Dr. Karima Velji, RN, PhD, CHE, FCAN, is a health-care leader with a proven track record in fostering the engagement of the patient (service user) and system partners to drive innovative models of care, integrating research and care to drive next practice, and creating cultures to unleash the potential of high performing teams to achieve stellar results. She has implemented innovative health human resource solutions within these models of care to ensure optimal scope of practice of all clinicians.
Dr. Velji is currently the Chief of Nursing & Professional Practice and Assistant Deputy Minister for the Province of Ontario. She has held senior leadership positions in several Academic Health Science Centres and has operated a successful consulting company. Dr. Velji is a sought-after consultant for system level projects and has led external reviews of several organizations. She is a surveyor with Health Standards Organization/Accreditation Canada.
Dr. Velji’s responsibilities extend to provincial and national leadership. She has held the roles of Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Accreditation Canada, member of the Board of Directors of Health Standards Organization (2012-2018), United Way Campaign Chair for London Middlesex (2016), and as President and Chair of the Board of Directors of Canadian Nurses Association (2014-2016).
Dr. Velji has cross-appointments to the University of Toronto, University of Western Ontario, University of Ontario Tech University and Nippissing University. She has won several outstanding achievement awards including the Sigma Theta Tau Excellence in Administration award, University of Toronto Distinguished Alumni award, Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) Margaret Comack Award of Excellence in Nursing Leadership, and the Award of Excellence in Teaching (student nominated) from the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. She has been profiled in the boundless banner campaign as an outstanding alumnus of the University of Toronto.
At the system/global level, Dr. Velji is a consultant to global sites, including East Africa, the Middle East and Asia, for development of policy, credentialing, training, and academic plans.