Shirlee Sharkey
CEO | Saint Elizabeth
Markham, ON, CANADA
Health executive and social innovator
Biography
Shirlee Sharkey is president and chief executive officer of Saint Elizabeth, a leading national health care organization known for its social innovation, strong financial performance and pioneering practices. As an award-winning and diversified not-for-profit, Saint Elizabeth employs over 8,000 people and has delivered 50 million health care visits in the past decade.
Shirlee’s commitment to community advancement is evident in her leadership and involvement on many boards, ranging from health to education. In January 2014, Shirlee was appointed to chair the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee, a standing committee for Health Quality Ontario. She also serves on the Ontario Health Innovation Council. She is a past chair of George Brown College in Toronto and a former president of the Canadian Home Care Association. In 2007, the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care appointed Shirlee as an expert advisor on staffing and care standards for long-term care homes in the province.
Academically, Shirlee is cross-appointed to the University of Toronto’s Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation as an adjunct professor. She has appeared on a number of media panels and is widely published on home and community-based health care, health transformation, social innovation and breakthrough leadership.
Industry Expertise (5)
Corporate Leadership
Non-Profit/Charitable
Health Care - Providers
Health Care - Services
Elder Care
Areas of Expertise (24)
Home Care
Home and Community Care
Home Care Public Policy
Healthcare and Seniors
Healthcare Transformation
Health Innovation
Nursing Leadership
Social Innovation
Social Enterprises
Shared Value
Social Impact
Innovation
Leadership
Health Information Technology
Long-Term Care
Long-term Care and Community
Long-Term Care Delivery Best Practices
Community Care
Not-For-Profit
Not-For-Profit Business Transformation
Not For Profit Boards
Mobile Workforce
End of Life Care
Palliative Care
Accomplishments (4)
Canada Order of Excellence - Innovation, Excellence and Wellness (professional)
2015-11-15
The Canada Order of Excellence is the highest national quality award of Canada, administered by Excellence Canada, a not-for-profit organization on behalf of the Governor General.
Human Spirit Award (professional)
2015-06-15
Recognizes health care providers or teams for acts of caring and compassion that go above and beyond the call of duty, which inspire others and have a profound and lasting impact. (Canadian College of Health Leaders).
Diamond Jubilee Medal of Queen Elizabeth II (personal)
2012-06-01
A commemorative medal created in 2012 to recognize significant achievements by Canadians and mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession.
Innovation Award for Health Care Leadership (personal)
2010-06-01
Recognizes the outstanding capabilities and achievements of a senior executive who has made innovation a focal point of his or her organization’s strategy in order to create high impact results. (Canadian College of Health Leaders).
Education (7)
Harvard Business School: Executive Education, Creating Shared Value: Economic Success and Social Impact 2016
Harvard Business School: Executive Education, Strategy for Health Care Delivery 2009
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto: ICD.D, Directors Education Program, Institute of Corporate Directors 2008
Canadian College of Health Leaders: C.H.E., Certified Health Executive 1994
University of Toronto: M.H.Sc., Health Administration 1992
University of Windsor: B.Sc.N., Nursing 1978
University of Windsor: B.A. 1976
Affiliations (8)
- Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto - cross appointed to the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto
- Chair, Excellence Canada
- Member, Advisory Board, EXCITE International
- Member, Health Policy Council, CD Howe Institute
- Member, Advisory Council, Ivey International Centre for Health Innovation
- Member, Advisory Board, Rotman School of Management, Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Member, Board of Directors, Canadian Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation
- Champion’s Council, Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
Links (2)
Languages (1)
- English
Media Appearances (5)
Interview: International Perspectives
Singularity University #xMed tv
2015-11-11
Shirlee Sharkey and Lesley Larsen at #xMed 2015
Ontario’s piecemeal palliative care gets a road map to recovery
Globe & Mail online
2014-12-15
Every patient nearing end-of-life should have access to quality palliative care in the location of their choice, according to an expert Ontario panel.
New report highlights need for better end-of-life care
Toronto Star online
2014-12-15
Only 30 per cent of Ontarians with chronic illness receive hospice or palliative care when they die, part of what needs to change as population ages, report says.
Health Quality Ontario Appoints New Chair to Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee
Health Quality Ontario online
2014-01-09
Dr. Andreas Laupacis, Chair of the Board of Directors of Health Quality Ontario (HQO), today announced the appointment of Shirlee Sharkey as the new Chair of the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee (OHTAC).
No minimum standard for senior care
Toronto Star
2008-06-18
Released yesterday, the report by Ontario health-care expert Shirlee Sharkey recommends guidelines that, in the next four years, could provide the province's 75,000 nursing home residents with up to four hours of care each day, depending on their needs.
Event Appearances (5)
Home care, long-term care, community care and mental health
Canada 2020: A Health Accord for All Canadians Ottawa, Canada
2016-09-29
Keynote: Spreading hope and happiness
Our Future Health Nijmegen, The Netherlands (watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0Mb4pfkAsY)
2016-05-26
Closing keynote
Corporate State Canada Toronto, Canada
2016-05-11
Keynote: The one-of-a-kind health care show – starring YOU!
Accreditation Canada Montreal, Canada
2016-04-25
Plenary: That was then; this is now. OMG, here’s tomorrow!
SOCAP14 San Francisco, California
2014-09-02
Articles (5)
It’s time to innovate innovation
MaRS2016-10-31
When everything is innovative, nothing is. Innovation is defined in myriad ways, but it is really a process, a mindset, a framework. It’s looking at your work in an entirely new way that allows new inputs and ideas to flow.
Community and home care - the digital age
Longwoods2016-09-20
This letter is part of a series of Open Letters from Canadian leaders in health care.
We must innovate to improve home care
Ottawa Citizen2016-07-12
An op-ed on change and innovation in health care.
What a weed whacker taught me about being a leader
The Globe and Mail2015-07-16
This column is part of Globe Careers’ Leadership Lab series, where executives and experts share their views and advice about leadership and management.
Three tips to engage your mobile work force
The Globe and Mail2014-11-18
This column is part of Globe Careers’ Leadership Lab series, where executives and experts share their views and advice about leadership and management.
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