Senior Leadership Team

Nicholas Vlacholias

Nicholas Vlacholias, President and Chief Executive Officer

• Contact by email
• Phone: 613-345-5649 ext. 51508
• Alternate Contact: Margaret Cameron

Nicholas (Nick) Vlacholias joined Brockville General Hospital as President and Chief Executive Officer in July 2017. Previously, he served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) leading a team comprised of clinical departments and corporate services. Nick has more than 20 years of experience transforming and integrating health care organizations into high-performing centres. Prior to joining CHEO in March 2012, Nick served as the Chief Operating Officer at Cornwall Community Hospital where he successfully led the complex merger of the two Cornwall Hospitals.

Nick is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1990.

Nick has participated as a Director with the Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association (EORLA), and over the past five years he has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the newly amalgamated Mohawk Medbuy Corporation and its predecessor organization Medbuy Corporation.

Dr. Andrew Hamilton

Dr. Andrew Hamilton, Chief of Staff

• Contact by email
• Phone: 613-345-5649 ext. 51516
• Alternate Contact: Amy Hooper

Dr. Andrew Hamilton joined Brockville General Hospital in July 2021 as Chief of Staff. He has over three decades of surgical experience, specializing in cardiac surgery.

After receiving his M.D. from Dalhousie University, Dr. Hamilton had specialty training in general surgery, followed by a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery. This passion lead to him becoming a regular attending cardiac surgeon at Kingston General Hospital in addition to running his own practice. 

Over his career Dr. Hamilton has been a member of numerous hospital, university, and provincial committees. He served as Chair of the Kingston Health Sciences Centre operating room committee, Queen’s University Department of Surgery Executive Council, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario Investigations, Reports and Complaints committee.

Dr. Hamilton is excited about participating in the implementation of the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Ontario Health Team. He has long believed better attention to preventive health maintenance and continuity of care can reduce overall health system costs while also improving patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Julie Caffin

Julie Caffin, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive

• Contact by email
• Phone: 613-345-5649 ext. 51506
• Alternate Contact: Laurie Ouellette

Julie joined Brockville General Hospital in 2017 and serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive. Her portfolio includes Professional Practice, Women and Children's Program, Critical Care Program, Medical Program, Surgical Program, Complex Continuing Care, Rehabilitation, Palliative Care and Financial Services. She is Chair of BGH’s Patient and Family Advisory Council and is an active member on many regional councils and committees.

Julie has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Carleton University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Honours Degree from York University and a Master of Health Sciences Degree from the University of Toronto. She is certified in Advanced System Leadership from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management Executive Programs and is a Fellow in The Ivy Academy Community Shift Executive Leadership Program. She is an active member of the College of Nurses of Ontario and has an Adjunct Academic appointment in the Queen's University School of Nursing.

Julie has received recognition awards from Kingston Health Sciences Centre including the Team Award for Leadership with the Emergency Department Information System Implementation project and Team Award for Care for her efforts introducing the Inter-professional Collaborative Practice Model. She was nominated to the Canadian College of Health Leaders for a National Nursing Leadership Award.

Julie is a member of the Board of Directors at St. Vincent de Paul in Kingston and was appointed to the St. Lawrence College Board of Governors in September 2018.

Linda Hunter

Linda Hunter, Vice President, Clinical Services

• Contact by email
• Phone: 613-345-5649 ext. 51507
• Alternate Contact: Tanya Beale

Linda Hunter joined Brockville General Hospital as Director of Mental Health in 2011. By 2017 she was appointed to Vice President of Clinical Services. Her portfolio includes Infection Prevention and Control, Pharmacy, Laboratory, Diagnostic Imaging, Mental Health, Assault and Response Care Centre, and Paediatric Community Programs. Linda works closely with our clinical programs to support them during our Redevelopment Project, which will see all hospital services amalgamated to one campus.

Linda holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Ottawa. She has been an Assistant Professor to the Adjunct academic staff for the School of Nursing at Queen's University.

Linda has received the Jane Chamberlin Award from the Association of General Hospital Psychiatric Services, in recognition of outstanding contributions to Mental Health Services in the Ontario General Hospital sector. In 2017, she received a Hospital Donation Champion Award from the Trillium Gift of Life Network. She has also been nominated for BGH's Team Member of the Year award three years running, and received Honorary Mention in 2017.

Linda chairs BGH’s COVID-19 and Trillium Gift of Life committees, while being an active member of several other committees including Infection Control, Pharmacy & Therapeutics, Patient Advisory, Emergency Preparedness, Diagnostic Imaging Quality, and Point of Care Testing and Transfusion, to name a few.

Linda supports many of BGH's operational and program committees. She provides leadership to BGH's Space Planning Committee, Operations Committee, and the Trillium Gift of Life Network working group. Regionally, she sits as Chair of the Emergency Services Liaison committee. Linda continues to be an active participant of BGH's mental health leadership team.

Cameron McLennan

Cameron McLennan, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

• Contact by email
• Phone: 613-345-5649 ext. 51504
• Alternate Contact: Laurie Ouellette

Cameron has served Brockville General Hospital's Human Resources team since 2007 and as Vice President People & Support Services since 2013. His portfolio also includes Central Scheduling, Payroll, Occupational Health & Safety, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Services, Food Services, Laundry/Porter Services, Facilities & Maintenance, Security, and Volunteers.

He holds a Bachelor of Administration from Lakehead University, Business Administration diplomas in Human Resources and Accounting from St. Lawrence College, Queens Executive Certificate in Labour Relations from Queen's University, is a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) through the Human Resources Professional Association, and has completed the Advanced System Leadership Program from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management Executive Programs.

Cameron is an active member of the Ontario Hospital Association's (OHA) Benefit Plans Advisory Committee (BPAC). BPAC is a committee of the OHA and acts in an advisory role in relation to the governance and management of provincial wide OHA benefit plans. Cameron is a past member on the Shared Support Services Southeastern Ontario Board, which oversees shared support services (supply chain) to hospitals within the South East Local Health Integration Network. He has participated in province-wide OHA central negotiations and Chaired a regional advisory group tasked with analyzing the labour relations impact of system integration.

Martin Mazza

Martin Mazza, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 

• Contact by email
• Phone: 613-345-5649 ext. 51505
• Alternate Contact: Tracy Forrest

Martin joined Brockville General Hospital (BGH) in December 2020 and serves as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In his role, Martin helps to guide the organization’s financial strategy, safeguards and maintains the integrity of control systems, and ensures the effective management of BGH’s overall resources. His portfolio includes Finance and Materials Management.

Martin’s work career in the healthcare system spans more than 25 years, including senior level experience in both private and public sector environments. Before joining BGH, Martin served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with Grey Bruce Health Services and Collingwood General & Marine Hospital. 

Along with hospital and leadership knowledge, Martin has extensive volunteer, charitable and community experience having served on the board of a women’s crisis centre, and as Board Chair with Deafblind Services of Ontario. He has also contributed as a member of a municipal police services board, and as Chair of the Canadian Medical Equipment Protection Plan.

Martin holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Schulich School of Business at York University and is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.  Martin has also completed the Advanced Health Leadership Program at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

Gina Johar

Gina Johar, Chief Information Officer

• Contact by email
• Phone: 613-345-5649 ext. 51406
• Alternate Contact: Tracy Forrest

Gina Johar joined BGH’s Information Management/Information Technology team in 2019, taking on the position of Chief Information Officer in 2020. Her portfolio includes, Information Management/Information Technology, Clinical Engineering, and Health Information Management.

Gina holds a Masters of Information Science from the University of Western Ontario, with specialties in competitive intelligence and computing intellectual property. As well, she is pursuing a doctorate in Management Information Systems.

Gina has played a key role on regional and provincial committees with a focus on the creation and adoption of new innovations; with expertise in areas of information systems, digital health delivery, and data governance.

Gina serves an Advisory Board member for Digital Health Canada, and holds a deep working and academic interest in the development of regional and provincial digital health solutions. She also serves as a part-time professor with St. Lawrence College, supporting the Health Administration and Health Information Management program.

Abby McIntyre

Abby McIntyre, Marketing and Communications Specialist

• Contact by email
• Phone: 613-345-5649 ext. 51515

Abby joined Brockville General Hospital as the Marketing and Communications Specialist in 2014, where she leads the marketing, public relations, communications and branding activities. In her role, Abby works closely with the Brockville General Volunteer Association, Brockville and District Hospital Foundation, and community partners to promote activities and events.

Abby holds a Fine Arts degree from the University of Ottawa. She is an active member of the Canadian Public Relations Society and the International Association of Business Communicators.

Abby sits as Co-Chair to BGH's Workplace Happiness Action Team. She provides communication leadership and recommendations to the Hospital's internal committees, including the Hospital's Redevelopment Project and Patient and Family Advisory Council. Abby collaborates regularly on regional initiatives, including the Southeast Local Health Integration Network/Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Integrated Stroke Care Planning Team, Healthcare Tomorrow and a provincial health literacy working group.

Outside of her work at BGH, Abby is a proud member of the Spencerville and District Optimist Club.

Patty Dimopoulos

Patty Dimopoulos, Manager, Strategy and Performance, Quality & Risk

• Contact by email
• Phone: 613-345-5649 ext. 51513

Patty joined Brockville General Hospital in 2013 and is currently the Manager of Strategy and Performance. She is a graduate of St. Lawrence College, Business Administration Program (with distinction) and a Project Management Professional (PMI) with over 12 years administrative experience in the not-for-profit and public sectors. Her role includes responsibility for strategic planning, organizational performance, corporate governance advisor, quality improvement and risk management, and the hospital’s project management office. 

Following BGH’s appointment of a Provincial Supervisor in 2016, Patty played an integral role in modernizing the Hospitals’ governance structure. This included complete revisions of the Corporation’s by-laws and policies, developing best practice governance processes.  In 2018-2019, Patty led the Hospital through the development of their new multi-year strategic plan.  She is currently the lead for the Operational Readiness component of the Hospital’s Redevelopment Project (2020).

In 2017, Patty presented at the Ontario Hospital Association's Governance Centre of Excellence Conference for Corporate Secretaries, speaking about BGH's Board in Transition. Patty was also a contributing member of Governance Professionals who contributed to the development of Elevating the Onboarding Experience, a Governance Professionals’ Guide, Ontario Hospital Association 2018.

In 2019, Patty was nominated for BGH’s Team Member of the Year award for her commitment to patient care and living the Hospital’s vision and values.  She has served on several community Boards and is currently the Secretary/Treasurer for the Hellenic Community of Brockville.