Executive
Kenneth (Ken) Baird George Butt Ron Johnson Debbie Molloy Lynette Oates Judy O'Keefe Collette Smith Elaine Warren
Kenneth (Ken) Baird
Kenneth (Ken) Baird is a senior health leader with over 35 years of progressive experience within the Canadian health system, having worked in Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Ken is a registered X-ray technologist by clinical profession, obtaining his Diploma of X-ray Technology through the Cabot Institute / St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital in 1980. Following seven years of clinical work in Alberta, Ken returned to Newfoundland and Labrador in 1987 to begin his health management career in Marystown as part of the commissioning team for the Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre. Since that time, Ken has held various senior positions including Vice President Diagnostic Therapeutic and Facility Supports for Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation in Saint John, New Brunswick, and Vice President Person-Centered Care with the Capital District Health Authority in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ken comes to Eastern Health from his most recent position as provincial lead of a transformation initiative throughout Nova Scotia for diagnostic imaging and laboratory medicine services. Ken holds a Master’s in Business Administration, a Graduate Diploma in Management from Athabasca University, and a Certificate in Health Services Administration from the University of Saskatchewan. Ken is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) and an EXTRA Fellow with the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation.
George Butt
George Butt has held a number of senior executive positions in the health system for the past 27 years. As Vice President – Corporate Services for Eastern Health, he has had responsibility for Finance and Budgeting as well as other portfolios including Procurement, Infrastructure, Food Services, Environmental Services, Medical Device Reprocessing, among others. George previously served as the Chief Executive Officer for the Avalon Health Care Institutions Board, and has held positions with the provincial Comptroller General and Auditor General’s offices. He has served on a number of national Boards. George holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Memorial University, is a member of the Newfoundland Institute of Chartered Accountants, and is a Certified Health Executive.
Ron Johnson has over 20 years progressive career experience in health care in various management roles. As Vice President and Chief Information Officer with Eastern Health, Ron has had responsibility for various program areas including Healthcare Technology and Data Management, Health Information Services, Access to and Security of Information, Clinical Engineering, Telecommunications, Capital Equipment Planning and Budgeting, Decision Support and Strategic Planning for Eastern Health. Ron previously held the position of Director of Materials and Biomedical Equipment Support at Eastern Health and was responsible for Supply Chain Management and Biomedical Engineering.
Ron holds a Diploma of Technology from College of the North Atlantic, a Bachelor of Technology and a Master of Employment Relations from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He has also completed diplomas in Health Service Management and Modern Management from the Canadian Healthcare Association. Ron is certified in Change Management and holds the professional designations of Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Health Executive (CHE). In addition, Ron is also a sessional instructor at the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland teaching courses in both the Bachelor of Technology and Masters of Technology Management programs.
Debbie Molloy is a human resources professional with 20 years of experience in the health care, energy and hospitality industries. She has worked in both the public and private sectors and brings a broad understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing health care. Her career path has allowed her to develop expertise in the areas of organizational effectiveness, talent management and employee relations. At Eastern Health, Debbie has had executive responsibility for a number of programs including, among others, Human Resources, Quality, Patient Safety and Risk Management, Infection Prevention and Control, and Occupational Health & Safety and Rehabilitation. Debbie holds both a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-operative) and Masters of Education (post-secondary studies) from Memorial University.
Lynette Oates
Lynette Oates has worked for approximately 20 years in communications positions with both federal and provincial governments and agencies. In 2012, she joined Eastern Health as the Director of Public Relations, and in 2014, she assumed responsibility for both internal and external communications as the health authority's Director of Corporate Communications. Currently, she is the Chief Communications Officer on Eastern Health’s executive team and has executive responsibility for strategic communications planning, public relations, employee communications, issues management, digital communications, graphic design services, among other areas.
Judy O'Keefe
Collette Smith
Collette Smith has held progressively more responsible leadership roles within Eastern Health over the years. She is currently a Vice President of clinical services and as such has had overall responsibility for various clinical programs including Medicine, Surgery, Perioperative, Cardiac and Critical Care, Clinical Efficiency, among others. Previously, she held a number of director-level positions at Eastern Health including the Director of Integrated Health Services for Clarenville/Bonavista; Regional Director of Employee Services; and Regional Director of the Medicine Program.
Collette holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Centre for Graduate Studies in Flint Michigan; a Bachelor of Science-Health Arts degree from the University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL; and a Diploma of Nursing from St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. She has also completed Eastern Health's Learning Leaders' Executive Stream.
Elaine Warren
Since starting with Eastern Health in 1981, Elaine Warren has held progressively more responsible leadership roles including having held several positions in senior management. She has been the Director of Critical Care, the Director of Surgical Services and, most recently, the Director of the Provincial Cancer Care Program. As Vice President of Clinical Services, she is responsible for various programs including Mental Health and Addictions, Children and Women’s Health, Emergency and Ambulatory Care, Provincial Cancer Care Program, Professional Practice and Research.
Elaine is a registered nurse by profession, having completed a Diploma in Nursing, as well as Bachelor and Master degrees in Nursing from Memorial University. She also completed a Fellowship in the Executive Training for Research Application Program offered by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation. Elaine is the President Elect of the Association of Registered Nurses for Newfoundland and Labrador and holds a Professional Associate position with the Memorial University School of Nursing.