Southlake announces next president and CEO

NEWMARKET, Ont. – After completing a comprehensive national search and local recruitment consultation effort, the Board of Directors of Southlake Regional Health Centre is pleased to announce Dr. Paul Woods (pictured) as the next president & CEO.

An internationally recognized expert in integrated care, Dr. Woods is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of experience focused on clinical excellence, frontline staff and physician engagement, organizational culture, and team wellness.

“The Board and I are beyond thrilled to have found someone of Paul’s calibre to help us fulfill the hospital’s growth plans to meet our communities’ needs,” said Marilee Harris, Board Chair.

Paul attended Huron Heights Secondary School in Newmarket and medical school at Western University. A primary care physician, he’s practiced in rural and urban locations in Canada, and as a flight surgeon with the Canadian Armed Forces.

“It is an honour to be chosen to work alongside the talented and dedicated team at Southlake to help deliver leading edge care,” said Dr. Woods. “I am humbled by the opportunity to contribute to the organization’s esteemed history having watched Southlake evolve from York County Hospital into the world-renowned institution it is today while growing up in Newmarket.”

Paul has held numerous leadership roles in various healthcare settings across North America, including at London Health Sciences Centre, Alberta Health Services, the University of Calgary’s Department of Family Medicine, as well as Trinity Health (a large not-for-profit health system in the Midwestern United States).

“Paul’s leadership was instrumental in opening Ontario’s first publicly owned ambulatory surgery centre and achieving exemplary standing with Accreditation Canada,” said Marilee Harris. “His visionary thinking and collaborative approach is exactly what our organization needs to overcome the challenges facing Ontario’s healthcare system.”

Dr. Paul Woods will begin his tenure at Southlake on January 3, 2024.