Mike Heenan named St. Joseph’s Health System President and CEO
Jun 2, 2025On behalf of the St. Joseph’s Health System (SJHS) Board of Directors and the St. Joseph’s Hamilton Joint Boards of Governors (JBG) announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Heenan as the permanent President and Chief Executive Officer of SJHS, effective June 2, 2025. Mike will also continue in his current role as president of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH).
Since joining St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton in November 2023, Mike has led and supported key improvements across quality performance metrics, staff recruitment and retention, workplace safety, education and research, equity, diversity and inclusion, Indigenous reconciliation, and community partnerships. Guided by the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Mike is committed to compassionate, community-centred care and to advancing SJHS’ role as an academic health sciences centre.
In this new role, Mike will work with all SJHS member organizations to ensure the delivery of exceptional, compassionate, high-quality care and to support the staff, physicians, volunteers and learners who are the backbone of our system.
Mike is widely recognized across the province as a respected and innovative healthcare leader. He brings a deep understanding of hospital operations, integrated care systems, quality and patient experience, evidence-based research, and the dynamics of government planning and decision-making. This experience has been integral in advancing advocacy for SJHH and SJHS with external partners, including all levels of government.
His leadership experience spans hospital executive roles and public service, including serving as assistant deputy minister of hospitals and capital at Ontario’s Ministry of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mike holds a PhD in Business, is an assistant professor at McMaster University, and has published his work in several peer-reviewed journals.
Guided by the legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph and our strategic plan, Mike will continue to advance our mission across SJHS and beyond. As Ontario’s only health system offering mission-based services across the full continuum — including home and community care, acute care, long-term care, supportive housing, rehabilitation, and hospice — we are uniquely positioned to deliver more connected, person-centered care experiences.
Looking ahead, Mike remains focused on building high-performing teams and fostering innovation to enhance outcomes and experiences for both those we serve and our dedicated healthcare professionals.