Should you find yourself walking the halls of the Civic, don’t be surprised if you see Dr. Virginia Roth pass by you — coffee in hand. She’s been Chief of Staff at The Ottawa Hospital since 2018 and is the first female to hold the role. Her coffee walks are part of an intentional focus on physical and mental wellbeing — topics she feels passionate about — and role-modeling them to others.
Dr. Roth is an Infectious Diseases specialist who previously worked as an epidemic intelligence service officer at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is renowned for her work on some of the world’s most high-profile diseases, from H1N1 to SARS to MRSA. This expertise was invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic when Dr. Roth’s decisive leadership — evidenced throughout her career — undoubtedly impacted countless lives.
And in October 2023, when a fire broke out at the General Campus, Dr. Roth’s leadership was once again on full display as she helped ensure the safety of staff and patients — including 17 fragile babies who had to be relocated from the NICU. While several floors were damaged by smoke and water, incredibly, no one was injured.
During her time at our hospital, she’s also been a strong advocate for patient-centered care and has spearheaded many initiatives to help cultivate the potential of female staff. In fact, in 2011, she founded the hospital’s Women Physician Leadership Committee, formerly known as the Female Physician Leadership Committee. The Committee identifies, mentors, and trains potential leaders, and supports existing leaders.
More than a decade later, the committee is still going strong and the number of women division and department heads at the hospital increased by 46%.
