Dr. Tom Stewart announced as CEO of St. Joe’s, Niagara Health

Dr. Tom Stewart has been named the new CEO of St. Joseph’s Health System and Niagara Health.

Stewart will take on the role of president and CEO of St. Joseph’s and CEO in Niagara Aug. 1, according to a Monday announcement from Dr. Anne Anderson, chair of the board of directors of St. Joseph’s.

He is currently serving as joint chief of staff at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Haldimand War Memorial Hospital and Niagara Health, where he is also executive vice-president of medical affairs.

Stewart takes over after Kevin Smith announced his departure in March.

“The board of directors unanimously endorsed Dr. Stewart’s appointment as our next CEO of SJHS and Niagara Health,” Anderson said in a news release.

“Tom is an internationally recognized health care executive, academic and physician leader who brings a deep commitment to our mission of compassionate care and service as well as a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to this important role.”

John Bragagnolo, chair of Niagara Health’s board of directors, pointed to Stewart increasing the hospital’s focus on its academic and research mission and the recruitment of 150 leading physician specialists to the region as two highlights of his tenure there.

St. Joseph’s Health System spans six different member organizations with multiple sites, including in Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph and Brantford.

Combined with Niagara Health, these organizations have a total budget of $1.3 billion and account for approximately 13,000 staff and physicians and 2,800 beds.

Stewart, who is currently a professor in the department of medicine at McMaster University, said he is “proud” to be chosen as the next leader of St. Joseph’s and Niagara Health.

“We have an exciting opportunity to build on the incredible success that led to the creation of one of the largest health care systems in the country,” he said in a news release.