McMaster Children’s Hospital welcomes new president

Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) is excited to announce the appointment of Bruce Squires as the new president of McMaster Children’s Hospital and vice president, women’s and children’s health for HHS. Squires is the current vice president of people, strategy & performance at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa, ON. He will begin his new role at HHS on Thursday, July 4.

Squires’ appointment follows a thorough international search and recruitment process. As the unanimous choice of the selection committee, there was consensus that his passion, leadership experience and deep knowledge of Ontario’s health system will be essential to the continued success of Ontario’s fastest-growing and second-largest children’s hospital.

At CHEO, Squires led the introduction of Solutions for Patient Safety, CHEO’s continuous quality improvement management system, and was acting chief executive officer of CHEO for a period in 2018. His leadership of operational transformations at CHEO helped earn recognition for the hospital in numerous forums as achieving one of Canada’s top corporate cultures.

Prior to joining CHEO, Squires spent more than seven years as vice president, corporate affairs of the Canadian Medical Association. He was also chief executive officer of the Newfoundland & Labrador Medical Association. Bruce is also active on a number of provincial and national organizations, including as Chair of Children’s Healthcare Canada.

“Mr. Squires’ record of accomplishment leading change within the healthcare sector will make him a strong addition to Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster Children’s Hospital,” says Dr. Wes Stephen, executive vice president, clinical operations and chief operating officer at HHS.

With Squires’ arrival, HHS and MCH recognizes more than a decade of contributions by out-going MCH president and HHS vice president Dr. Peter Fitzgerald, who has served MCH as a pediatric surgeon for more than 27 years and as the hospital’s president since 2008. Dr. Fitzgerald will continue to provide care for patients at MCH in the role of pediatric general surgeon following the transition of leadership in July.

“On behalf of Hamilton Health Sciences, I ask our local and broader community to join me in thanking Dr. Fitzgerald for his outstanding service to our organization, and in warmly welcoming Mr. Squires to Hamilton this summer.”