Health PEI Executive Leadership Team

Interim Chief Executive Officer

Laurae Kloschinsky

Laurae is an experienced senior healthcare executive focused on optimizing care services and quality improvement while establishing processes to ensure overall organizational success. She has extensive experience in project and change management, communication strategies, technology implementation, and innovation to increase system stability and sustainability.

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Laurae holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Saskatchewan. Laurae has worked in various healthcare settings including Government and community and long-term care pharmacy settings across Canada. Most recently, as the Assistant Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Addictions for the Government of PEI’s Department of Health and Wellness. Laurae has worked alongside various health system partners and healthcare providers to optimize opportunities across the healthcare system. Recent files include mental health and addictions, digital health, health innovation and health workforce. 

Chief Financial Officer

Christine Sewell

Christine is an experienced finance executive who is committed to team-building and has led through significant transformation, including the health system refocus in Alberta.

Prior to serving as the Senior Financial Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister of Alberta Health (now Primary and Preventative Health Services and Hospital and Surgical Health Services), overseeing an operating budget of $28 billion and a 3-year capital plan of $3.6 billion; Christine was the Senior Financial Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance and Capital Planning for Alberta Education. Christine’s previous experience in the Alberta Public Service also included roles at Treasury Board, and Finance and Infrastructure.

Christine has a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation and holds a Bachelor of Management from University of Alberta Augustana Campus. Christine is dedicated to developing herself and others, and volunteers as a mentor for the CPA program.

Christine has led financial strategy, planning, and operational execution across complex health portfolios; focusing on transparency, accountability and oversight with strong controls and process to achieve financial excellence.

Chief Medical Officer 

Dr. Johan Viljoen

Dr. Viljoen is a distinguished OB/GYN with a wealth of experience in clinical practice and organizational leadership. He is a seasoned leader with a profound understanding of the Canadian healthcare landscape, encompassing its structure, governance, funding mechanisms, and legal framework.

Dr. Viljoen is a dedicated advocate for physician development. From coaching and mentoring physicians to recruitment through performance management, he actively supports and empowers physicians, providing guidance and constructive feedback to ensure their continuous professional growth.

Dr. Viljoen is deeply interested in the future of technology and its transformative potential in healthcare. Dr. Viljoen is passionate about harnessing technology to support the evolution of healthcare for all Canadians. With that eye on the future, Dr. Viljoen combines traditional medical wisdom with a passion for cutting-edge technologies to help shape the future of healthcare.

Dr. Viljoen holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in Health Law from Osgoode Hall Law School, an MBA in Executive Management from the University of Massachusetts (Isenberg School of Business), and certificates in Health Law, Negligence, Risk Management, and Litigation from Osgoode Hall Law School. An avid learner, Dr. Viljoen also achieved a CPE in Medical Leadership from the American College of Physician Executives, an LMCC in Medicine from the Medical Council of Canada, and credentials in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, University of Stellenbosch (M.MED), and University of Stellenbosch (M.B.Ch.B.).

Chief Operating Officer

Corinne Rowswell, MPA, BSc, RN

Corinne Rowswell is a registered nurse with more than 35 years of experience across the Canadian health system. Her front-line career spans acute care, home care, palliative care, and public health in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Ontario. Working closely with patients and families during life’s most vulnerable moments has shaped her deep commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary practice and patient-centered care. Corinne is known for leading through uncertain times with a steady, future focused approach, guiding teams through complex change and driving the system toward a stronger, more sustainable future state.

Corinne first joined Health PEI’s executive team in 2021 as Chief Operating Officer and later served as Interim Chief Executive Officer in 2024. Most recently, she has been Provincial Executive Lead for Health System Integration and Flow, advancing system wide priorities to improve access, coordination, and patient experience. She returns to the COO role in April 2026, bringing deep operational expertise, strong relationships across the system, and a sustained commitment to high quality, patient-centered care.

Prior to working for Health PEI, Corinne held leadership roles with the Chief Public Health Office until 2018 and the Department of Health and Wellness until 2021, where she led key strategic initiatives and played an important leadership role in the province’s COVID 19 response. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Francis Xavier University and a Master of Public Administration from Dalhousie University. Corinne also holds certificates in Infection Prevention and Control and Leading in Complex Systems, further supporting her ability to navigate complexity and guide system level improvement.

Chief Academic Officer

Dr. Preston Smith

Dr. Smith holds dual roles as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, UPEI, as well as Chief Academic Officer and an Executive Leadership Team member for Health PEI.

A highly regarded medical educator and administrator, Dr. Smith completed his medical education at Dalhousie University and is a Certificant and Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. In 2010, he completed a Master of Education from Mount Saint Vincent University focused on medical education.

Dr. Smith's career has been marked by his dedication to developing medical education programs. He spent 25 years as a family physician in Moncton, during which he served as VP of Medicine in Moncton, New Brunswick, during the transition from the province’s 52 hospitals to eight regions and then down to 2 health regions. This experience provided him with significant expertise in health system reform and administration. He also held the position of Senior Associate Dean of Education within the Faculty of Medicine at DAL, where he played a key role in developing and overseeing the Dalhousie medical education program launched in Saint John. He was instrumental in starting new family medicine residency programs in PEI, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. His most recent role as Dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan saw his team lead a significant restructuring of the College of Medicine.