Ontario Shores Welcomes New Clinical Leader

WHITBY, ON, Nov. 29, 2016 /CNW/ - Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) is pleased to welcome Dr. Karima Velji to the role of Vice-President, Clinical Services. Dr. Velji is a seasoned healthcare executive spanning the full continuum of care. She is currently the Vice-President, Patient Care and Quality at St. Joseph's Health Centre where she has led and influenced significant innovations within the organization and across the health care system.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Velji to the Ontario Shores team," says Karim Mamdani, President and CEO. "She has a passion for mental health transformation, is an innovative leader and deeply committed to recovery-focused care for patients. She brings a wealth of experience and will be a tremendous addition to the organization as we continue to advance the mental health care system for our communities."

Dr. Velji's expertise is focused on patient partnerships and innovation. She has worked in collaboration with patients on outcomes that matter to their recovery in areas such as zero suicide strategies, recovery-based care and outstanding patient experience. She is committed to quality and safety and implementing best practices for integrated models of care across all programs and services. She has developed unique partnerships with other industries to integrate innovation into care delivery. 

"Mental health is a significant area of focus for our society and we need organizations like Ontario Shores to create a different possibility for the people who need care," says Dr. Velji. "I am excited to have the opportunity to lead patient care in a centre of excellence that is focused on mental health. I look forward to partnering with people with lived experience and others to build the next frontier of innovation in mental health programs in our region and beyond." 

Previously, she was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Executive at Baycrest and Vice-President at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. She has been selected for numerous system leadership roles including President and Chair of the Board of Directors at the Canadian Nurses Association, Board Vice-Chair of Accreditation Canada and Co-Chair of the Mental Health Capacity Planning Committee for the Southwest LHIN to name a few.

She brings a strong academic and education background. She has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Science, is a Certified Health Executive and has cross appointments with the University of Toronto, University of Western Ontario, Nippissing University and McMaster University. Some of her academic and partnerships accomplishments include working with Longwoods Publishing on a full issue in Health Care Quarterly about the mental health transformation in the London/Middlesex Region and Southwest LHIN, establishing a Seniors Quality Leap Initiative, a global benchmarking initiative, and formulating a national consensus on the first national report card of nurse sensitive indicators in Canada.

Dr. Velji starts her role effective January 9, 2017.

About Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences:
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) is a leader in mental health care, providing a range of specialized assessments and treatment services for people living with complex mental illness. Patients benefit from a recovery-oriented environment of care, build on compassion, inspiration and hope. Ontario Shores engages in research, education and advocacy initiatives to advance the mental health care system.

SOURCE Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences

please contact: Andrea Marshall, Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, 905-430-4055 ext. 6581, Cell: 905-439-0224, [email protected]