Senior Leadership Team

Paul Heinrich, NHF, LLM, MEd, C.Dir., CPA/CMA, CHE, BBA
President & CEO
Executive Assistant: Cheryl Vainio

Paul Heinrich has been proudly serving the North Bay Regional Health Centre as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2012. Prior to this, he was President and CEO at Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland and Penetanguishene. He spent 10 years as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine while also serving as Advisor to the Chief Clinical Officer of the Calgary Health Region. He has also held management positions at the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Huntsville Hospital and, Muskoka-East Parry Sound Community Care Home Care Program. Among several previous board roles, he served as director on the Canadian College of Health Leaders Board. He currently serves on the ONE Health Information Technology Services (ONE HITS) board.  He has been a professor in the Healthcare Administration Program at Canadore College since 2017.

In 2023, Mr. Heinrich completed the National Health Fellowship (NHF) through McMaster University, as part of the first ever cohort of 18 fellows from across Canada.  He holds his Master of Education (MEd) from Nipissing University, as well as, a Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation though the Canadian College of Health Leaders, a Master of Laws degree (LLM) from OsGoode Hall Law School of York University, a Chartered Director designation (C.Dir.) from McMaster University, a Chartered Professional Accountant/Certified Management Accountant designation (CPA, CMA), and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) (honours) from Nipissing University.

Lise St. Marseille
Interim Vice President, Mental Health & Addictions
Assistant: Maryann Burmudzija

Since joining the Health Centre in 2005, Lise has held positions of progressive responsibility demonstrating her unwavering commitment to operational excellence. With over 12 years experience as a Director, she has led a variety of programs giving her broad exposure to the Health Centre’s core services including mental health and addictions, complex continuing care, and laboratory services. Lise is a results oriented leader who is passionate about the enduring success of this organization and the people it serves. Born and raised in the North East, Lise is dedicated to working with the Health Centre’s diverse partners towards an integrated and coordinated system of care.

Prior to joining the Health Centre, Lise worked with the Ministry of Northern Development & Mines and consulted on the recruitment and retention of health professionals to underserviced committees. Fluent in both French and English, Lise holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in Finance from Laurentian University.

Joanne Laplante
Vice President, Clinical and Chief Nursing Executive
Assistant: Lorraine Briere

Joanne has been a dedicated Registered Nurse at the North Bay Regional Health Centre (originally at St. Joseph’s General Hospital) for 34 years. She has progressed through a variety of leadership roles, including Manager, Women and Children; Director, Surgery, Women and Children; Director of Emergency and Ambulatory Services and most recently, Vice President Clinical & Chief Nursing Executive. A passionate leader who is patient centred, Joanne has overseen a number of change initiatives both in organizational and system integration.  Joanne holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Laurentian University and a Master of Nursing degree from Athabasca University. Born and raised in North Bay, Joanne is well-known and active in the community. She served on Nipissing University’s Board of Directors from 2017 to 2021.

Ryan Jeffers
Vice President of Corporate Services & CFO
Assistant: Stephanie Courchesne

Ryan Jeffers is the Vice President of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Prior to joining NBRHC as CFO in 2020, Ryan gained over thirteen years of management experience in healthcare with the North East Local Health Integration Network and, more recently, as a member of the senior leadership team at West Nipissing General Hospital. Ryan is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a graduate of Nipissing University with an Honours degree in Business and a major in Accounting.

Ryan provides leadership and guidance to Finance, Human Resources, Decision Support, Information Technology & Information Systems, Facilities, Risk, Quality, Pharmacy and Patient Advocacy.

Dr. Scott Kerrigan
Chief of Staff
Assistant: Chastity Saudino

Dr. Scott Kerrigan is the Chief of Staff. Born and raised in North Bay, Dr. Kerrigan studied Medicine at Western University and Pathology at the University of British Columbia. Building on rewarding experiences in North Bay as a medical student and later as a medical resident, he returned to North Bay as a full-time staff General Pathologist in 2005. Dr. Kerrigan has held multiple medical leadership positions, including Laboratory Director and Head of Service Laboratory Medicine, President of the Medical Staff, Pathology Regional Lead for Cancer Care Ontario, Medical Director Diagnostic Medicine and Trustee for the North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation.