MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
January 19, 2010
Ending 41-year distinguished career in health care December 2010
(LONDON, Ontario) – After what will be a 41-year career serving the health-care system in Canada, Cliff Nordal, shared President and CEO of London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph’s Health Care, London (St. Joseph’s), announced today his plans to retire effective January 1, 2011.
Since 2006, Nordal has served in the unique role of shared CEO for both London hospitals. This innovative role was established to ensure both hospitals continued to work closely together to complete hospital restructuring in London while maintaining London’s status as a premiere academic hospital system.
“Cliff Nordal has provided outstanding leadership to the London health-care system. The second major phase of hospital restructuring has been designed, funded and is well underway to completion, including the plans for the closure of South Street,” says Bob Siskind, board chair of London Health Sciences Centre. “For LHSC, Cliff has provided exemplary leadership, creating a stable platform for the future. I am delighted that he will be working with us over the coming months as we prepare for new leadership. On behalf of the board I want to extend our profound gratitude for his service and our best wishes for his retirement.”
Nordal first came to London 12 years ago as President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Care, London where he immediately began to lead the organization through significant changes in St. Joseph’s roles and services, including the mergers of the former London and St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospitals with St. Joseph’s and the recreation of St. Joseph’s Hospital.
“Cliff has been the change agent our hospital system needed during more than a decade of rebuilding and renewal,” states Dr. Gerry Killan, chair of the board of St. Joseph’s. “He has enabled St. Joseph’s to embrace new roles while upholding the organization’s roots of faith and service. He is a steadying force and a leader of great integrity, advocating for not only our hospitals but for the health care and academic system as a whole. We have been blessed with his dedication to excellent, compassionate care.”
"It is with mixed emotions that I make this announcement today. I am very grateful for the unique opportunities I have had to contribute and provide leadership to health care in London,” says Nordal. “I am especially grateful to the staff, physicians and volunteers of both London hospitals for their dedication and commitment to the patients they serve each and every day. I want to extend my appreciation to the entire London community who take great pride in their hospitals and provide unwavering support to these two great institutions.”
For 28 of his 41-year leadership career in health care, Nordal has held four hospital CEO positions, making him the longest serving hospital CEO in Ontario today. Before coming to London, Nordal was CEO at Rehabilitation Institute of Toronto and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Collaboration and integration have been hallmarks of Nordal’s career. In London, he has led the creation of the most integrated system of hospital care in Ontario. Integration at both the administrative and clinical levels has enhanced the patient care experience for London patients resulting in improved handoffs between care giving organizations, reduced duplication of tests, consolidation of clinical programs, vastly improved facilities and integrated health information systems, including a diagnostic imaging system that spans Southwestern Ontario.
Nordal is a highly respected leader across the province and nation. He is a past
Chair of the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario, the Canadian College of Health Services Executives and the Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan. He has provided leadership to a number of national and provincial initiatives and boards, including the Catholic Health Association of Ontario, the divestment of provincial psychiatric hospitals and quality in health care, hospital planning, hospital funding and strategic planning.
“Although I will miss the hospitals and our work together, I look forward to a new phase in my life which will enable me to spend more time with my wife, Patty and my family, pursue travel and explore my hobbies and interests, including continuing to advocate for Canada’s health-care system,” adds Nordal. “However, there is still much to do in the coming year and I look forward to very productive work with our boards, leadership teams and our community partners.”
“Cliff will be difficult to replace,” says Killan. “He has graciously provided ample notice, affording the time needed to recruit and ensure a smooth transition. We also appreciate that Cliff has offered to provide the boards with his full support and counsel as we prepare for the future beyond the restructuring journey he has so ably led.”
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About London Health Sciences Centre
London Health Sciences Centre has been in the forefront of medicine in Canada for 135 years and offers the broadest range of specialized clinical services in Ontario. Building on the traditions of its founding hospitals to provide compassionate care in an academic teaching setting, London Health Sciences Centre is home to Children’s Hospital, South Street Hospital, University Hospital, Victoria Hospital, two family medical centres, and Lawson Health Research Institute - a joint research initiative with St Joseph’s Health Care, London. As a leader in medical discovery and health research, London Health Sciences Centre has a history of over 30 international and national firsts and attracts top clinicians and researchers from around the world. As a regional referral centre, London Health Sciences Centre cares for the most medically complex patients including critically injured adults and children in Southwestern Ontario and beyond. The hospital’s 10,000 staff, physicians, students and volunteers provide care for more than one million patient visits a year. For more information visit www.lhsc.on.ca
About St. Joseph’s Health Care London
St. Joseph’s Health Care, London is a major patient care, teaching and research centre with a distinguished legacy of service to London, Southwestern Ontario and the veterans of Canada, dating back more than 130 years. St. Joseph’s five key role areas include acute/ambulatory care, complex care and veterans care, long-term care, rehabilitation and specialized geriatrics and specialized mental health care. Facilities and services including St. Joseph’s Hospital, Parkwood Hospital, Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care and Regional Mental Health Care London and St. Thomas are part of the St. Joseph’s family. Our research arm, the Lawson Health Research Institute, continues to direct their research to the development of new knowledge that is continually being applied directly to patient care. More than 400,000 patients annually receive care from close to 6,000 physicians and staff at St. Joseph’s. St. Joseph’s is affiliated with the University of Western Ontario
For more information, please contact:
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Cory Habermehl Corporate Communications and Public Relations London Health Sciences Centre 519-685-8500 ext 58738 After 4:00pm call (519) 685-8500 |
Amanda Jackman Communication and Public Affairs St. Joseph’s Health Care, London 519-646-6100 ext 47155 After 4:00pm call (519) 646-6100 |
Clifford A. Nordal - Backgrounder
Cliff Nordal is the President and Chief Executive Officer of London Health Sciences Centre and President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Joseph’s Health Care, London, holding both positions since 2006.
Cliff came to London in April, 1998 where, as the new President and CEO of St. Joseph’s, he led the organization through significant changes to St. Joseph’s roles and services, including the mergers of the former London and St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospitals (now known as Regional Mental Health Care, London and St. Thomas) with St. Joseph’s and the recreation of St. Joseph’s Hospital.
In January, 2006, Cliff was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of London Health Sciences Centre in addition to continuing his position at St. Joseph’s. This shared CEO role was established by the LHSC and St. Joseph’s boards to ensure the continued achievement of hospital restructuring and renewal in London and in recognition of Cliff’s leadership abilities.
Prior to joining St. Joseph’s in April 1998, Cliff was President and CEO of the Rehabilitation Institute of Toronto, an organization established in February, 1997 as a result of the merger of Queen Elizabeth and Hillcrest Hospitals. Prior to this he was President and CEO of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Toronto.
Cliff is a recognized health-care leader, participating in various health-care policy initiatives at local, provincial and national levels. He contributes extensively to the professional development of health service executives as a lecturer and author. He has served as Chair of the Canadian College of Health Service Executives, the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario, and the Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan. Cliff has also served on various boards, including the Catholic Health Association of Ontario, the Ontario Hospital Association, and the Canadian Association for Quality in Health Care.
He also currently serves on the Boards of the Lawson Health Research Institute (a joint venture of St. Joseph’s Health Care, London and London Health Sciences Centre), the St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation and the London Health Sciences Foundation.
Cliff is Ontario’s longest serving hospital CEO, with 28 of his 41 years in health-care leadership at the helm of four hospital organizations. In 2005, the London Free Press named Cliff as one of 150 people who helped define London.
Cliff was born and raised in rural central Manitoba. He holds a Bachelor of Physics and Mathematics degree from the University of North Dakota (1969) and a Masters of Business Administration degree from York University, Toronto (1976). Cliff is certified with and is a fellow of the Canadian College of Health Service Executives. He is also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
On January 19, Cliff announced his plans to retire effective January 1, 2011. At that time, he will have completed his mandate as shared CEO for LHSC and St. Joseph’s. Cliff plans to spend more time with his wife, Patty and their family and friends, while pursuing a range of hobbies and interests, including continued advocacy for Canada’s health system.
