Executive Leadership Team

Margaret Melanson is the President and CEO of Horizon Health Network and in 2025, she was named a Top 50 CEO in Atlantic Canada by Atlantic Business Magazine for her pioneering and transformative work in people-centred care. She has held many prominent leadership roles within Horizon, including interim President and CEO, Vice President, Clinical Services and Vice President, Quality and Patient Centred Care. Previously, she was the Executive Director for the Saint John area, where she was responsible for clinical service delivery within acute care, among other responsibilities. She also has experience leading several clinical networks across all Horizon. Margaret has extensive clinical and administrative experience in the health care sector, having also previously served as Vice President of Clinical and Facility Support Services for the Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation, among other roles. She is also a Past President of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada, and the New Brunswick Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Dalhousie University, as well as an Executive Master of Business Administration.

Dr. Susan Brien is Senior Vice President Medical, Academic and Research Affairs for Horizon Health Network. Originally from New Brunswick and prior to joining Horizon, Dr. Brien served as the Director, Practice and System Innovation at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She played an integral part in the Royal College’s international initiative as the Vice-President Asia Pacific. Her portfolio included overseeing new regional, national and international projects, facilitating professional development activities such as team training, simulation, performance assessment, simulation accreditation, and curriculum integration. Dr. Brien also held leadership roles including Chief of Neurosurgery at Le Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Gatineau, where she had practiced as a neurosurgeon. She served as the inaugural Director of Operations for Quebec, Eastern Canada and Nunavut with the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, where she was responsible for national patient safety education. Dr. Brien is an Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the University of Ottawa and a faculty lecturer with the Division of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University, where she also served as the UGME Accreditation Lead for the Gatineau Campus. She is a certified physician executive and member of the American Association of Physician Leaders. As Vice President Medical, Academic and Research Affairs. Dr. Brien oversees Horizon’s Chief Medical Information Officer, Physician Wellness, Medical Program Management and ensures systems, policies and procedures support excellence in medical care and champions constant improvement, innovation, and research.

Dr. Nachiketa (Nachi) Sinha has been practicing as a consultant psychiatrist in New Brunswick since 2006. Prior to that he graduated from Karnatak University in Dharwad, India in 2001, received his training in psychiatry at Cambridge Deanery, and worked at the Bedfordshire and Luton NHS Trust in the United Kingdom. He is an assistant professor with the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S., has an executive MBA in health care from the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, and is the author of an internationally recognized self-help book, Empowered and Strong. Dr. Sinha moved to the Moncton area in February 2016 and has been providing clinical services through his clinic on Mountain Road. Prior to this, he served the communities of Woodstock and Perth-Andover in the picturesque Upper River Valley. Some of his interests centre around providing equity in treatment and he is recognized nationally for his role in providing culturally appropriate psychiatric care to the First Nations communities of New Brunswick. Dr. Sinha has been active in initiating important changes to mental health delivery in New Brunswick and has a unique ability to bring different stakeholders together for a common goal. He played an instrumental role in the introduction of Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) in New Brunswick. Dr. Sinha is the current president of Horizon Health Network’s Medical Staff Organization, Medical Director of Addiction and Mental Health in the Moncton area, and treasurer and Executive Board Director of the New Brunswick Medical Society. He is also involved in multiple organizations provincially and nationally, including the role of president of the New Brunswick Psychiatric Association (NBPA) of which he was elected twice by his colleagues to the position of in 2015-16, and again in 2016-17. He also is a member of the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) Board of Directors. Dr. Sinha has held several other prestigious positions such as former president of the Canadian Psychiatric Association in addition to being a former Board member of the CPA’s Board of Directors and Foundation and Chair of the CPA’s Council of Provinces. Dr. Sinha also served as the past treasurer of the New Brunswick Medical Society and, prior to being NBPA president, he was the association’s treasurer and played a crucial role in revitalizing the association and making psychiatry a relevant voice in the province. Dr. Sinha is a past, and only, psychiatrist member of Accreditation Canada’s Physician Advisory Committee, and was also involved in the Mental Health and Addictions Leadership Forum of the Government of New Brunswick. In 2018, Dr. Sinha was recognized by the Provincial Government of New Brunswick for his contributions to mental health care in the province and was inducted as Fellow of the Canadian Psychiatric Association in 2019, an honour which has only been bestowed on approximately 140 psychiatrists since the Association’s establishment in 1951. Dr. Sinha is of East Indian origin and is proud of his cultural heritage grounded in the principles of compassion, non-violence and equality. His ability to work and integrate with different cultures has allowed him to collaborate in varied settings over three continents. He is a team player and strongly believes in patient- and client-centred care. Dr. Sinha is a proud father to his beloved son and enjoys photography and writing in his spare time.

Jeff Carter is the Vice President Quality, Patient Experience and Professional Services for Horizon Health Network. He is responsible for Emergency Management; Security, Safety Services & Parking; Patient Experience and Engagement; Volunteer Services; Patient Safety; Quality; Risk Management; Accreditation; Policies & Procedures; Laboratory; Pharmacy Services; Medical Imaging; Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation; and Therapeutics. Jeff has been involved in health care leadership since the mid-’90s, and has held a variety of positions, including Director of Medical Services Administration and Director of Health Information and Risk Management. He previously held the position of Vice President Operations and Support Services as part of Horizon’s first executive leadership team. He has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Brunswick, and a professional designation as a Certified Health Executive (CHE) from the Canadian College of Health Leaders. He sits on the national Board of Directors for the Canadian College of Health Leaders, and is the Past Chair for the New Brunswick Chapter. He is also past Board member for the Canadian Healthcare Association (now HealthcareCAN). Jeff also has obtained certification in IAP2 Training for Public Participation. Jeff has received various levels of coaching proficiency certification through Hockey Canada and is always quick to volunteer his time to causes he holds near and dear to his heart. He has been married for 25 years and is the father of two wonderful sons. He enjoys travel, reading, music, spending time with friends and family, and playing golf.

Greg Doiron is Vice President of Clinical Operations for Horizon Health Network. In this role, he provides strategic leadership and oversight for all clinical service delivery at the organization’s 12 hospitals across the province. His responsibilities include overseeing multitude of Inpatient and Ambulatory programs such as Internal Medicine, Emergency Care, Critical Care and Surgery, Neurosciences, Oncology, Health and Aging, Family Medicine, Women and Children’s Health, Medical Device Reprocessing as well as the NB Trauma, Perinatal Health, and Organ and Tissue provincial programs.  Greg Doiron is a fluently bilingual and dynamic senior health care leader with over 20 years of experience in managing complex regional health care delivery systems. Greg, a native of Saint John, New Brunswick, holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Political Science and Economics) and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Ottawa. Prior to joining Horizon Health, Greg served as the Vice-President of Operations for the Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association (EORLA), where he led a team of Laboratory professionals, physicians, and scientists in delivering over 14 million tests annually to 16 member hospitals across Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. Notably, he played a crucial role in coordinating and delivering laboratory diagnostic support during the COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Ontario. Greg’s extensive leadership experience also includes roles at  The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), where he served as the Clinical Director of the Regional Cancer Programs, Director of Medical Affairs, and Executive Director at The Ottawa Hospital Academic Medical Organization AFP. At TOH, he contributed significantly to the development and implementation of innovative oncology programs and the capital redevelopment and expansion of the Regional Cancer Program. An ICD Certified Not for Profit (NFP) Director, Greg actively serves on the board of the Canadian Medical Equipment Protection Plan (CMEPP) and enjoys being engaged in his community. Greg’s primary purpose is his family, and he is proudly devoted to his wife and four children. Beyond the office, he finds joy taking on minor renovation projects and outdoor pursuits, particularly relishing moments fishing, hiking, and playing golf.

Jackie is Horizon’s Corporate Director, Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer and brings to this role a wealth of experience, having served as the Regional Director of Nursing Practice for the past eight years. Prior to her current position, Jackie held roles such as Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Family Medicine Program in the Fredericton area and clinical instructor within the Faculty of Nursing at the University of New Brunswick Fredericton campus. Throughout her career, Jackie has consistently exhibited nursing leadership capabilities. Jackie holds a Bachelor of Nursing, a diploma in University Teaching, and a Master of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick. Jackie is actively pursuing further education through enrollment in the University of Windsor Health Informatics Certificate program and the pursuit of Health Executive certification with the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

Paul Greene is the Vice President, Communications for Horizon Health Network. With over 20 years of communications experience with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) as Strategic Director of Communications and with the Government of New Brunswick as Deputy Minister of Communications and Marketing, Paul brings a wealth of knowledge in the areas of strategic communications, government relations, and crisis communications. Paul was born and raised in New Brunswick and has a background in broadcast journalism, working with a CBC affiliate in British Columbia before returning home as a reporter with CTV News in Miramichi and Fredericton. He then spent 17 years with the New Brunswick RCMP, leading their communications department before being appointed as deputy minister with the provincial government. Paul has a Melcrum Black Belt in internal communications, has successfully completed federal government French language training, and has received several awards and honours throughout his career for his work.

Gail Lebel is the Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) for Horizon Health Network. Gail has previously worked in the public and private sectors, as well in publicly-traded companies, where she was responsible for all aspects of human resource (HR) management across large, complex businesses and geographic locations. Gail has recently been employed at J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) in various HR leadership positions. For the past three years she has held the position of Director and Vice President of the Talent Centre of Excellence with a specific focus on talent acquisition, employee experience and engagement, workforce planning, leadership development, talent management, HR best practice research and succession planning across the JD Irving group of companies. Prior to joining JD Irving, Gail was the Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources for ICT Group located in Newtown, Pennsylvania and was responsible for setting HR strategy and leading the ICT’s HR function across 40 locations, 10 countries and over 18,000 employees. Gail holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of New Brunswick, a Senior Human Resources Professional (SPHR) designation, a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation and is a Certified Executive Coach (CEC) from Royal Roads University.

Jennifer Sheils is the Vice President of Strategy, Transformation and the Chief Innovation Officer for Horizon Health Network. To ensure a focused and coordinated approach to strategy and innovation, Jennifer leads this unique portfolio that encompasses the programs of continuous improvement, transformation, change management, and business intelligence. She is also the executive leader responsible for the oversight of our IT systems, technology, cybersecurity, and e-health strategy for digital transformation. Jennifer joined Horizon in 2017 following a 20-plus year career in the Information and Communications Technology Industry, with a primary focus on the health care sector in New Brunswick. Jennifer leads with a focus to enable an integrated health care ecosystem that welcomes industry partners to energize improvements while supporting our patients and clinical programs to explore ways to modernize service delivery. As an innovation champion, Jennifer will continue to engage our stakeholders and partners to creatively evolve our capacity to support sustainable change and continuous improvement. Jennifer is the Executive Lead operating the Atlantic Edge of the CAN Health Network, which is the Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network, providing Canadian health technology companies with an integrated and receptive marketplace by removing the most common barriers that prevent businesses from growing and scaling to their full potential. Jennifer is part of the Executive Leadership team at Horizon, is a Board Director for the Canadian College of Health Leaders, sits on the Advisory Committee for Digital Health Canada Atlantic Chapter, and is a member of the Canadian Health Information Executive Forum (CHIEF). Jennifer is also a member of the CAN Health Network National Board of Directors and an advisory member for the National AI Council in Healthcare.

Natalie Urquhart is the Vice President Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer for Horizon Health Network (Horizon). She is responsible for the Financial Services provided to patients and staff and leads Horizon’s annual budget process. Natalie is also responsible for the financial internal controls of the organization and oversees Horizon’s Accounting; Accounts Receivable; Accounts Payable; Payroll; Budgeting; Reporting functions; Capital Equipment, Capital Infrastructure, Engineering and Maintenance, Environmental Services, Nutrition & Food Services, Property Management; and Space Planning. With over 25 years of private-sector experience, and 20 years as a chartered professional accountant (CPA), Natalie brings a wealth of knowledge in the areas of finance, leadership, strategy, team building and communication to her new role. Natalie holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from St. Mary’s University in Nova Scotia and recently attained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Ivey Business School at Western University in Ontario. With a passion for lifelong learning and continuous improvement, Natalie has led significant projects in a senior leadership role. She also enjoys participating in her community and sits on the board of a local non-profit organization. Natalie resides in Quispamsis with her husband, Earl. Their two sons, Owen and Eric, are currently attending university. Together, they enjoy travelling and engaging in outdoor activities such as golfing, camping, and hiking.

Ashley began her career as a Registered Dietitian in Ontario before returning home to New Brunswick to join Horizon Health Network (Horizon). Over the past 13 years, she has held progressive leadership roles within Horizon’s Strategy and Transformation portfolio, including Process Improvement Facilitator (Black Belt), Regional Manager of Performance Optimization, and most recently, Executive Director of Organizational Transformation, where she oversaw Horizon’s strategic plan for the Board of Directors. With more than 15 years of health care experience, Ashley is recognized for her expertise in strategic leadership, performance optimization, and data-driven decision-making. She is a passionate advocate for continuous improvement and is dedicated to advancing patient care and experience through innovation and collaboration. Ashley holds multiple professional designations, including Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Prosci Change Practitioner, and PuMP Certified Performance Measurement Professional. In 2024, she earned her Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation from the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) and is also a Certified LEADS Specialist (CLS). A skilled facilitator and coach, Ashley supports leadership development as a facilitator of Horizon’s Leading One Horizon program. Ashley resides in Moncton with her husband Tim and their four kids. In her free time, Ashley enjoys spending time outdoors, with a particular passion for cycling.