Dr. Gillian Kernaghan was appointed the President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) in 2010. St. Joseph’s is a multi-sited, academic health care organization serving London and region. Her passion for integrated patient care, leadership and performance excellence has inspired the organization to focus on the vision to “earn complete confidence in the care we provide.” 

Prior to assuming this role, Dr. Kernaghan served for 17 years as the Vice President, Medical for various hospitals in London and led the medical staff during complex restructuring in which four hospitals merged to form St. Joseph’s. Through this restructuring and various program transfers between organizations, the roles of the London hospitals dramatically changed. 

In 1984, Dr. Kernaghan joined the medical staff of St. Joseph’s, Parkwood Hospital and London Health Sciences Centre as a family physician. She completed her residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital in 1984 upon graduation from Western University and was awarded her Fellowship in 2000. Degrees and certifications include: MD (with Honours), CCFP, FCFP, and CCPE. 

She currently serves on the Ontario Hospital Association Board, is Chair of the Catholic Health Association of Ontario, serves on the CAHO Executive and Council, is a member of the Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine and Co-Chair of the Southwestern Academic Health Network. Prior appointments include Co-Chair of the Canadian Health Leadership Network(2014-2018) and Past President of the Canadian Society of Physician Executives (2010-12). In addition, she has also served on numerous regional, provincial and national committees/boards. 

Academic appointments include: Associate Professor, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University; Adjunct Professor, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University; and Faculty, Physician Leadership Institute, Canadian Medical Association. 

Dr. Kernaghan is a frequent speaker at conferences and a certified trainer in Crucial Conversations, Crucial Accountability and Influencer leadership courses. She is also the recipient of the YMCA Women of Excellence Award in Health, Science and Technology, the Studer Group Fire Starter Hall of Fame Award 2017, and the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders Excellence in Medical Leadership Award, which she received in 2018. 

Dr. Kernaghan has been married for 39 years and is the proud mother of three sons, three daughters-in-law and two little grandsons.