Dr. Sheila Laredo, immediate past chair of KBHN’s Board of Directors has been selected by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) as the College’s first Chief Medical Advisor, following an extensive search. Dr. Laredo is an MD and specializes in endocrinology and metabolism. She is a healthcare leader and is recognized for her research and teaching excellence.

“We are thrilled to have someone of Dr. Laredo’s calibre joining us as our first Chief Medical Advisor,” said Dr. Nancy Whitmore, Registrar and CEO at the CPSO. “Dr. Laredo’s passion and healthcare expertise will be invaluable as we continue on our journey to ensure Ontarians have the safest, highest quality healthcare.”

In this new role, Dr. Laredo will provide leadership to the College’s Medical Advisors to advance the goals and objectives of the College. As part of the executive team, Dr. Laredo will be involved in strategic planning and cross-departmental program and policy development.

Dr. Laredo is joining the CPSO from Women’s College Hospital where she has served as the Chief of Staff since 2013. During her tenure, Dr. Laredo focused on enhancing quality and safety by strengthening physician documentation, improving credentialing processes and strengthening the governance of physician privileges. In addition, she also implemented a 360 review process for physicians and encouraged more interdepartmental collaboration. She will continue her clinical practice at Women’s College Hospital in addition to her new duties at the CPSO.

Dr. Laredo holds a PhD in clinical epidemiology and is an associate professor at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine. Her clinical interest is in women’s reproductive health. Dr. Laredo is a passionate advocate for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and is a parent to four children, two of whom have ASD. In her other advocacy work, Dr. Laredo co-founded and chaired the Joint Domestic Violence Committee at Women’s College Hospital which has developed an eModule to train several thousand physicians and health professionals to recognize intimate partner violence among colleagues.

“I am delighted to join the CPSO because the work of the College is critical to ensuring that we have the strongest health system possible in Ontario,” said Dr. Laredo. “I look forward to using my experience in healthcare and public system advocacy to support CPSO in this critical work.”

Dr. Laredo will begin her new role at the CPSO on January 8, 2019, and will continue to serve on KBHN’s Board of Directors.