Page 3 of 7: Interim coverage for Executive Vice President, Clinical Programs and Chief Medical Officer

As announced late last year, Dr. Thomas Parker, Executive Vice President, Clinical Programs, and Chief Medical Officer, will step down from his executive role on April 5, 2024. We are actively recruiting for his replacement and expect that this process will continue until well into the summer. As such, we have developed an interim coverage plan that will ensure leadership and clinical service delivery. This interim coverage plan, effective April 6, will be as follows:

Clinical Programs: Sonya Canzian, Executive Vice President, Clinical Programs, and Chief Nursing and Health Disciplines Officer will provide interim leadership for the Emergency, Renal, Medicine, Community and Strategic Partnerships clinical portfolio.

• Jonathan Fetros, Vice President Clinical, will report to Sonya on an interim basis.

Chief Medical Officer & Medical Affairs: Dr. Ori Rotstein, Vice President of Research and Innovation, will assume the additional interim role of Chief Medical Officer for Unity Health.

• Dr. Ashley Verduyn, Vice-President of Medical Affairs and Chief of Providence Healthcare, will report to Ori on an interim basis.
• Dr. Irfan Dhalla, Vice President, Clinical Programs, Quality, Equity and Medical Affairs will report to Ori on Medical Affairs, and to Dr. Tim Rutledge, President and CEO, for all other areas on an interim basis.

Access and Flow: Irfan will provide leadership for Access and Flow.

• Laurie Jenkins, Senior Director, Access and Transitions, will report to Irfan.

Clinical Ethics: Tim will provide interim leadership for the Clinical Ethics portfolio.

• Michael Szego, Senior Director, Centre for Clinical Ethics, will report to Tim on an interim basis.

Strategy and Integration: Tim will provide interim leadership to the Strategy and Partnerships portfolio.

• Tory Merritt, Director, Strategy and Partnerships, will report to Tim on an interim basis. 

Many thanks, once again, to Dr. Parker for his dedication and leadership. He has been a trusted advisor to the executive team, the Medical Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors and we value his efforts over the next few months as he supports the smooth transition to this interim coverage structure. Tom leaves a strong and lasting impact that will benefit patients and families we serve for years to come. Thanks also to all providing interim coverage.