Nursing Leadership at UHN
Dr. Joy Richards, UHN's Vice-President Professional Practice and Chief Nurse Executive, graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1981, and a Master of Nursing in 2000. She then went on to complete a Master of Arts in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University in 2005. Joy is also a graduate of the Queen's University Executive Program and is a Johnson & Johnson Wharton Fellow, University of Pennsylvania.
She completed her PhD studies in 2008, in Human and Organizational Development at Fielding Graduate University: Her dissertation focused on exploring and understanding the development and practice of feminine courage in leadership. Joy's particular interests, focus and passion are in the area of clinical leadership, quality of work-life environments and the development of client-centred practice settings, with a special focus on excellence in geriatric care.
Her previous experience includes progressive senior nursing management positions in the acute care and long-term care sectors; she was Vice-President and Chief Nursing Executive at both Baycrest Hospital and Scarborough Hospital.
Dr. Richards has received several awards including the Ontario Hospital Association's Award of Excellence in Nursing Leadership in 2010 and the Sigma Theta Tau International Award for Excellence in Nursing Administration – Lambda Pi Chapter in 2007.
She has considerable experience in nursing education and nursing informatics and has presented and published her work nationally and internationally. Dr. Richards is the immediate Past-President of the Academy of Canadian Executive Nurses (ACEN) and holds a teaching position at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), within the Faculty of Health Sciences. She also holds clinical appointments at the University of Toronto Faculty of Nursing, York University Faculty of Nursing, and at Humber College.
Dr. Richards is a strong advocate for interprofessional practice and a passionate champion for excellence in patient-centred care.
