Awards

Deb Gordon named recipient of the 2021 Nursing Leadership Award

March 29, 2021

The Canadian College of Health Leaders is proud to announce that Deb Gordon, Vice President and COO, Clinical Operations at Alberta Health Services, has been named recipient of the 2021 Nursing Leadership Award.

Deb Gordon’s leadership ability knows no limit, moving from coordinator to Chief Operating Officer
throughout her tremendous career. Previously as Vice President of Health Professions Strategy and Practice, her nursing leadership shined as her team of 300 health professionals developed, implemented and evaluated clinical workforce programs and services.

Deb is currently implementing Operational Best Practices by integrating internal and external benchmarking across AHS. To date, over $210M has been saved while maintaining or improving quality
of care. Her leadership has been paramount to Alberta’s COVID-19 response, creating over 2400 blocked beds and 150 ICU spaces during the first wave, which helped resume 90 per cent of clinical capacity.

Deb has served on the Board of Directors of Children’s Healthcare Canada and the Board of Governors of
the Women’s and Children’s Health Research Institute. As an Associate Faculty Member at University of
Alberta, she has co-authored publications and is a frequent keynote speaker.

The Nursing Leadership Award builds on the themes of patient centered care and leadership, and honours those who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to excellence in these areas.

This award is sponsored by Baxter. Baxter touches the lives of millions of people around the world every day. Their products and therapies can be found throughout hospitals and clinics – from the ER to the OR, from the pharmacy to the ICU – as well as advancing patients’ care in their homes.  

This award is part of our CCHL National Awards Program. and will be presented at the virtual Honouring Health Leadership event on June 16, 2021.

For further information and/or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Christian Coulombe
Director, Marketing and Communications 
Canadian College of Health Leaders
613-235-7219, ext. 213
ccoulombe@cchl-ccls.ca