The board has determined that new leadership is required at PHSA, and today CEO Benoit Morin left the organization.
Dr. David Byres was most recently Associate Deputy Minister, Clinical Leadership for the Ministry of Health. David has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, a Bachelor and Masters of Science degree in Nursing, and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice. David brings with him more than 25 years of clinical experience as well as significant management expertise to the role.
Byres will provide strong leadership as the PHSA looks to hire a new CEO to ensure that British Columbians have the utmost confidence in their health care system.
A backgrounder follows.
Dr. David Byres was most recently the associate deputy minister, clinical leadership for the Ministry of Health.
- Ministry experience, including work with primary care, pharmaceutical, lab and blood services, specialized services (including surgery, diagnostic imaging, frail and vulnerable adults and mental health and addictions), population and public health, health sector workforce and beneficiary services, partnerships and innovation and the office of Indigenous health.
- David is currently a co-principal investigator on a study examining a health equity intervention framework for Indigenous people in British Columbia’s emergency departments.
- Over 25 years of experience in the health sector; including as executive vice president for Providence Health Care with previous responsibility for acute care, professional practice and clinical integration.
- He was previously appointed as chief nurse executive for the Ministry of Health leading nursing and practice initiatives.
- Doctorate in nursing practice at American Sentinel University in October 2016.
- Bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of Victoria
- Bachelor and masters of science degree in nursing from the University of British Columbia (UBC).
- Adjunct professor with the school of nursing at UBC and adjunct assistant professor with the school of nursing at the University of Victoria.
- He is a certified health executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
- David holds a fellowship in management for executive nurses from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.
- He was inducted as a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Nursing in 2020.
- He is a past co-chair of the Nursing Research Advisory Council for the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research and a past president of the Xi Eta Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
- He has previously served on the board of directors for the Registered Nurses Foundation of BC.
- In 2010 David was presented with the award of distinction from the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia.
- In 2012, David was presented with the inaugural practice partnership award from the University of British Columbia School of Nursing.
- In 2015 he received the 3M National Quality Team Award from 3M and the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
- In 2016 the Canadian Nursing Association featured David and his current work in the Canadian Nurse journal as a “Nurse to Know”.
- In 2017 he was recognized in the Canadian Nursing Association’s list of Canada’s 150 most influential nursing leaders.
- In 2018 he received the Dean’s Medal of Distinction from the faculty of Applied Science at the University of British Columbia.
-30-
