People

Dr. Hartley Stern to lead the Jewish General

MONTREAL – Dr. Hartley Stern (pictured) has been appointed the new Executive Director of the Jewish General Hospital. The appointment became effective March 10, 2008. Dr. Stern was previously the vice-president and head of the Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Centre.

“The timing was good in that many of the major projects that I have been working on in Ottawa are starting to bear fruit,” Dr. Stern said earlier this year, in an article in the Ottawa Citizen.

Dr. Stern came to Ottawa from Toronto in 1994 as the surgeon-in-chief at the Ottawa Civic Hospital and chairman of the department of surgery. In 2000, he was named the CEO of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, which was later absorbed by the Ottawa Hospital.

Dr. Stern, whose clinical focus is on colorectal cancer, said that during his time in Ottawa, he tried his best to set very high standards in care. “Probably the most important thing in my time is the development of the new cancer centre,” he commented. “I’m very proud of convincing the government that our region needed more capacity.”

In an open letter on the Jewish General’s web site, Dr. Stern says, “I have accepted the honour of becoming the new Executive Director of the Jewish General Hospital with great humility and excitement. The humility stems from the knowledge of the outstanding leadership that previous Executive Directors have given the hospital over many years, in particular that of Henri Elbaz. Their accomplishments are evident in the impressive and dynamic growth in quality people, in new programs, and in the expanding physical plant.

“The excitement arises because I know these achievements are the result of a team effort. Without the vigorous participation and leadership of the physicians, nurses, allied health staff, volunteers, donors, and administrative staff, nothing this great could have been accomplished – and these people are still here as the core and heart of the hospital. Moreover the unique commitment of the Board of Directors, the Foundation and the Jewish community at large is unsurpassed by any academic health sciences centre that I have come across.”

“The JGH stands for excellence, is a partner with McGill University that stands for excellence, and resides in one of the most beautiful and interesting cities imaginable.”