Executive Leadership Bios

Dr. Zahn joined CAMH as President and Chief Executive Officer in December, 2009. Dr. Zahn stepped into this position at a critical time for the organization. CAMH’s bold transformation agenda includes its ambitious redevelopment project, integration and enhancement of clinical programs, expansion of research and innovation capacity, and continuing public education and social advocacy to challenge the stigma attached to mental illness and addictions. 

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Zahn was Executive Vice President, Clinical Programs and Practice, at the University Health Network (UHN). She has held senior leadership roles in that organization for 12 years. Previous UHN positions have included Vice President and COO of TWH, Program Medical Director for Neuroscience and Division Head for Neurology. She was the inaugural chair holder for the Krembil Family Chair in Neurology. Dr. Zahn’s reputation for hospital integration and her leadership of the renaissance of the Toronto Western Hospital (TWH) make her well equipped to lead CAMH during this pivotal time.

An honors graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto (U of T), she completed her residency training in neurology at U of T. Dr. Zahn is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and a Professor in the U of T Faculty of Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and is internationally recognized for her contributions to neurologic education and to standards of practice in neurology. Dr. Zahn earned a Masters in Health Science Degree in Health Administration at U of T and has made numerous contributions to health care in Ontario through leadership in technology assessment, chronic disease management and stroke care coordination.

Recent honors include the U of T Faculty of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation prize for Innovation. Dr. Zahn was recognized by the Women’s Executive Network as one of Canada’s 100 most powerful women in the professional category. She continues to practice in her area of clinical and academic interest -- epilepsy and women with epilepsy.

Darrell Louise Gregersen joined the CAMH Foundation as President and CEO on January 5, 2009. She came to CAMH from the National Arts Centre, where she was the Executive Director of Development and the CEO of the National Arts Centre Foundation in Ottawa. During the eight years she spent at the NAC, Darrell made a remarkable impact on performing arts and arts education fundraising. She created the NAC Foundation and recruited an exceptional board of trustees, built a talented and professional fundraising team, and implemented a comprehensive development program. The results have been remarkable-- she raised more than $42 million for the performing arts and education in communities all across Canada.

Before joining the NAC, Ms. Gregersen spent 15 years in healthcare development-- her relationship with CAMH came through her work at the NAC Roundtables on Health and the Arts. Until 2000 she was Senior Director of Philanthropic Programs at The Hospital for Sick Children Foundation in Toronto, where she was responsible for directing a record-breaking $86 million Research Endowment Campaign.  She also initiated a comprehensive Major and Gift Planning program, raising over $20 million for the Foundation annually.

As Executive Vice President, Corporate Services and Redevelopment, Dev’s responsibilities encompass Finance, Human Resources, Information Management, Business Development, Support Services and the Site Redevelopment Project.

Prior to joining CAMH as Vice President Finance and Support Services in 2001, he held the positions of Vice President, Finance, at Ontario Hydro, and Vice President of Finance and Administration at Humber College.Over the years, Dev has served on a number of not-for-profit boards including the Yellow Brick House (a women’s shelter in York region), Toronto Community Foundation, and HEPCOE Credit Union. He currently serves on the CAMH Foundation Board.

Dr. Mulsant is currently Physician in Chief and Clinical Director of CAMH’s Geriatric Mental Health Program. He is also Professor and Vice-Chair in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh where he served for more than 10 years as the Associate Director of the Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Program and the Medical Director of the Electroconvulsive Therapy Service.   

Benoit earned his MD from Laval University, Quebec; he completed his internship in internal medicine and neurology at Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, and Montreal Neurological Hospital, and his residency in psychiatry at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Mulsant has authored more than 270 journal articles and book chapters. He is currently a principal investigator for several federally-funded clinical research trials on psychiatric disorders in geriatric patients.

Sarah has nearly 20 years of progressive leadership experience in various planning and operations roles in several academic health science centres in Ontario. In her most recent role as Vice-President Princess Margaret Hospital at the University Health Network, her responsibilities included all clinical and support services at Canada's largest comprehensive cancer centre. In addition to her Masters of Health Administration from the University of Ottawa, Sarah Downey holds Certified Health Executive designation at the Canadian College of Health Leaders. She has published several articles on hospital practices, spoken at numerous healthcare conferences and is an active volunteer in the healthcare community. 

In his position as the Vice President of Research, Dr. Pollock leads a team of more than 500, including 100 internationally recognized researchers investigating all aspects of mental illness and addictions, from the cellular to the social level. Bruce is also the Sandra A. Rotman Chair in Neuropsychiatry at the Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest, and Professor and Head, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry with the faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Pollock's own research includes clinical treatment of depression and the behavioral disturbances of dementia; more broadly, he is concerned with improving our diagnoses and understanding of the social and biologic determinants of mental health and addictions. He has authored more than 300 published articles and has been recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and received the Distinguished Investigator Award of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) for contributions to the body of research in geriatric psychiatry. Currently, Dr. Pollock is President of the AAGP, the first Canadian to serve in this position.

Ivan Silver is the Vice President, Education. Dr. Silver is responsible for creating a learning environment that will draw students and trainees to our hospital. He is dedicated to inter-professional collaboration, work-based learning, and linking health professional education to the principals of knowledge translation, quality and patient safety.

Dr. Silver is Vice Dean of Continuing Education and Professional Development in the Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto. His strong credentials include a Masters of Education, and he works as an Educational Consultant with the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael's Hospital. In addition, he is a practicing psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre where his focus is geriatric psychiatry. Dr. Silver has built a national reputation as a skilled clinician and educator. Among his many awards and honours is the prestigious 3M Teaching Fellowship, a national award that recognizes outstanding contributions to university teaching across all faculties.

Susan Pigott is the Vice President, Communications and Community Engagement, where her responsibilities include overseeing CAMH’s internal and external Communications, Media Relations, Diversity, Bioethics, Strategic Planning, and Workman Arts Programs. Trained as a nurse and a social worker, Susan has worked in the non-profit human services field in Toronto for over 25 years. Prior to joining CAMH, Susan was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of St. Christopher House, a community-based multi-service agency.

Susan is an active volunteer, currently serving as a Board member of the Toronto City Summit Alliance, Social Enterprise and Development Innovation, Tides Canada and Soul Pepper Theatre Company. She also co-chaired the Task Force on Modernizing Income Security for Working Age Adults with the Toronto City Summit Alliance. 

Lori Spadorcia is the Executive Director, Office of Strategy and Partnerships for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. As a member of the CAMH Senior Management Team, Lori is responsible for providing strategic advice to the President and CEO, Board of Trustees and senior managers on key initiatives related to government relations, public policy, resource acquisition and partnership initiatives.

With over 15 years experience in public affairs and stakeholder relations, Lori has worked with many of Canada’s senior federal and provincial government leaders as well as leaders from the corporate and non-profit sectors. Lori’s vast experience at the federal and provincial levels of government included leading the negotiations between Canada’s provinces and the Federal Government to spearhead the first ever early learning and child care multilateral framework, organizing the National Innovation Summit and G8 Summit for international Labour and Skills Ministers, managing the policy and research team for the federal Leader of the Official Opposition, and advising Ontario’s Minister of Finance on policy initiatives in the provincial Budget. Lori holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from McMaster University and she has completed leadership training at Harvard University.