(Montreal) The CISSS de Lanaudière has a new boss. As of Thursday, Philippe Éthier will take office as president and chief executive officer (CEO) and member of the board of directors of the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of Lanaudière for a four-year term.
This professional nurse, previously deputy general director of the establishment, takes over from Maryse Poupart, who was recently appointed CEO of the CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre.
“Mr. Éthier is the ideal candidate for this high-level position […] particularly because of his background as a seasoned manager and for his in-depth knowledge of health issues in Lanaudière, where he has worked for nearly 25 years,” indicated the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, in a press release published Wednesday.
“Having been a nurse for several years in the region, he is very aware of the clinical reality and the needs of the population, which is an additional asset for the establishment,” added the minister.
For the record, the CISSS de Lanaudière had the difficult task of managing the aftermath of the case of Joyce Echaquan, who died in September 2020 under a shower of racist insults at the Lanaudière Regional Hospital Center.
Since the tragic incident, the CISSS claims to have put in place several mechanisms to combat systemic racism and ensure equal and safe access to care for Indigenous communities.
“The last 3 years have allowed us to establish the foundations of a collaboration that continues to strengthen with the joint initiatives that are deployed, in order to offer culturally safe care and services in complete coherence with the needs of the community. “, declared Mr. Éthier in a press release last December, when he was still interim CEO of the CISSS.