The dedication, commitment and enthusiasm of our people – from our front office staff to our frontline providers and management team – is truly one of the greatest strengths of Closing the Gap Healthcare.
We choose to treat our clients, our customers and each other with dignity and respect and strive to work together at every level as a team with the singular purpose of providing the best possible healthcare to the communities and people we serve.
Connie Clerici
Connie attends courses and programs every year as she views learning as a privilege and an obligation of accountable leaders.
She has over 40 years of experience in the health care field with 30 years in homecare – currently she is specializing in executive leadership, governance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate administration. She has a vision of the benefits of a multidisciplinary focus for care, a cost per case focus, quality, and innovation.
Connie Clerici actively influences change and seeks system innovations, while making a concerted effort to build and support a high quality, publicly funded healthcare system that is sustainable for Canadians. She values the opportunity to work with individuals who are self-aware while performing with integrity, honesty and ethically on a consistent basis. Connie actively participates on a number of boards, committees, and advisory councils. She shares her time volunteering with numerous charities, continuing her work representing the interests of those who are vulnerable members of our society.
Connie regularly participates in values-based training programs. Connie currently sits as a board member or advisor at both the Ivey Business School and Western’s Entrepreneurship Advisory board and executive team for the Morrisette Institute for Entrepreneurship. Connie spends a significant amount of time mentoring the next generation of health leaders and entrepreneurs. She is an Adjunct Professor and Senior Fellow University of Toronto Institute Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. Connie is also a Special Advisor to the Dean at IHPME. She was the Vice-Chair for Health Quality Ontario and currently sits on the Ontario Health Clinical Council.
Connie was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws in 2022 from Western University, Ivey Business School.
Connie’s contributions to health care, entrepreneurship and the business community have been acknowledged through numerous awards, including the Mississauga Board of Trade Business Award of Excellence, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, RBC Excellence in Entrepreneurship, the ICCO Business Excellence award, the Federated Press Women Leader of the Year Award and her induction into the Hall of Fame of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100. She was also profiled in “Extraordinary Lives: Inspiring Women of Peel,” published by the Canadian Federation of University Women.
Connie is passionate about helping people increase their enjoyment of life. She celebrates the opportunities that she and her staff at Closing the Gap Healthcare are privileged to have to make positive contributions to the lives of so many Canadians.
Connie is an active philanthropist across numerous sectors.
Lindsey Crawford
I am responsible for the delivery and leadership of all high quality client services at Closing the Gap. My focus is on operational excellence and strategic growth. My approach to innovation and growth is through partnership with government and across sectors, with the goal of creating one system of care.
Professional Experience
I am a dynamic leader that has a track record of delivering results and ensuring that health care organizations continue to grow and evolve, keeping pace with client and community needs, technology, and the healthcare landscape.
I have been in Senior management in several organizations over the last twenty years. I was Vice President of Clinical Programs at two community hospitals, the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and The Scarborough Hospital, and a Senior Executive at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. I was also the Regional Vice President, Cancer Care for the North Simcoe Muskoka Region. I have a strong track record on strategy development and successful implementation. I have developed effective approaches to client, provider and partner engagement. I believe in a strong customer focus, every day, always.
I have successfully been able to create cross sector regional integrated systems for cancer, cardiac, mental health and addictions, palliative and home and community care through partnership with hospitals, community agencies, physicians, government agencies and ministries and private partners.
I recently completed a Doctorate in Rehabilitation and Health leadership at Queen’s University with a focus on an implementation science approach to the creation of client-centred practices and environments.
Passion
I have a passion for leading the development and transformation of regional health systems to meet the needs of clients and families.
Yiannis Soumalias
Yiannis currently oversees Closing the Gap’s sales, marketing, project management and corporate health departments. Yiannis is responsible for seeking out new business opportunities, conducting market research and feasibility studies, creating corporate communications plans and executing strategic marketing plans.
Professional Experience
Yiannis joined CTG with an extensive background in sales, marketing and customer relationship management and has demonstrated an ability to find unique solutions to problems within our health system. Yiannis has a bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University and an MBA from Ivey at Western University.
Passion
Yiannis is a change leader who is focused on building a sustainable healthcare system across Canada.
Dan Black
From managing business initiatives to advising the President and CEO, Dan oversees all of Closing the Gap’s corporate legal matters, including general counsel and HR advice. As an essential member of CTG’s Senior Leadership Team, Dan is responsible for all functions related to contracts, compliance, research, health IT policy, and employment issues.
Professional Experience
Dan has been providing employment and labour law advice to both private and public sector healthcare and other employers for over 20 years. Before rejoining CTG in 2014, he practiced as a Partner at one Canadian national law firm and as Counsel at another.
He has worked with CTG for a total of approximately 17 of those years, including one year as Director of Human Resources and Legal Affairs and three years as Vice President, Legal and Business Development.
Passion
Dan has a passion for service, health policy, and improving the lives of those in need.
Klodiana Djawadi
Organizational Impact
Responsible for the financial performance and leadership of Closing the Gap, Klodiana oversees the integrity of financial reporting, strategic planning, and management of internal controls. She is an enthusiastic leader recognized for bringing financial and operational perspectives to executive decisions and ensuring both short and long-term goals are met.
Professional Experience
Klodiana is a dynamic and results driven finance and operations professional that has over 15 years of proven success driving financial performance and strategic growth in the healthcare sector.
She is a strategic leader with a commitment to driving business growth, supporting patient care, and organizational sustainability with expertise in financial planning & analysis, forecasting activities, building effective teams, driving strategic planning initiatives, and establishing business partnerships.
Klodiana holds CPA designation, has completed a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and a Master of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Passion
Klodiana is passionate about Healthcare and is dedicated to further improving homecare solutions and patients’ lives within our communities as part of Closing the Gap Healthcare.
Sarath Pillai
As the point person for Closing the Gap’s IT functions, Sarath leads IT initiatives across all CTG sites in Ontario and Nova Scotia. With a focus on innovation, Sarath implements integrated technology solutions to increase functionality and improve quality of care.
Professional Experience
Sarath is a senior executive with over 16 years of Information Technology experience mainly in healthcare and retail. He has held executive roles at pt Health, OHTN and Hear for Life. Recently, he was the Director of I.T. at Canadian Professional Sales Association, a member based organization to support and advance sales professionals.
Sarath holds an MBA from Queen’s University and M.S. in Computer Science from Robert Gordon University, UK along with a bunch of technical certifications.
Passion
Sarath is passionate about using his vast IT knowledge to support the implementation of innovative eHealth solutions.
As a pragmatic servant leader, Natalie is unafraid to challenge the HR status quo to foster a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement. She oversees the Human Resources team and their function to support business operations, help employees excel, and achieve their best potential. Natalie’s strategic vision and leadership have revolutionized HR practices at Closing the Gap, driving the adoption of modern best practices that enhance both organizational effectiveness and employee satisfaction.
Professional Experience
With a rich and diverse background in various industries, including technology, finance, and healthcare, Natalie brings a unique perspective that prioritizes business objectives and employee well-being. This diverse experience has honed her ability to find innovative HR solutions that meet the evolving needs of healthcare professionals and clients, ensuring that CTG remains competitive in today’s fast-paced world.
Natalie holds an HRPA designation, has completed a Bachelor’s degree from the University of the Philippines, and a Human Resources Management certificate from Humber College.
Passion
Outside of her professional endeavors, Natalie enjoys playing video games, walking her dog, and exploring the culinary scene with her family. These activities reinforce her belief in a holistic work-life balance, a principle she strives to promote in her professional life as well.
Wesley Ranford
Angela Brunet
As a tenured CTG staff member of 21 years, Angela’s clinical, committee, and leadership experiences position her well to support sustainability, growth, and development of business operations across the organization. In addition to Client Services, Angela supports the QRE, HR, and IT departments with special projects.
Professional Experience
A graduate of Queen’s University, Angela’s clinical experience as a homecare occupational therapist spanned the pediatric through geriatric populations. A drive for expanded knowledge and responsibility led to various leadership roles at CTG, most recently as Director of Client Services. Angela has devoted the entire 32 years of her career to the “homecare sector” of healthcare, firm in her belief that health is influenced by all aspects of life experience.
Passion
Finding solutions that promote safe health at home, that permit the ability to live your best life, and that allow one to find moments of joy in every day, inspire Angela to continue to support the development and delivery of homecare services to clients and caregivers.
Professional Experience
Passion
David Heaton
David plans, directs and monitors the services provided by regional offices across Ontario. Working closely with staff at all levels of the organization, David oversees Closing the Gap’s physiotherapy clinics, mentors front-line management staff, develops new business initiatives, builds working relationships with health system leaders and supports CTG’s organizational strategy by tracking quality indicators.
Professional Experience
Joining Closing the Gap in 2011, David has paired a professional background in Physiotherapy with academic and experiential training in business administration, managerial accounting and project management. His career path began as a community care physiotherapist and took him throughout the health sector in progressive management and strategic leadership roles.
Passion
Client Services benefits from David’s roots in Community Care and his caring and compassionate leadership.
Aneta Bojarowicz
Aneta oversees integrated care solution initiatives that support partnerships and business performance portfolios. With a strong foundation in operations and business strategy, she has crafted and executed strategic plans that drive growth, innovation, and patient-centered care delivery.
Professional Experience
Aneta has over a decade of leadership experience in healthcare operations and clinic services. Throughout her career, she has successfully launched new services, overseen operations of multidisciplinary centers, and championed patient-centered care initiatives. Known for her ability to streamline healthcare operations, improve processes, and leverage data analytics, Aneta consistently makes informed decisions that drive positive outcomes. She holds an MBA from McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business and an Honours Bachelor of Science from McMaster University.
Passion
Aneta is passionate about innovation, patient-centered care, and developing operational solutions that deliver positive outcomes for both patients and organizations.