Julie Nicholls

Julie Nicholls has a diverse work experience spanning over several industries and roles. Julie began their career as a Corporate Buyer at Vallen Safety Supply Company, where they forecasted and purchased goods for distribution. Following this, they worked as an Administrative Resident at Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre and Cancer Care Ontario, where they collaborated with leaders to develop business plans and corporate strategies.

Julie then joined Grand River Hospital as the Director of Health Information Management, managing a team of 52 staff and resolving union grievances. Julie later became the Director of Risk Management and Patient Safety, creating a culture of learning from adverse events and improving safety culture.

Julie also held roles at the Canadian Mental Health Association, Waterloo Wellington, facilitating the development and implementation of mental health services improvement plans. At Health Quality Ontario, they worked as a Regional Quality Improvement Specialist, building relationships and promoting the use of quality improvement tools and standards.

Julie has contributed to Ontario Health | Santé Ontario in multiple capacities. Julie supported the COVID secretariat by coordinating concerns and needs, and developed a contingency supply plan for N95 respirators. Additionally, they worked as a Quality Improvement Specialist for integrated care and bundled care, coaching teams and supporting the development of online tools and resources.

Most recently, Julie joined St. Mary's General Hospital as the Manager of Quality and Patient Experience, leading activities to support patient experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and building capacity for quality improvement initiatives.

In 2018, Julie also had a part-time role at Conestoga College, where they developed and delivered healthcare leadership curriculum and supported new faculty.

Overall, Julie's work experience showcases their expertise in quality improvement, patient experience, healthcare leadership, and curriculum development.

Julie Nicholls has a diverse education history. In 1992-1996, they pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at the University of Waterloo. Later on, Julie completed a Master of Business Administration degree with a Co-op specialization in Health Services Management from McMaster University between 1999 and 2003. In 2002, they obtained a certificate in Risk Management from the American Society for Health Risk Management. In 2009-2010, they acquired a Certificate in Mental Health Law from York University's Osgoode Hall Law School. Additionally, Julie attended Conestoga College in 2019 and obtained a Higher National Diploma in Intercultural Teaching Practices, along with a Recognition of Learning Certificate. Julie's most recent educational experience was in 2022-2023, when they completed a Diploma in Excellence in Quality Improvement Certificate Program (EQUIP) at the University of Toronto.