Photo caption: From left to right, Naseem Somani's children Alyna Ranmall and Sapheer Somani; Kiki Ferrari, Executive Vice President, and Chief Clinical Officer, William Osler Health System; Vito Ciciretto, CEO, Dynacare.
Earlier this year, Kiki Ferrari, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer at William Osler Health System (Osler) was honoured with the Naseem Somani Memorial Leadership Excellence Award for being a visionary, compassionate, authentic leader who puts her heart into whatever she does: something her colleagues know very well.
Presented by Dynacare at the inspiHER Gala hosted by the Brampton Board of Trade, this recognition celebrates women living or working in the Brampton area who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation and service, and who encourage women in both personal and professional areas. Kiki embodies the values of this award, driving meaningful change in the health care sector and inspiring other women to rise alongside her to support patients and families. Whether she's mentoring the next generation of leaders or championing innovative, person-centred care, Kiki brings an unwavering commitment to excellence, equity, and kindness.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award – it not only represents my journey, but the collective contributions of every female leader and the barriers they might have had to overcome," said Kiki Ferrari. “Leadership isn't defined by a title or a gender, but by the courage to act with integrity, the willingness to lift others as we rise, and the commitment to lead with kindness. This recognition is a reminder that when we lead, we hopefully can inspire our colleagues and future generations to reach their full potential, both personally and professionally."
Kiki believes that women in leadership can help make the health system better by mentoring others to grow female leaders of the future, especially in a sector where diverse voices are essential. Highly respected for her belief in the humanity of leadership, Kiki continues to inspire through her authenticity, compassion, and notable commitment to empowering others.
Kiki recently highlighted how receiving a stage 4 cancer diagnosis has changed her life and how it inspires her to work harder to make a difference in health care and fulfill her purpose. “There are so many world-class clinicians and teams in Ontario providing extraordinary care. Compassionate people who really are going beyond every day to serve patients. They are the heart and soul of health care."
“All of us at Osler are proud to celebrate Kiki's extraordinary leadership," said Dr. Frank Martino President and CEO, William Osler Health System. “Kiki's vision, resilience and commitment to our staff, our patients, and our community have not only helped shape our world-class health system, but also inspired all of us to aim higher and lead with purpose. We are deeply grateful for Kiki's invaluable contributions to the hospital and to the community, and we are so fortunate to have her on our team."
Kiki's path to leadership began more than 34 years ago when she started her career as a Respiratory Therapist. Driven by her curiosity and desire to make a difference, she quickly became involved in improving hospital operations, volunteering for initiatives and taking every opportunity to learn and lead. She often tells young leaders today, “you don't need a title to be a leader".
Since joining Osler in 2009, Kiki has served in progressively senior roles where she has inspired teams to transform how Osler delivers care and how patients and families experience care. This was evident during the height of the pandemic, when Kiki led Osler through a seamless operational pivot, enabling the organization to respond quickly to care for a region grappling with the highest incidence of COVID-19 cases in Ontario.
Among many other notable accomplishments, Kiki has successfully spearheaded innovative programs including The Butterfly ApproachTM , with Osler being the first hospital in the world to adopt the pioneering emotion-based, person-centred model of care for patients living with dementia, and the COVID@Home program, to improve patient access to vital care. Under her leadership, Osler teams have earned provincial and national accolades including several Leading Practice awards from Accreditation Canada, as well as other national and provincial awards and recognitions.
Despite her many achievements, Kiki remains a humble leader and highlights the importance of mentorship – and how her success can be attributed to the leaders before her, who have provided her with the opportunities to learn and grow. She is equally a devoted mother and wife who also attributes much of her success to her family, who she says is her rock.
Congratulations, Kiki, on this well-deserved honour. Your courage, compassion, and commitment continue to make a lasting impact, and we are all better for it!
The Naseem Somani Memorial Leadership Excellence Award honors the legacy of Naseem Somani, former CEO of Dynacare. Kiki Ferrari was announced as the 2025 award winner at the Brampton Board of Trade's inspiHER Gala, an annual event honouring women's achievements and marking a call for gender parity.