Group Health Centre announces new president, CEO

Following the controversial departure of Group Health Centre (GHC) president and CEO Alex Lambert in February of this year — a move that triggered a wrongful dismissal lawsuit — the GHC Board of Directors today announced his replacement.

Liliana Silvano will serve as next president and CEO, effective Nov. 21.

Silvano brings 20 years of healthcare leadership experience to the role, most recently as vice-president and chief financial officer at Sault Area Hospital.

“I am very honoured to have the privilege of leading Group Health Centre into the future, especially during a time of significant transformation in health care,” she says in a news release from GHC. “I look forward to working closely with our local community healthcare partners so we can continue ensuring our community has access to local, high-quality healthcare.”

Full text of the news release follows:

The Board of Directors of The Group Health Association (GHC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Liliana Silvano as president and chief executive officer, effective Nov. 21, 2022.

Ms. Liliana (Lil) Silvano is an accomplished executive who has held a number of senior leadership positions over the past two decades. In her most recent position as SAH’s vice-president and chief financial officer, Lil has provided leadership, broad oversight, and guidance to the hospital’s finance, decision support, information and communication technology, logistics, legal and insurance services, environmental services, and performance improvement departments.

“The GHA board is very excited to have such a talented and experienced leader like Lil joining our organization,” says Dr. David Fera, GHA board chair. “Lil is a well-respected executive with almost two decades of senior leadership experience. She has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to quality patient-centred care and has a talent for finding innovative system enhancements.”

As a chartered accountant, Lil started her career in the public sector at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), where over 10 years, she gained progressive management experience in multiple roles. After a decade of corporate leadership experience, Lil transitioned to the healthcare sector, where she has spent the last nine years in various senior executive leadership roles at Sault Area Hospital (SAH).

During her time at SAH, Lil played an instrumental role in the success of several health initiatives. She led the implementation of coronary angioplasty at SAH and was responsible for leading the negotiations that saw SAH expand its health information system to include all northeastern hospitals.

“I am very honoured to have the privilege of leading Group Health Centre into the future, especially during a time of significant transformation in health care,” she said. “I look forward to working closely with our local community healthcare partners so we can continue ensuring our community has access to local, high-quality healthcare.”

Lil was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in accounting, from Algoma University. Lil also serves as the president of the Sault Ste. Marie Chartered Professional Accountants Association is also a sessional instructor at Algoma University.