Please join us in celebrating the amazing Certified Health Executive (CHE) members, who are at the heart of the College, through monthly ‘CHE Spotlights’. Learn more about what makes these exceptional leaders tick. From leaders in mental health and wellness, equity, diversity, and inclusiveness (EDI), to mentors and emerging leaders, our CHE members are dedicated to life-long learning and to leadership in healthcare.
We are thrilled to highlight Jeanette Edwards, who up until February of 2021, was the Provincial Lead of System Integration and Quality Management and Interim Provincial Lead of Indigenous Health for Shared Health in Manitoba. Jeanette has held many impactful roles in Manitoba, such as being Special Advisor to the Manitoba Health Deputy Minister on Primary Care and she remains active in teaching at the University of Manitoba. Jeanette is also on the Board of Healthcare Excellence Canada (formerly CPSI and CFHI).
Jeanette joined the College in 1990 and is now a Lifelong member. She earned her CHE in 1994.
“Every decision I have made has been informed by my personal principles and commitment to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion.”
Career
When asked why she chose to pursue a career in healthcare, Jeanette responded, “I am committed to contributing to society. I have been very committed to issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. This has included a focus on health and social determinants.” Reflecting on her career, she says that one of the biggest accomplishments as a health leader was initiating and leading the development of the Specialized Services for Children and Youth in Manitoba. This brought many health care, social services, and education partners together to redesign services for the population in an integrated and person-centred environment.
Jeanette has been an inspirational steward of quality and patient safety for Manitoba’s healthcare systems for decades. Woven into this stewardship is a steadfast dedication to the development and support of healthcare leaders through mentorship.
Through her tireless work to improve healthcare in Manitoba and the world, she has spent her career informally mentoring healthcare workers. Her ability to build professional and trust-based relationships with mentees as well as community members is commendable.
Jeanette was presented the CCHL’s 2021 Mentorship Award in the spring of 2021. She has been an inspirational supporter of mentorship throughout her career and mentors have guided her to embrace true interprofessional practice. She was mentored to consider leadership as supporting a collective effort, one of shared decision making, and problem solving. She sees mentorship as a movement from engagement to one of involvement.
CHE
Jeanette elected to pursue the CHE designation for several reasons. One of these was a commitment to lifelong learning and ensuring a recognized approach to leadership credibility. She has also been committed to promoting the College and encouraging the health system to recognize the CHE designation in recruiting and mentoring new leaders.
She would give the following advice to aspiring health leaders: “Become a member of the CCHL. Engage/volunteer with your local CCHL chapter. Participate and attend in as many CCHL learning events as possible.”
Jeanette also recommends accessing the CCHL’s new member-benefit the CCHL Circle, a virtual networking and leadership development platform that also hosts the refreshed Mentorship Program. Launched October 28, 2021, the Circle offers CCHL members an opportunity to connect in real time, participate in free on-demand expert-led leadership development opportunities, and join meaningful moderated dialogues on current topics and challenges facing health leadership.
Members with the CHE designation, such as Jeanette, can access the Advanced Leader community of the Circle that offers additional leadership development services included micro-learning, group coaching, and career support webinars. Those with their CHE can also earn Maintenance of Certification (MOC) category I credits through interactions and participation in Circle activities, tracked and logged automatically by CCHL.
We would like to thank Jeanette for her time and for sharing her experience and perspectives with the Canadian College of Health Leaders’ members in this CHE Spotlight.
