Alberta Health Services announces departure of Dr. Verna Yiu

Alberta Health Services has announced the departure of President and CEO Dr. Verna Yiu.

“We are very grateful for Dr. Yiu’s tireless leadership through the worst days of the pandemic, and we thank her for her years of dedicated service and commitment to AHS and to Albertans,” said Board Chair Gregory Turnbull in a release on Monday morning. “We have been planning for an orderly transition.”

No specific reason has been provided for Yiu’s departure. Her current contract runs to June 2023, and the statement does not say why Yiu left early.

“I have had the extraordinary privilege to lead Alberta Health Services for the past six plus years,” said Dr. Yiu. “I would like to thank all staff, physicians and volunteers for their steadfast care of Albertans and their ability to put patients and families first, particularly as we have navigated through the past two pandemic years.”

She says she took on the role back in 2016 because she saw the opportunity to solidify culture, teamwork, and excellence within the organization.

“I am so proud and grateful for all AHS team members as well as our advisory groups and councils, and all the foundations who support AHS.”

Mauro Chies, the vice-president in charge of Cancer Care Alberta, will serve as interim president.

Following the announcement, Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping said, “It’s time to move forward with an ambitious agenda to improve and modernize the health system, and renewed leadership in Alberta Health Services will support delivering those changes.”

“The AHS Board has been planning for some time to start the recruitment process for a new CEO at the end of Dr. Yiu’s extended term. The agreement with Dr. Yiu that the Board announced today will bump up the timeline for the transition and help the system move forward.”