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Dr. Sandra Northcott, has dedicated her career to improving healthcare delivery and enhancing client outcomes. She has been a psychiatrist for more than 23 years and has held medical and academic leadership roles since 2015.
Sandra has a comprehensive understanding of the complex challenges that healthcare organizations and physicians face today, and a proven record of leading multidisciplinary teams to success, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. Her leadership style emphasizes authentic communication, mentorship, and empowerment, helping to create happy, high-performing teams that deliver excellent care.
Sandra’s most recent leadership roles - Chair of the St. Joseph’s Health Centre Medical Advisory Committee and Associate Dean of Learner Experience at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (University of Western Ontario) - speak to her strong medical leadership and academic background.
Sandra has achieved many notable successes. As the Site Chief at St. Joseph’s Health Care London: Parkwood Institute Mental Health Care from 2017 to 2019, she was the physician lead for the implementation of Zero Suicide at St Joseph’s, which at the time was the first in Canada. This ground-breaking work was recognized in 2019 by the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, Health Standards Ontario and HealthCare CAN and received the Leading Practices in Patient Engagement for Improved Patient Safety Award.
As the Associate Dean of Learner Experience, at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Sandra led initiatives to improve the access to mental health supports for undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental learner. Her initiatives included embedding counsellors with the Learner Experience team and working with medical and dental learners to create a program of peer support.
Sandra received her Doctor of Medicine from Memorial University of Newfoundland and completed her Residency in Psychiatry at Western University in 1999. She also holds a B.Sc. Major in Chemistry, from St. Francis Xavier University. Her leadership training includes the Advanced Health Care Leadership Program at Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto (2017) and a CMA Joule Physician Leadership Institute Certificate (2019).
The Royal’s Chief of Staff search committee was impressed by Sandra’s exceptional leadership and communication skills. Those who have worked with Sandra as their leader attest to her strength as a team builder and empathetic leader who inspires others to action.
Dr. Sandra Northcott will become The Royal’s Psychiatrist-in-Chief and Chief of Staff on June 1, 2024.