“The College is a reference for health leaders.” This is the message that Liette Bernier, Director of Corporate Services and Urban Partnerships at CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, wishes to convey to future health leaders. With a nursing training, a master’s degree in public administration and a doctorate in public health and health services organization, Liette has what it takes to make a positive impact in the Quebec Chapter. For several years, both in her professional and academic involvement, she has sought to foster reconciliation between these two fields and has been involved in various projects and initiatives aimed at promoting the integration of care and services through a sectoral, intersectoral and community vision.
Having wanted to work in health care since she was a child, Liette was guided by her desire to help and care for others. This desire led her to become involved as a health manager to improve care and services.
Versatile and resourceful, Liette is also responsible for the implementation of the urban health approach for her establishment of over 22,000 employees and overseeing several regional files in Montréal. In this context and amid the pandemic, she chaired the organizing committee of the first urban health symposium in Quebec. She describes this event, which took place on November 23 and brought together more than 500 people, including 300 in attendance, as her greatest success as a health leader. According to her, it was a great mobilizing success with many important spin-offs in the Montréal region.
A member of the College for over six years and chapter Chair for almost four years, Liette’s involvement is remarkable. Despite the pandemic that has been going on since March 2020, Liette has continued to be involved and has made several remarkable achievements within her chapter, including the development of the chapter’s action plan, LEADS training at the CHUQ and CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, and the planning of the first Colloque francophone des leaders en santé.
She initially decided to join the Quebec Chapter out of a desire to provide more ongoing support to executives. Seeing the lack of support for managers as a result of the various reforms in Quebec, Liette first joined the executive committee and then accepted the presidency four years ago with the goal of continuing to support the leadership development of managers and developing the Quebec Chapter of the CCHL. She recognizes the real efforts of the College over the past few years to Frenchify its communications, tools and documentation, a key to its optimal deployment in Quebec.
In recognition of her efforts, the Quebec Chapter Executive Committee has chosen to present its 2022 Chapter Award for Outstanding Contribution to Liette Bernier.
