Katie Lafferty

Chair, Board of Directors

Q: Why do you volunteer on the Board of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute?

A: I truly believe that the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is a world-class research institution and that Ottawa is very lucky to have such talent here in our home town. The new therapies and approaches being tested really could be game-changers. As someone who has a history of cancer and stroke in my family, I know that the work being done could affect not only my family, but thousands of others. It’s a privilege to serve these amazing scientists... to help them realize their dreams - and ours.

Katie Lafferty is a management consultant and the former Chief Executive Officer of the Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, a national organization focused on collaborative research, training, and knowledge translation in stroke recovery. Prior to this role, Ms. Lafferty served for twelve years as the Executive Director of the Canadian Stroke Network, a non-profit entity funded by the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program. In that role, she oversaw the development and implementation of the Canadian Stroke Strategy and the Canadian Stroke Congress.

Ms. Lafferty currently serves on the Board of Directors of CorHealth Ontario, The Ottawa Hospital, the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (Vice Chair), and the Steering Committee of the Canadian Vascular Network. Since 2013, Ms. Lafferty has assisted the NCE program and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation in reviewing applications for new networks and research investments as both an Expert Panel participant and Chair.

In 2006, Ms. Lafferty and her husband founded Watson’s Pharmacy and Compounding Centre in Old Ottawa East, and in 2012 they opened a second pharmacy on Wellington St. West. In 2013, Watson’s won a national Commitment to Care award for its integrated pharmacy program.

Prior to 2001, Ms. Lafferty was a Principal Consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Washington D.C. and London, England. Ms. Lafferty holds a BSc in biology from Queen’s University and a Master of Science in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2010, Ms. Lafferty was recognized by the Ottawa Business Journal as one of Ottawa’s “Top 40 under 40” for her contributions in the health sector.