Safehaven Senior Leadership Team
Susan Bisaillon | Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Susan Bisaillon is a healthcare executive with over 30 years of experience in academic and large community healthcare organizations as well as the community. She has expertise in leading health system transformation and providing a coordinated approach across systems to improve organizational effectiveness. As a healthcare leader, Susan has overseen operations in various clinical programs, patient flow, infection prevention and control and implementation of strategic priorities associated with a hospital merger. Currently, she is Chief Executive Officer at Safehaven.
As a healthcare leader, Susan is recognized for her strategic and operational experience, focus on quality and leading system change. Prior to Safehaven, she was Chief Operating Officer at Oakville Trafalgar Hospital. At Trillium Health Partners she was Associate Vice President, Operational Coordination and pre-merger at Trillium Health Centre held the positions of Executive Director of Clinical Operations and Director of Neuroscience / Musculoskeletal Health System and Complex Care. At the University Health Network, she assumed several leadership positions including Clinical Educator in Critical Care, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Cardiology, and Nurse Manager for the Coronary Intensive Care Unit and Cardiac Catheterization Labs in the Peter Munk Cardiac Program.
Susan holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Nursing from Memorial University in Newfoundland, and a Registered Nursing diploma from Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Susan is a surveyor with Accreditation Canada and Accreditation Canada International.
Larissa Smit | Director, Strategy & Systems Innovation
Larissa Smit joined Safehaven in January 2021 as Director of Strategy and Systems Innovation. She has held previous leadership roles in the health sector as Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Trillium Health Partners, Strategic Advisor at SickKids and Executive Director of Kids Health Alliance. She has extensive experience in government and politics as the Director of Health Policy to the Premier of Ontario where she was involved in the development of the health care transformation that established Ontario Health and Ontario Health Teams. Larissa has a BA in Political Science from Brock University and completed her Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Ivey Business School (Western University) in 2022. Larissa’s expertise in strategy, policy, government relations and communications will support Safehaven’s future planning and growth.
Juliet Rodrigo | Director, Operations & Performance Excellence
Juliet Rodrigo joined Safehaven in January as Director of Operations and Performance Excellence. Juliet joins Safehaven from University Health Network where she was the Business Operations Manager in the Centre for Mental Health. Prior to this role, she worked at Sick Kids as an Administrative Research Coordinator in the department of Pediatrics and has worked with the Arthritis Society as Administrative Coordinator. Juliet has completed her Masters of Business Administration from Athabasca University, Network Administration System Specialist Technician from CDI College and Business Administration from Clarke College. As well, Juliet has completed many certifications in leadership, Project Management, LEAN and Six Sigma. In addition, Juliet has expertise in digital strategy and operational informatics that will be invaluable as we advance our strategic priorities for the future.
Michael Rotstein | Director, Clinical Programs & Client Relations
Michael Rotstein is the Director of Clinical Programs and Client Relations at Safehaven since February 2023. He is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years in healthcare and 10 years in leadership roles. His clinical background is in tertiary paediatric care at the Hospital for Sick Children, where he started his career and worked in several areas before moving into infection prevention and control. He then moved to Mackenzie Health and St. Joseph’s Health Centre as the manager of IPAC as well as other portfolio responsibilities, including the medical device reprocessing department and ambulatory care services. Michael also has experience in home and community care services with Closing the Gap Healthcare in Ontario and Nova Scotia.
Michael has his Nursing Diploma from George Brown College, a Bachelor of Nursing from Ryerson, a Bachelor of Health Administration from Ryerson, and his Master of Health Sciences from the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. He is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders and is Certified in Infection Control by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology.
Michael is committed to quality client care across all of Safehaven’s current and future programming for medically complex children, youth, and adults in our care.