeing you take it on in an even bigger venue. Let’s make VCH a truly magnet organization where people look forward to coming to work every day. Certainly part of the way we can all help in that is to smile at one another while walking in the halls, (faces up from cell phones),thank and recognize our colleagues for jobs well done, and check in on them when times are rough. After 40 years as a Nurse I still love it!
Hope to see you in our halls sometime. Good luck in your new job, and make sure it doesn’t over consume your life. I can’t even imagine what it would be like.
Best
Lori
Dillon Adams
Mary, I am eager to see the changes ahead. I believe a clinical lens is important when making large-scale decisions about how services should be delivered in an effective, efficient, and equitable manner. My hope is that you will hear the voice of your front line and managing staff as we move forward.
R Smith
We look forward to your vision and direction…thank you.