New Brockville hospital CEO has Cornwall connections

In this Thursday, May 18, 2017 photo provided by BGH, Nicholas Vlacholias has been named the CEO of the Brockville General Hospital. (BGH via Newswatch Group)

BROCKVILLE – The new top man at Brockville General Hospital is no stranger to top administrative positions, which included Cornwall.

Nicholas Vlacholias has accepted the position as president and CEO of the hospital, effective July 17, provincial supervisor Kevin Empey announced Tuesday.

Vlacholias has over 20 years of experience with a “solid financial background” – most recently as the senior vice president and CFO of CHEO in Ottawa.

Prior to CHEO, he was the chief operating officer (COO) of the Cornwall Community Hospital, as well as holding other positions prior to the amalgamation of the two Cornwall hospital sites.

Vlacholias was chosen after a “robust recruitment process” which saw applicants from across Canada, the hospital explained.

Vlacholias will be in familiar territory to start off, as he shadows Acting President and CEO, Jeanette Despatie — a former Cornwall colleague — during his transition period.

Despatie was part of a recovery team brought in after the hospital cut ties with its CEO in July 2016, when BGH was in a state financial turmoil.

The province even appointed a supervisor for the Brockville General Hospital.

Mired in a $4.2 million deficit in 2016, BGH had to take out a $5.3 million short-term loan in September just to pay its bills.