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July 21, 2026, Ottawa, Ont. — CHEO is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jean-Philippe Vaccani as Chief of Staff and Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Vaccani is an accomplished pediatric otolaryngologist, educator and physician leader who has served CHEO since 2003. He has held numerous leadership roles across the organization, including Chief of Surgery, Deputy Chief of Staff, President of the Medical Staff, and Interim Chief of Staff and Chief Medical Officer.
As Chief of Surgery, Dr. Vaccani has helped expand access to pediatric surgical care, strengthen surgical capacity and advance regional models of care that support children, youth and families closer to home. He has also contributed nationally to medical education, accreditation and competency-based training through leadership roles with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
“JP is a respected and collaborative leader who understands CHEO deeply and shares our commitment to improving care for children, youth and families,” said Dr. Vera Etches, president and CEO of CHEO. “His experience across clinical care, education, quality improvement and regional partnership will be a tremendous asset as CHEO continues to build the future of pediatric health care.”
A francophone raised in Ottawa, Dr. Vaccani has emphasized the importance of ensuring language is not a barrier to safe, high-quality care. He has also articulated a practical vision for strengthening CHEO as a learning health system, connecting clinical operations, research, education and improvement in ways that support teams and improve outcomes.
“CHEO has been my professional home for more than two decades,” said Dr. Vaccani. “I am honoured to take on this role and to work with our medical staff, teams, learners, partners, patients and families to keep improving the care we provide together.”
Dr. Vaccani will begin in the role on September 1, 2026.
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About CHEO
Based in Canada’s capital, CHEO is a globally renowned health institution with a mission to provide exceptional care and support to children, youth and their families. Opening our doors in 1974, we offer a full range of specialized pediatric care and services to children from eastern and northern Ontario, western Quebec and Nunavut. Our site is home to a hospital, a children’s treatment centre, a school, a research institute, and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa as an academic health science centre. We are home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives.