Cathy Ulrich, President and Chief Executive Officer
Cathy has held this position since 2007. From 2002 to 2007, Cathy was the Vice President, Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer for Northern Health. Before the formation of Northern Health, she worked in a variety of nursing and management positions in Northern British Columbia, Manitoba, and Alberta.
Most of her career has been in rural and northern communities where she has gained a solid understanding of the unique health needs of rural communities. Cathy has a nursing degree from the University of Alberta and a master’s degree in community health sciences from the University of Northern BC (UNBC).
She has been the recipient of the Public Health Association of BC President’s Award, the College of Registered Nurses Award of Excellence in Nursing Administration, and the UNBC Alumni of the Year Award. She is also a Fellow in the Wharton Nurse Executive Program. She is currently an adjunct professor in UNBC’s Nursing and Community Health Sciences Programs and serves on the board of the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.
Mark De Croos, Vice President, Financial and Corporate Services/Chief Financial Officer
Mark was appointed to his current position in July 2010, bringing proven success in strengthening and leading organizational finance and decision support. He oversees financial operations for Northern Health and is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating the organization’s fiscal performance and ensuring its long-term financial sustainability.
Mark joined Northern Health in October 2009 as Executive Director in the finance department, having previously spent 11 years with Peace Country Health in Northern Alberta. During that time, he held progressively more responsible positions, ultimately serving in the role of Executive Director, Finance.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta and is a certified general accountant.
Jane Lindstrom, Vice President, Human Resources
Jane Lindstrom came to Northern Health from Regina in September 2007 as the Vice President of Human Resources. In July 2010, her portfolio was expanded to include Corporate Services, which includes Capital Planning, Support Services and Business Development. She has held progressively senior positions in human resources and operations leadership since 1980, including three years in Regina and 24 years on Vancouver Island.
Jane’s education culminated in the completion of a Master of Arts in leadership and training at Royal Roads University. She is also a certified human resources professional and a member of the BC Human Resources Management Association.
Jane has held various provincial board appointments, including serving on the Occupational Health and Safety Agency for Healthcare in BC and the Municipal Superannuation Board. While in Saskatchewan, she was also a member of the Board of the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology. Jane has additional board experience at a local level, including Wisteria House Society (on Vancouver Island), the United Way and the BC Paraplegic Association.
Fraser Bell, Vice President, Planning and Quality
Fraser is responsible for strategic and operational planning as well as quality monitoring and support of improvement processes, information management and information technology.
Fraser holds an MBA with a focus on health services management from McMaster University. During his more than 18 years in health service management, he has held progressively more senior positions in health management consulting (PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM), government (Ontario Ministry of Health, Huron Perth District Health Council) and health operations.
Before starting his current role, Fraser was Northern Health’s Health Services Administrator for the community of Quesnel. During his consulting career, Fraser was exposed to the health systems of New Zealand, Australia, and several Canadian provinces.
Suzanne Johnston, Vice President, Clinical Programs, and Chief Nursing Officer
Suzanne has more than 25 years of leadership experience in health care and government. Before taking on her current role, Suzanne was Chief Operating Officer for Northern Health’s northwest region.
Suzanne obtained both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing from the University of New Brunswick and completed her doctoral studies at the University of Arizona. Her research interests are the role of technology in delivering health promotion education and exploring the experiences of mothers as they parent adolescent children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Suzanne has a special interest in leadership development and is experienced as a facilitator in this area; she has volunteered with United Way agencies to help build leadership capacity for non-profit boards. In her spare time, Suzanne loves to spend time outdoors with her husband and her two golden retrievers, Pirate and Guinness.
Dr. Ronald Chapman, Vice President, Medicine; Regional Director, Northern Cancer Control Strategy
Originally from South Africa, Dr. Chapman came to Canada in April 2007 bringing extensive experience in the health and public sectors to his leadership role. Beginning in 2007, Dr. Chapman held the position of Regional Director for the Northern Cancer Control Program, which was a dual appointment to both Northern Health and the BC Cancer Agency. In September 2009, Dr. Chapman shared the role of Chief Medical Health Officer for Northern Health and in July 2011 became the sole holder of the title. In March 2013 Dr. Chapman moved into the role of Vice President, Medicine. Dr. Chapman’s previous work experience includes: Director of Community Health, Director of Planning and Support, Senior Manager for Health programs, Executive Manager for Health Support, and Acting Chief Operating Officer in the Department of Health of the Free State, South Africa.
Dr. Chapman has full registration as a Community Medicine Specialist with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, and has successfully completed both the Licentiate of Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) and Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada Fellowship exams.
Dr. David Bowering, Chief Medical Health Officer; Northwest Medical Health Officer
Dr. Bowering is currently the Chief Medical Health Officer and Northwest Medical Health Officer for Northern Health. He graduated with an MD from the University of British Columbia in 1970 and worked as a family practitioner in northern British Columbia and the Yukon until 1984. In 1987 he obtained a Master of Health Science Degree from UBC and has worked as a Community Physician since then.
His public health experience includes work as a field epidemiologist for the Canadian Federal Government, postings as a Medical Officer of Health in northwestern B.C., the North Okanagan, and northeastern B.C. and as Chief Medical Health Officer for Northern Health.
Dr. Bowering has received a World Health Organization Travel Fellowship to study the delivery of rural health services in Scotland. He also traveled to China and Australia to learn about other approaches to health promotion and primary health care.
He has a strong interest in health promotion and has overseen projects related to teenage smoking and substance abuse, preventing road traffic injuries, men's health and the prevention of childhood injuries, all of which have emphasized the process of engaging with the "target" populations.
Michael A Leisinger, Regional Director, Board and Administration Services; Chief Privacy Officer
Michael has more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in health care and government. With Northern Health since 1984, Michael has held a variety of positions, with responsibilities spanning the health care continuum. Michael’s experience includes working as the CEO of Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace and the Fort Nelson General Hospital.
Michael obtained an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario; an MBA from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario; and an MSc in community health sciences from the University of Northern British Columbia, where he is also an adjunct professor in the School of Health Sciences.
Steve Raper, Director of Communications
Steve has worked in communications for nearly 10 years, including leading communication departments in two organizations and managing marketing, communications, advertising, web and media relations activities. He has also worked as a part-time college instructor, teaching marketing and organizational behaviour at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George.
Steve has a business diploma from the College of New Caledonia, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern British Columbia, and a master’s degree in business administration from Royal Roads University.
In his spare time, Steve volunteers on a number of boards, including those of Canadian Blood Services, Pacific Sport Northern BC, Canadian Sport Centre Pacific, and the Prince George Youth Soccer Association. In addition, Steve enjoys camping, spending time with his family, and coaching his children’s soccer teams.
Betty Morris, Chief Operating Officer, Northeast Health Service Delivery Area
After working in senior leadership roles for several years, Betty McCracken Morris took on her current position in September 2008. Before joining Northern Health, her positions included Vice President of Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer for Bluewater Health in Sarnia, Ontario, Vice President of Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer at St. Mary’s Hospital in New Westminster, BC and Chief Nursing Officer at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Vancouver, BC.
Her clinical background as a registered nurse includes both tertiary and community hospital services in maternal/infant/child services. Betty has also worked as a consultant in BC, Ontario, Manitoba, and PEI on several capital development projects. With a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s of science health services administration, Betty is also a certified health executive with the Canadian College of Health Service Executives and is a former board member of its southwest Ontario chapter.
Penny Anguish, Chief Operating Officer, Northwest Health Service Delivery Area
With many years of clinical and management experience across health care sectors in both northern Ontario and British Columbia, Penny returned to the northwest to assume the Chief Operating Officer role in 2012. Before returning to Northern Health, Penny's positions included Decision Support and then Vice President, Complex Care & Physical Rehabilitation and Chief Nursing Officer with St. Joseph’s Care Group in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Penny holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing from the University of Victoria and a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University. She also completed an Advanced Health Care Leadership Program with University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. Penny brings a strong quality improvement focus to her team's work as they strive to provide accessible and high quality health services across the northwest that are consistent with the strategic priorities of Northern Health.
Michael McMillan, Chief Operating Officer, Northern Interior Health Service Delivery Area
Michael works to ensure the delivery of high-quality health care services in Northern Health’s most populous health service delivery area, which includes the city of Prince George and Northern Health’s largest hospital, the University Hospital of Northern BC. Michael has a B.Sc. in pharmaceutical sciences and an MBA, both from the University of BC. In 1984 Michael joined VGH as a pharmacist, moving to PAH in 1986 as Chief Pharmacist. In 1998 Michael came to PGRH (now called UHNBC) and in 2003, he took on his current role as Chief Operating Officer for the Northern Interior HSDA.
Michael serves on the board of the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre and the advisory board for the development of the Executive MBA in Health at the Sauder School of Business. He has been an active soccer coach, and is a past Volunteer of the Year with PGYSA. He is an active member of the Canadian Ski Patrol System, plays both soccer and hockey and has completed a number of half-marathons.