Leadership

We have a dedicated team of professionals who contribute their diverse experience and expertise to improving outcomes for pregnant women, newborns, and their families. We work in partnership with the Ministry of Health, health authorities, other PHSA programs and services, professional associations, and researchers.

Our Leadership Team

Robert Finch

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Robert Finch

RRT, BHSc, MHS Executive Director, Perinatal Services BC

Robert began his career in 2003 at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Alberta with a clinical background as a NICU/high risk neonatal transport trained Respiratory Therapist.

Robert has a demonstrated track record of progressive leadership experience including manager of Respiratory Services, Assistant Patient Care Manager and Manager of the Foothills NICU, Manager of the Southern Alberta Neonatal Transport Services and most recently as the Director of Maternal, Newborn, Child & Youth Network for Interior Health. His experience in Interior Health has made him a strong advocate for rural/remote communities and equitable access to resources. Robert’s education includes a Bachelor of Health Sciences and a Master of Health Studies, with a focus on the impact of colonization on the birthing practices of Indigenous populations.

Robert is based in Kamloops, situated in the beautiful ancestral, traditional and unceded territory of the Secwepemc First Nation Peoples.

Ellen Giesbrecht

‎Dr. Ellen Giesbrecht

Provincial Medical Director, Perinatal Services BC

Clinical Assistant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia

Dr. Giesbrecht has been on staff at BC Women's in Vancouver since 1998, and now also works as a rural locum covering all areas of the province. After 15 years in medical leadership at BC Women's Ellen was hired in 2018 as the PSBC Medical Director to support the launch of PSBC as a provincial Health Improvement Network and the development of a Maternity Services Strategy to stabilize and support maternity care across the province. Her interests are in system level solutions to support high quality maternity care across the diverse and dispersed sites in BC. PSBC leads the BC Provincial Perinatal Mortality Committee.

Marianne Morgan

Dr. Marianne Morgan

Provincial Primary Care Medical Lead, Perinatal Services BC

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Dr. Morgan has been a full service family physician in BC until 2022. She did locums around B.C. before establishing a family practice in Kelowna. Now Marianne focusses on practicing and promoting obstetrics and palliative care. She has had various leadership roles within the Central Okanagan. She has led succesful PQI and Spread quality improvement projects.

Marianne is happy to be part of the interdisciplinary team at PSBC. She brings a clinical perspective to the provincial initiatives.

Outside of work she likes to paddle outrigger canoes, cross country ski, and spend time with her family.

Kenny Der

Kenny Der

MBA, CHIM, CPHIMS-CA

Provincial Director, Informatics and Privacy, Perinatal Services BC

Kenny provides strategic and operational leadership for the BC Perinatal Data Registry. With over two decades of health informatics specialization, Kenny is passionate about technology innovation to improve the collection and usage of high quality data to directly support evidence-based planning towards improving patient care. Kenny holds a Management of Technology MBA from Simon Fraser University and professional designations from the Canadian College of Health Information Management, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society and Digital Health Canada. He is a former president of the Health Record Association of BC and previously held leadership roles in data management at BC Women’s Hospital, BC Perinatal Health Program and Perinatal Services BC.

Sylvie Langlois

Sylvie Langlois

MD, FRCPC, FCCMG

Medical Director, BC Prenatal Genetic Screening Program

Sylvie obtained her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec. She went on to do specialty training in Pediatrics at McGill University and Fellowship training in Clinical and Molecular Genetics at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She has been a clinical geneticist at BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre since 1989 and is Professor in the UBC Department of Medical Genetics. She has been the medical director of the BC Prenatal Genetic Screening Program since its implementation. Her research contributions have been in the area of prenatal diagnosis and molecular genetics.

Julie MacFarlane

Julie MacFarlane

MSc, CCGC, Director, Perinatal Screening, Perinatal Services BC

Julie joined Perinatal Services BC in May 2009 as the Program Manager for the BC Prenatal Genetic Screening Program, where she is responsible for establishing and maintaining the infrastructure for centralized and coordinated prenatal screening around the province. Since then, the BC Newborn Screening Program and the Biliary Atresia Home Screening Program have been added to her portfolio. Julie has had extensive experience managing large-scale clinical genetic and pharmaceutical programs from her previous years at Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Burnaby, BC. She is also a Canadian certified genetic counsellor, with a Master of Science from the University of British Columbia. She is the author of two book chapters and numerous research publications in clinical and molecular genetics.‎

Lisa Sutherland

Lisa Sutherland

RM, Primary Maternity Care Lead,

Midwifery, Perinatal Services BC

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Victoria and a degree in Midwifery from the University of British Columbia. She has been a Registered Midwife since 2007 when she founded Bloom Community Midwives in Vancouver. She has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 2010 and has a special interest in supporting the integration of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. In addition to leading her own practice, she has been the Site Lead for Midwifery at St. Paul’s Hospital (SPH) and the Assistant Department Head of Midwifery at BCWH and SPH for the last two years. She planned and implemented successful QI projects at SPH to increase collaboration, promote normal birth, optimize the caesarean section rate, and improve breastfeeding care. Lisa has previous experience as a board member and Treasurer of the Midwives Association of BC where she was involved in integrating birth centres, supporting Indigenous Midwifery and breastfeeding promotion.

Hilary Vallance

Hilary Vallance

MD, FRCPC, FCCMG, Medical Director, BC Newborn Screening Program

Hilary obtained her Doctor of Medicine from the University of British Columbia (UBC). She went on to do specialty training in Laboratory Medicine and fellowship training in Biochemical Genetics at UBC. She directs the Biochemical Geneticist Laboratory at BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre and is a Clinical Professor in the UBC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. She has been the Medical Director of the BC Newborn Screening Program since 1996. Her research contributions have been in the area of inborn errors of metabolism and newborn screening.

Kathryn Berry

Kathryn Berry-Einarson

MPH, Director of Quality and Research, Perinatal Services BC

Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University

Kathryn is a third generation Settler Canadian living, working, and playing on the ancestral and unceded traditional territory of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) peoples. She most recently worked with the First Nations Health Authority where she led a team of health professionals and data analysts in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a complex First Nations health survey project. She has extensive knowledge in data governance and research data management through her role supporting executive data governance committees. Kathryn previously worked with the FNHA Office of the Chief Medical Officer as a Manager of Population Health and Wellness and was responsible for leading population health reporting projects. Kathryn has also worked in a management capacity with the UBC Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health.

Kathryn has a background in primary health care and public health, and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Simon Fraser University with a focus on social inequities in health.

Jenna Johnston

Jenna Johnston

BSN, RN, MA, IBCLC, Provincial Director, Acute Care, Perinatal Services BC

Jenna graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with distinction in 2009. She began her neonatal nursing career as an employed student nurse at Victoria General hospital NICU and then as an RN at BC Women’s Hospital NICU. She completed the Neonatal Advanced Specialty Nursing Certificate from BCIT in 2010, has been an IBCLC certified Lactation Consultant since 2013 and holds a Master of Arts in Leadership degree from Royal Roads University.

Jenna has had a variety of progressive leadership roles, including Neonatal Program Coordinator, Senior Leader, Clinical Education at Children’s and Women’s Hospital, NICU Clinical Lead for the C&W Site Redevelopment Project and most recently as Program Manager for BC Women’s NICU and Neonatal Follow-up Clinic.

Jenna has experience sponsoring and participating in a variety of quality improvement and assurance initiatives and has supported individuals and teams across PHSA through a variety of changes including new models of care, integration of simulation education and practice changes. She is experienced in engaging internal and external stakeholders to create quality clinical, patient and family education.

Jenna looks forward to bringing her passion and energy to ensure the highest quality care experiences and outcomes for pregnant women and individuals, newborns and families across the province.

Jenna is grateful to work, live and raise her family between the traditional and unceded territories of the the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish and W̱SÁNEĆ Coast Salish Nations.

Provincial Health Services Authority