“The Provincial Health Services Authority is there to ensure British Columbians have access to essential, high-quality health-care services, and this position is of the utmost importance, providing leadership and implementing direction to meet people’s health-care needs,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “I am confident that Dr. Byres’ experience, leadership, and education in health care, including most recently at the PHSA, make him an excellent fit for this role during a time of great challenges.”
Dr. Byres has over 25 years of clinical and leadership experience in the health sector. Prior to his role as PHSA’s interim president and CEO, Dr. Byres served as associate deputy minister, clinical leadership for the Ministry of Health. Past roles have included chief nursing executive for the Ministry of Health and executive vice president for Providence Health Care, where he held responsibility for acute care, professional practice and clinical integration. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, a Bachelor and Masters of Science degree in Nursing, and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice.
"During his initial tenure with PHSA, Dr. Byres has displayed deep understanding of the challenges facing the health-care system, including the impact of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing toxic drug crisis on staff and medical staff,” says Tim Manning, chair, board of directors, PHSA. “He leads with empathy and intelligence, and is an advocate for the advancement of Indigenous cultural safety, anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion, directly connecting their impacts to patient care outcomes. With the insight that comes from having served for so many years as a frontline nurse for patients in acute, community and primary care, Dr. Byres has a clear focus on what it looks like to provide high quality, patient-centred care. He is an exceptional leader who will act in the best interests of patients, families, staff, medical staff and partners.”
In his seven months as interim president and CEO, Dr. Byres has supported and empowered the workforce in providing exceptional care and service throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, renewed the PHSA executive leadership team to advance diversity and elevate medical and clinical expertise in system-level decision-making, and successfully launched PHSA’s first Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee (HAMAC), which brings together physician leaders from across the organization to help foster coordinated, patient-centred care.
The appointment of Dr. Byres comes after an externally-led evaluation of his interim leadership, which involved extensive consultation with internal and external stakeholders from across the B.C. health-care system, including the Ministry of Health. The results confirmed that Dr. Byres – with his deep experience across many facets of the B.C. health care system, steadfast commitment to cultural safety and humility, and proven record of fiscal accountability, combined with clinical, operational and academic/research expertise – is a strong leader who is aligned with the expectations British Columbians have of public sector health care.
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.
The Provincial Health Services Authority plans, manages and evaluates selected specialty health care services across BC, working with the five regional health authorities, First Nations Health Authority and the Ministry of Health to deliver province-wide solutions that improve the health of British Columbians. For more information, visit www.phsa.ca or follow us @PHSAofBC.
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Media contact:
Provincial Health Services Authority
PHSA Media line: 778.867.7472
