June 27, 2025 – Ottawa/Arnprior, ON – Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH) and Arnprior Regional Health (ARH) will be implementing a joint chief of staff model, appointing QCH’s Dr. Kathi Kovacs to the role, effective August 1, 2025.
Dr. Kovacs has served as Chief of Staff at QCH since 2020. Expanding her role to include ARH is a strategic and financially responsible decision that allows both hospitals to share the cost of medical leadership while building stronger connections between clinical teams.
This partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving local health care through collaboration, especially important at a time when hospitals across Ontario face growing demands and tighter budgets.
At ARH, the appointment builds on the recent launch of the Hospitalist model on the Inpatient Unit. This model, introduced under the leadership of Dr. Florin Padeanu, has already improved the consistency and quality of care for admitted patients. Dr. Kovacs brings valuable experience supporting similar programs and will work closely with local physicians to help ensure its long-term success.
“This is a practical approach that helps us deliver high-quality care while managing costs wisely,” said Jeremy Stevenson, President and CEO of ARH. “Dr. Kovacs brings strong leadership and a collaborative mindset and we’re very pleased to welcome her to the ARH team.”
QCH leaders echoed that sentiment, highlighting the value of strong, regional collaboration.
“I’m excited to collaborate with Arnprior Regional Health. I believe that by working together, we can share knowledge, strengthen our organizations, and ultimately provide even better care,” said Dr. Kovacs, Chief of Staff at Queensway Carleton Hospital. “As a healthcare community, we need to find ways to do things differently, drive the long-term sustainability of the healthcare system, and support the people that are at the heart of it.”
This unique opportunity builds on a strong existing partnership through the Total Knee Surgery Program, which has seen over 1,062 performed at ARH by QCH surgeons with the support of the ARH team. This collaboration has increased regional surgical capacity, freed up OR time at QCH for more complex cases, and helped reduce wait times across the board.
The ARH Board of Directors and Senior Management Team also extends their sincere thanks to Dr. Florin Padeanu, who has served as Chief of Staff since 2022. His leadership has guided ARH through a period of significant change, including the introduction of the Hospitalist model and ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are grateful for everything Dr. Padeanu has contributed in this role,” said Stevenson. “We’re also pleased to share that he will continue caring for patients through his primary care practice at the Tall Pines Clinic and as a hospitalist physician on our Inpatient Unit.”
Dr. Kovacs will officially begin her joint role on August 1, 2025.