By Times Chronicle Staff
Susan Brown, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Interior Health has informed the Board of Directors of her decision to retire by the end of 2025.
Brown has been with the organization for 14 years, seven as CEO.
“On behalf of British Columbians, I extend our deepest appreciation to Susan for her leadership and dedication to serving patients and communities during her 34-year career in the provincial health system,” said Minister of Health, Josie Osborne.
“From her first days as a nurse in the emergency department at Vancouver General Hospital to her current role at the helm of Interior Health Authority, Susan’s lifetime of service has made a lasting impact to patients and their families across the province.”
The Interior Health Board noted that Innovation has been a constant focus under her leadership, including opening the first Urgent and Primary Care Centre in BC in Kamloops in 2018 and, since then, 10 more, with the latest in February in Williams Lake.
The addition of new specialized cardiac and stroke services at Kelowna General Hospital and the approval of the Kamloops Cancer Centre under her leadership will “continue to support patients getting the care they need closer to home”.
And it also cited her “vision and co-creation” of the Centre for Health System Learning & Innovation will support continued research and innovation for decades to come. “Under Susan’s leadership, IH advanced its work to embed cultural safety and anti-racism in the organization in pursuit of improved health outcomes for the 54 First Nations and 14 chartered Métis communities in the region.”
Among Brown’s challenges during her time as CEO was of course the COVID 19 pandemic which Interior Health described as a “time of profound uncertainty,” along with several natural disasters in the Interior.
“Susan has been an extraordinary leader and a force for positive change; her leadership and presence enabled the continuation of high-quality patient care while keeping people throughout the interior safe,” said Dr. Robert Halpenny, Chair, Interior Health Board of Directors.
Brown will continue to serve as CEO through December 2025 while the Board of Directors immediately begins recruiting the next President & CEO, it said.
