Dr. Verna Yiu will be leaving Alberta Health Services (AHS). Yiu is the organization’s President and CEO.

"We are very grateful for Dr. Yiu’s tireless leadership through the worst days of the pandemic, and we thank her for her years of dedicated service and commitment to AHS and to Albertans," said Board Chair Gregory Turnbull, QC. "We have been planning for an orderly transition."

The AHS board will be appointing an interim President and CEO in the meantime. A search process for that has already begun. The Board has asked Mauro Chies, Vice President, Cancer Care Alberta and Clinical Support Services, to serve in the role of interim CEO on a temporary basis.

"AHS team members have worked incredibly hard through extreme challenges over the past two years," said Turnbull. "I’m amazed at their resilience and ability to provide quality care to Albertans every single day. There has always been a plan to transition leadership, and on behalf of the Board, we thank Dr. Yiu, her leadership team, and every AHS employee. We are excited about the future, and in particular we look forward to delivering on key priorities such as the expansion of surgical and acute care services, continuing care, the EMS improvement plan, enhanced mental health programs and services, and workforce recruitment and retention."

Yiu thanked all staff and volunteers for their work over the years.

“I took on this role in 2016 because I saw an opportunity to further solidify culture, teamwork, and excellence within the organization. I believed that we could develop better relationships with our patients and families, and with Alberta communities. I am so proud and grateful for all AHS team members as well as our advisory groups and councils, and all the foundations who support AHS."