I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Demetra Kafantaris to the position of Executive Director, Administration and Operations, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, effective June 17, 2019. This appointment is the outcome of an extensive recruitment effort involving several outstanding candidates, both internal and external.
Demetra Kafantaris brings to this position three decades of exemplary administrative expertise and experience from within the McGill Faculty of Medicine academic health network. Most recently, Demetra served as Senior Advisor to the undersigned, Vice-Principal (Health Affairs) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University. Among the myriad dossiers supported by Ms. Kafantaris in this role are the Faculty’s five-year strategic planning initiative (Project Renaissance), the creation and reinforcement of its governance structure, the launch of the Faculty’s International Office and the Clinical Innovation Competition, in addition to the day-to-day, week-to-week priorities the Faculty navigates in its ongoing commitment to excellence in education, research and clinical care for the communities we serve.
Prior to joining the McGill Faculty of Medicine, Demetra served as Senior Advisor to the Executive Team of the Montreal Children’s Hospital, where she liaised with the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and co-led a number of major strategic planning and process improvement initiatives. Among these was the launch of the Brain-Development-Behaviour Integrated Clinical Network, designed to improve patient access to services and coordination of care. She also served as an elected member of the MUHC Board of Directors for five years.
Prior to assuming her role at the Children’s Hospital, Ms. Kafantaris helped complete several pivotal initiatives and mergers in her position as Planner for the MUHC, including at the Royal Victoria Hospital’s Heart Failure Centre, the Montreal General Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit and the Cedars Breast Clinic. She also spearheaded programs in the Occupational Health and Safety sector of Human Resources at the Royal Victoria Hospital for seven years. Her career within the McGill health community began at the Montreal Neurological Hospital in 1989. Ms. Kafantaris holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Master’s in Business Administration from Concordia University, as well as a Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety from l’Université de Montréal.
As Executive Director, Administration and Operations, Demetra will be responsible for overseeing the administration and operations of the Faculty of Medicine, in support of the academic vision, mission and values. Reporting to the Vice-Principal (Health Affairs) and Dean of Medicine, Demetra will provide leadership and expertise in the areas of human resources, financial responsibility, space and facility planning, and information technology. She will manage and lead a team of professionals, management and support staff, and work closely with the Faculty’s and the University’s academic and administrative leadership, while representing the Faculty at internal and external meetings, with the professionalism, trust, rigour and respect for which she is well known.
Please join me in warmly welcoming Ms. Demetra Kafantaris into her new role and in wishing her great success in advancing our shared goals for excellence, for our students and for patients.
Vice-Principal (Health Affairs)
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
June 17, 2019