Province Names New Nova Scotia Health President and CEO

The new President and CEO of Nova Scotia Health is its Executive Vice-President, Dr. Nicole Boutilier.

“Dr. Boutilier is known for her collaborative leadership style and ability to bring people together around a shared vision. She has been an excellent leader at Nova Scotia Health,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness. “She will lead a very capable team there. I also want to thank Karen Oldfield for nearly five years of tremendous work at Nova Scotia Health.”

The appointment takes effect Wednesday, July 1.

Dr. Boutilier, currently responsible for medicine and clinical operations at Nova Scotia Health, is a highly respected physician and healthcare executive who has helped shape the delivery of healthcare across Nova Scotia.

Raised in Pictou County and a graduate of Dalhousie Medical School, she is a family doctor who has practised in a variety of settings in rural Nova Scotia while leading major initiatives to strengthen physician engagement, drive innovation and support healthcare transformation.

Dr. Boutilier is also a certified executive coach dedicated to mentoring and developing the next generation of healthcare leaders. Most recently, she received the 2026 Chris Carruthers Excellence in Medical Leadership Award from the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders for her exceptional leadership and lasting impact on the medical profession in Nova Scotia.

Dr. Boutilier will take over from Ms. Oldfield, who has held the position since 2021.

Ms. Oldfield will become the CEO of Accelerate Nova Scotia, a new agency with a mandate to transform Nova Scotia’s world-class health innovation into economic growth. The agency will lead the commercialization and global expansion of healthcare technologies, products, services and research developed in Nova Scotia. It aims to secure strategic partnerships, attract investment, and create new markets, establishing the province as a national and international leader in health innovation.

Quotes:

“Healthcare is my life's work, and I am deeply honoured by the opportunity to lead Nova Scotia Health. Nova Scotia is my home and together with our dedicated teams across the province, I look forward to building on the strong foundation that has been created and continuing to improve access, quality and experiences for Nova Scotians through innovation, research and ongoing transformation.”
— Dr. Nicole Boutilier, incoming President and CEO, Nova Scotia Health

Additional Resources:

Dr. Nicole Boutilier bio: https://www.nshealth.ca/featured-people/dr-nicole-boutilier