Dr. Marc Bilodeau, FCCHL shares lessons for health care leaders

Motivated by a deep desire to serve and contribute to the collective well-being, Marc has dedicated more than 25 years of his career to improving the quality, safety, and performance of healthcare systems, both in Canada and internationally. He began his career as a clinician, trained in family and emergency medicine, before gradually moving into medical leadership roles. He took on increasingly complex responsibilities, eventually serving as Surgeon General and Chief of Health Services for the Canadian Armed Forces. Since 2024, he has continued this commitment to serving the public as CEO of the CISSS de l’Outaouais. In addition, he is a Fellow and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian College of Health Leaders, where he is recognized for his unifying leadership, his genuine commitment to team well-being, and his rigor in governance. Because of his contributions and impact on health systems, he was selected for the 2026 Chapter Award for Outstanding Contribution by the Quebec Chapter.

Reflecting on his years of leadership, Marc offers a simple yet important lesson:

“Sustainable leadership depends on the ability to ask the right questions, to look after your teams, and to stay true to your values.”

By placing the quality of care and the well-being of teams at the heart of organizational priorities, Marc has been able to contribute to lasting cultural changes in both military and civilian contexts. It is in these transformations, made possible through stakeholder engagement, the establishment of a climate of trust, and the sustained strengthening of clinical governance, that he finds his greatest source of pride.

As a member of the College for the past decade, he has greatly benefited from the learning opportunities it has provided and the connections he has forged with other healthcare leaders facing similar challenges. His involvement with the Quebec Chapter aims to demonstrate the College’s added value to the province, both through its strength as a pan-Canadian network and the breadth of its leadership development offerings.

Marc recommends that all new leaders get actively involved with the College, remain curious and humble, and adopt the LEADS framework as a guiding structure for their professional leadership development.