NYGH leader, Karyn Popovich, announces her retirement

TORONTO – NYGH’s president & CEO, Karyn Popovich (pictured) has informed the Board of Governors that, after a distinguished 40-plus year career as a health system leader, teacher, mentor, and accomplished nurse, she will be retiring. With the worst of the pandemic behind us and NYGH gearing up for an exciting period of growth and innovation, it is the right time for a new leader to take NYGH into the future. Karyn will continue to lead NYGH until a new president and CEO is on board, which is anticipated to be mid-fall 2023.

Karyn has been a pillar of the NYGH community for most of its history and a driving force behind many of its most celebrated accomplishments. There is no question she leaves an indelible mark on NYGH’s cherished culture of collaboration, compassion, quality and people-centred care. In 2022, Karyn received a Long-Service Award for her 40-years of service at NYGH, and that same year, Karyn received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee medal in recognition of her contribution to the community and impact on patient care.

Karyn started her journey with NYGH as a registered nurse in orthopaedic surgery, later moving to the emergency services program where she spent the next 20 years. Her vice president roles spanned 11 years and all clinical programs, including the quality portfolio and oversight of our long-term care home, the Seniors’ Health Centre. She also proudly served as the chief nursing executive during this time.

With Karyn’s leadership as a practicing nurse, senior executive, and president and CEO, NYGH has consistently strived to put people at the centre of everything. NYGH has won numerous provincial, national, and international awards and recognitions for quality, wait times and patient safety, including being ranked Canada’s top community hospital by Newsweek Magazine for the last five years. Karyn‘s collaborative leadership style has been invaluable as NYGH expands our partnerships through the North York Toronto Health Partners and with other hospitals and community agencies to create a more connected and equitable care experience for the people we serve.

Karyn led NYGH through the pandemic with clarity and confidence. During that time, NYGH continued to advance people-centred care and is now well-positioned for the most ambitious modernization and expansion since opening in 1968. Over the next decade, NYGH will build a ground-breaking New Patient Care Tower at the General site and begin construction of our new leading-practice long-term care home this year.

Karyn is committed to ensuring a smooth leadership transition, working with our strong leadership team, and will stay with NYGH until the new president and CEO is in place.