Leadership Team

Lakeridge Health is governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees made up of community members, medical staff, volunteer, and Foundation representatives.

Our Senior Management Team is focused on implementing the Strategic Plan of Lakeridge Health. The team is responsible for overseeing the administration of the hospital and relentlessly pursuing quality and safety improvements.

Cynthia Davis, BSc, RN, MSc, PhD(c) President and CEO

Cynthia Davis joined Lakeridge Health as President and CEO in January, 2021.  

Cynthia is a registered nurse by profession, has over three decades of health care experience. Ms. Davis brings a mix of leadership skills and operational experience acquired through her progressive leadership roles in Ontario and Newfoundland. Her career began as a frontline nurse in a variety of settings in Canada and the US. Upon returning to Canada she began work at St. Michael’s hospital where she had the opportunity to work as a manager in the surgical and cardiac programs during a time of change for the organization. She joined St. Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener Waterloo and led the development of a new tertiary level Cardiac Program.

Upon return to her home province she joined Western Health, one of four leading integrated health authorities in Newfoundland and Labrador responsible for the delivery of integrated health services to a diverse population across the entire continuum of care. She served eight years as the Vice President of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer. Ms. Davis went on to be appointed the President and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Davis has a passion for patient-centred care which she fosters through engagement and partnerships. Through her PhD studies she is focusing her efforts on advancing the transformation and integration of health services to support vulnerable populations such as care of older adults.  

Cynthia is a graduate of Western Regional School of Nursing diploma program. Ms. Davis holds a Bachelor of Science (Nursing) from Dalhousie University, Master of Science from the University of Toronto. She is currently completing her PhD, Interdisciplinary Studies, at the University of New Brunswick. She is a member of many provincial and national healthcare engagement groups and a member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

Email Cynthia

Phone Cynthia: 905-576-8711 ext. 34421

Susan deRyk, Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer

Susan deRyk brings more than 30 years experience in health care leadership, strategic planning and government relations.

Susan joined Lakeridge Health in 2017 as Executive Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer. In that role, she was responsible for Corporate Strategy Development, Capital Development and Planning, Regional Planning, Information Technology and Clinical Information System implementation, Strategic Communications and Community Development teams with a focus on leading the strategic transformation of the organization.

Susan served as Interim President and CEO from February – December, 2020.

Prior to Lakeridge Health, Susan held the Joint Vice President, Service Quality & Community Relations position at William Osler Health System, Headwaters Health Care Centre & Central West CCAC – an innovative partnership to bring acute and home and community care organizations under one management team.  She was also cross appointed to the William Osler Health System Foundation as Vice President of Marketing and Communications.

Susan also brings a wealth of experience from roles at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, the Ontario Association of Radiologists and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs where she was Chief of Staff to two Ministers.

Email Susan

Phone Susan: 905-576-8711 ext. 33302

Christine Nuernberger, Interim Executive Vice President, Patient Services

Christine Nuernberger is the Interim Executive Vice President, Patient Services at Lakeridge Health. 

Christine joined Lakeridge Health in 2017 as the Vice President, People focusing on patient experience and employee engagement.

Christine has held a variety of leadership positions across the Health Care continuum, including roles in long-term, community and acute care. She continues to deliver on our vision that begins and ends with wonderful, engaged people who support patients and families when they need it the most.   

Email Christine

Phone Christine: 905-576-8711 ext. 33003

Dr. Tony Stone, Chief of Staff

Tony has been working in the Lakeridge Health ER since 1992. He is a family doctor from Bowmanville and as Chief of Staff is focused on leading our doctors as they continue to make safety and quality improvements to the care we provide. 

Email Tony

Phone Tony: 905-576-8711 ext. 33266

Dr. George Buldo, Vice President, Medical and Academic Affairs

George joined Lakeridge Health in 1997 after completing his training in Internal Medicine and Nephrology at the University of Toronto.  He has served as Chief of Nephrology and Chief of Medicine, overseeing growth and specialization in these successful programs, and also served as Chair of the Clinical Services Plan Steering Committee at the CE LHIN.  In 2017, George obtained his Master of Science in Health Care Management from Harvard University. 

As VPMA George oversees our Medical Directors, working with doctors to improve quality, efficiency, and drive down our wait times and leads our academic and research vision for Lakeridge Health.

Email George

Phone George: 905-623-3331 ext. 21357 

Natalie Hovey, Vice President, Finance 

Natalie came to Lakeridge Health in 2009 from Nova Scotia where she held progressive positions at various hospitals, including Capital Health.  Natalie has helped drive our accountability agenda and is also focused on the efficiencies and quality improvements new technology can bring to our hospital.

Email Natalie     

Phone Natalie: 905-576-8711 ext. 34232

Karen Clark, Interim Vice President, People

Karen Clark brings an extensive and diverse background leading many Human Resources functions including, but not limited to, Compensation and Benefits, Payroll, Labour Relations, Disability Management and Attendance Support activities. 

Karen has spent the majority of her career in large, complex unionized environments.  

She has held HR management leadership roles in both health care and academic organizations including the Ontario Government, Whitby Mental Health, Rouge Valley Health System and York University. She has served previously as the Interim Vice President Human Resources at Lakeridge Health from March to July of 2017. Karen has been Director, Employee Relations, Operations and Systems at Lakeridge Health since April 2016.

Karen holds a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation and is a member in good standing with the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) of Toronto and Durham Chapters.

Email Karen

Phone Karen: 905-576-8711 ext. 34535

Kirsten Burgomaster PhD, Interim Regional Vice President Cancer Services

Most recently, Kirsten was Regional Director of the Central East Regional Cancer Program (CE RCP) which is a network of cancer services and hospitals providing care to the 1.6 million people who live in Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, Durham and Scarborough. In this role, Kirsten works closely with CE RCP Leadership, Regional Clinical Leads, partner hospitals and agencies to ensure cancer care in the community is aligned with Cancer Care Ontario's goals, standards and best practice guidelines.

Prior to that, Kirsten was the Clinical Director of the Durham Regional Cancer Centre at Lakeridge Health (LH) until 2017, where she was responsible for the leadership and management of the cancer centre. She also served as Director of the Research program at Lakeridge Health. Kirsten is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and actively participates in collaborative research projects that align with the values, goals, and strategic direction of the organization.

Email Kirsten

Phone Kirsten: 905-576-8711 ext. 36161

Colleen Wilkinson, RN, MS(N), Interim Chief Nursing Executive

Colleen is a Registered Nurse with 23 years of experience in a variety of direct care, teaching and leadership roles. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Nursing in 2003. She joined Lakeridge Health in 2011 and is committed to advancing evidence based practice in Nursing and Allied Health Care.

Email Colleen

Phone Colleen: 905-576-8711 ext. 34479