Verna Yiu

2022 - 4 - 4

Dr. Verna Yiu out as president and CEO at Alberta Health Services ... (CBC.ca)

Dr. Verna Yiu, president and CEO of Alberta Health Services, is leaving her position, less than a year after receiving a two-year contract extension.

"She is tirelessly leading this organization through a global pandemic with grace and resilience. "The AHS board has been planning for some time to start the recruitment process for a new CEO at the end of Dr. Yiu's extended term. The government has promised Albertans better access to surgery and the health system overall, Copping said. "They're multi-year commitments and we need to move forward on them, supported by renewed leadership at AHS." The message on her Twitter profile had been changed to: "Proud to live in Canada where universal healthcare is a basic human right." AHS confirmed Yiu is receiving one year's salary — $574,000 — as severance.

Dr. Verna Yiu out as head of Alberta Health Services (Edmonton Journal)

Dr. Verna Yiu has been removed as president and CEO of Alberta Health Services more than a year before her contract was set to expire.

Dr. Paul Parks, head of the emergency medicine branch of the Alberta Medical Association, said in an interview with Postmedia Monday that based on his conversations with colleagues, Yiu was trusted by health-care workers because she understood the challenges they were facing and was willing to be transparent about what workers on the frontline were experiencing. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. However, her leadership at AHS has also been targeted by some UCP MLAs. In early December, Peace River UCP MLA Dan Williams accused AHS heads of holding “a knife to the throat” of remote communities with its employee COVID-19 vaccine requirement. Yiu said in a bulletin widely distributed to AHS employees and obtained by Postmedia that she now plans to spend time with family, and return to her clinical practice and academic work. Dr. Verna Yiu out as head of Alberta Health Services Neither Alberta Health nor AHS would confirm to Postmedia whether Yiu was fired or resigned, but AHS did confirm Yiu will receive a severance payment of one year’s salary, more than $573,000, something guaranteed in her contract if she was fired “without just cause.” Yiu’s contract was extended last June for another two years. AHS said in its release a search committee was formed “several months ago” to begin looking for Yiu’s replacement, but did not offer a specific reason for Yiu’s departure.

Alberta Health Services CEO Dr. Verna Yiu leaves top job a year ... (Toronto Star)

EDMONTON - The CEO of Alberta Health Services is out of the top job more than a year before her contract was set to expire.

The contract was then extended to June 2023. Prior to joining AHS, she had been interim dean of the faculty of medicine and dentistry at the University of Alberta. In a statement, she applauded her staff for their tireless care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, but didn’t speak to her contract ending prematurely. Yiu had been in the top job for six years, at a salary of more than $574,000 a year. Copping previously announced a plan to expand the number of publicly funded surgeries contracted to private providers to increase access to care and reduce wait-lists. The departure of Dr. Verna Yiu was announced Monday, effect immediately, ending a contract that was to run until June 2023.

Dr. Verna Yiu leaving Alberta Health Services as president and CEO (Globalnews.ca)

Alberta Health Services announced in a news release Monday morning the departure of Dr. Verna Yiu as CEO and president of the health authority.

She looked professional, she had the numbers at her fingertips and seemed to be a very strong communicator.” “The AHS board has been planning for some time to start the recruitment process for a new CEO at the end of Dr. Yiu’s extended term. “We promised Albertans better access to surgery and a stronger publicly funded health system with better access overall. It’s clear to me that Dr. Yiu put health and well-being of Albertans first during an unprecedented health crisis.” “I have had the extraordinary privilege to lead Alberta Health Services for the past six plus years,” Yiu said in a news release. “I took on this role in 2016 because I saw an opportunity to further solidify culture, teamwork, and excellence within the organization.

Dr. Verna Yiu fired from Alberta Health Services, new president and ... (CTV Toronto)

The AHS board announced Yiu as the interim president and CEO in 2016 before extending her role for another two years effective June 2, 2021. CTV News has ...

"All Albertans witnessed her leadership during the COVID pandemic as a champion of public health measures and a passionate proponent of vaccine acceptance. "We promised Albertans better access to surgery and a stronger publicly funded health system with better access overall. "Dr. Yiu has been a strong partner and supporter of quality patient care in good days and also when times were more difficult. They're multi-year commitments and we need to move forward on them, supported by renewed leadership at AHS." "I believed that we could develop better relationships with our patients and families, and with Alberta communities. "Their decision to fire Dr. Verna Yiu comes at a critical time for our province and for public health care in general," said Shepherd.

Dr. Verna Yiu leaving AHS as President and CEO (rdnewsnow.com)

The Alberta Health Services Board has announced the departure of Dr. Verna Yiu and the launch of a search proc...

“Today, the UCP has pushed public healthcare in Alberta even deeper into chaos,” said David Shepherd, NDP Critic for Health. “The UCP’s firing of Dr. Verna Yiu comes at a critical time for our province and for public healthcare in general. The least the government could do is show some accountability and transparency when it comes to the leadership of our vital public health care system.” “The AHS board has been planning for some time to start the recruitment process for a new CEO at the end of Dr. Yiu’s extended term. 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 promised Albertans better access to surgery and a stronger publicly funded health system with better access overall. AHS officials say the Board will appoint an interim President and CEO shortly to ensure the organization has leadership and stability.