The Royal appoints Joanne Bezzubetz as new president, CEO

(Via The Royal)

OTTAWA, ON, June 22, 2018 – The Board of Trustees of The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group has selected Joanne Bezzubetz PhD as the new President and CEO of The Royal.  Bezzubetz, who is currently the Vice-President of Patient Care Services at The Royal, will assume her new leadership role at the end of July, 2018.

“Joanne has demonstrated unmistakable commitment to bettering the lives of people living with mental illness and ensuring collaboration within the mental health system to provide patients and families with the support they need, when they need it,” said Scott McLean, Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Royal.

Bezzubetz will replace George Weber who asked the Board of Trustees to commence the selection process for his successor last October.

Over the past ten years, under Weber’s leadership and with Bezzubetz as part of the senior management team, The Royal has evolved into one of Canada’s foremost mental health care, teaching and research hospitals. As the new CEO, she will build on this momentum with a strong focus on accessing community-based care, outreach and consultation services, and strengthening partnerships that can help improve quality and flow of care throughout the mental health system.

“We are excited about the energy, enthusiasm, and wisdom that Joanne will bring to her role of President and CEO at The Royal, and confident that she will not only ensure that the advances The Royal has made under the leadership of George Weber will be sustained but also that new opportunities will be explored to support The Royal’s mission of delivering excellence in specialized mental health care, advocacy, research and education,” said McLean.

Bezzubetz has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership with organizations across Canada.  She served as Executive Director of Community Services at Vancouver Coastal Health before joining The Royal in 2013. Most recently, she was named Co-Chair of Ottawa’s Community Suicide Prevention Network.

Bezzubetz holds a PhD in Applied Management and Decision Sciences from Walden University, an MBA from Athabasca University and is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Service Executives.