Program for Early Career Health Leaders

Dr. Joy Richards

Experienced Health Executive

Mentor, Vernissage Health

Dr. Richards is an experienced health care executive and mentor. Recently retired, Dr. Richards was the former Vice-President Patient Experience and Chief of Health Professions at UHN, and most recently VP Health Education Development & Executive-in-Residence at the Michener Institute. Dr. Richards is a Past-President of the Academy of Canadian Executive Nurses (ACEN) and holds academic appointments at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Nursing, and York University Faculty of Nursing. Dr. Richards graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Nursing. She went on to complete a Master of Arts in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara California. Her dissertation focused on exploring and understanding the development and practice of feminine courage in leadership. Dr. Richards has received numerous awards and honours, including becoming a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing as a Fellow (FAAN).

Jake Tran

Ph. Dc., MSc-CH, AHLP, IIWCC 

President and CEO

Toronto Grace Hospital

Jake Tran is the President & CEO at the Toronto Grace Health Centre since 2018.  Jake brings over 23 years of experience as a clinical respiratory therapist in acute care and community settings.  He has experience in complex continuing care, transitional care, wound care, respiratory care, and mental health programs.

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Jake holds a Master’s Degree in Science in Community Health from the University of Toronto.  He completed his Advanced Health Leadership Program and International Interprofesional Wound Care from the University of Toronto and is a Ph.D. Candidate from Queens University with interests in Wound Prevention/Care and “successful aging”.

He enjoys many outdoor activities with a keen interest in road-cycling. The longest distance travelled in one-day was 250km—From Markham to Orillia to Barrie to New Market to Markham.  Total hrs on the bike 10 hrs.

Brian Schwartz, MD, MScCH

Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Decpartment of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto

Brian is Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine and Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. From 2009 to 2022 he served in leadership roles at Public Health Ontario, first as PHO’s inaugural Director of Emergency Management Support and later as Vice-President, Science and Population Health.

From 2004 to 2011 Brian served as Scientific Advisor to the Emergency Management Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. He was Vice-Chair of the Ontario SARS Scientific Advisory Committee in 2003, chaired the H1N1 pandemic Ontario Scientific Response Team in 2009 and served as Co-Chair of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table from 2020 to 2022.

Before entering public health Brian practiced emergency medicine for over 30 years in community and academic settings and was Chief of Emergency Services at a community hospital. He held the position of Director of the Sunnybrook Centre for Prehospital Care from 1996 to 2009.  He has educated students, residents and health professionals and published extensively on public health emergency preparedness and response, paramedic care in the prehospital setting, and the intersection of clinical care and public health. [BS1] Brian has received numerous national and international medical leadership awards including most recently the 2023 University of Toronto President’s Impact Award on behalf of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table.

Wendy Nelson

Founder and Project Lead, Vernissage Health
Senior Fellow, IHPME

As a experienced executive and mentor, Wendy is founder of Vernissage Health - a leadership development initiative based at IHPME that connects emerging and established leaders together in dialogue about leadership in health. The aim is to develop emerging leaders with the skills and insights to successfully lead positive change in Canada's health system. As a Senior Fellow within IHPME, Wendy's work with Vernissage Health garnered her receipt of the Arbor Award in 2018 for outstanding service to the University of Toronto.

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Bringing deep experience, Wendy has served as a senior executive in a broad range of settings in the private and public sectors including North York General Hospital in Toronto, Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga, St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton, Rx Canada and the Ontario Public Service.

Wendy is one of a handful of Canadians who are alumni of the Leadership Academy offered through Parker Palmer's Centre for Courage and Renewal in Washington. She is also a graduate of McGill University's International Masters of Health Leadership, a global leadership development initiative.

Dr. Isser Dubinsky, B.Sc., MD, CCFP (EM)

Vernissage Health Co-Lead
Senior Fellow, IHPME
 

Dr. Dubinsky is an Adjunct Professor and Senior Fellow with the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation (IHPME)  Dr. Dubinsky served as an Associate Director of Hay Group Health Care Consulting from 2004-2016.  Prior to that time, he served as Chief of the Department of Emergency Medicine at University Health Network and Chief of Emergency Medicine at North York General Hospital, one of Canada’s busiest emergency departments.  During his tenure as Chief of Emergency Medicine, Isser served on the Medical Advisory Committees, Board and Hospital Executives at both hospitals. 

Dr. Dubinsky is an honours graduate from U of T’s medical program (1975). Following graduation from medical school he had a range of experiences from performing mission work in rural hospitals in Africa to working in small community hospitals in Canada.