Our Management Team

President and CEO, University of Ottawa Heart Institute

Dr. Rob Beanlands is President and CEO of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI), where he leads with a people-first philosophy rooted in collaboration, compassion, social accountability, and community. He believes excellence and impact in cardiovascular care and research begins with the “3Ps”: a patient-first culture, empowered people, and strong partnerships. This approach has positioned him as a catalyst for advancing the Heart Institute’s internationally recognized cardiac care, transformative education, and groundbreaking research, all in service of the patients and communities UOHI serves.

A graduate of the University of Ottawa’s MD program (magna cum laude), Dr. Beanlands trained in cardiology at the University of Toronto and completed an advanced fellowship at the University of Michigan. He joined UOHI in 1992 and served as Chief of Cardiac Imaging 1999-2013 and Chief of the Division of Cardiology from 2012 to 2022. Today, he continues to lead with purpose and pride, driving world-class innovation and care at the Institute.

Internationally recognized as a leading clinician-scientist in cardiovascular imaging, Dr. Beanlands has authored over 450 peer-reviewed publications and has been principal or co-principal investigator of landmark studies including PARR2, IMAGE-HF, CHASM, MARINER and the Canadian Atherosclerotic Imaging Network. A pioneer in cardiac PET imaging, he founded the National Cardiac PET Centre, Canada’s first cardiac PET centre. He has redefined how heart disease is diagnosed, understood, and treated. His research has shaped clinical guidelines and health policy, improving outcomes for patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, and inflammatory heart conditions.

Dr. Beanlands was the University of Ottawa Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Imaging Research and has held senior editorial and leadership roles in national and international cardiovascular societies and journals. His contributions have earned numerous accolades, including: The Margolese National Heart Disorders Award, (2023) the Canadian Cardiovascular Society’s Research and Overall Achievement Awards (2015 and 2022) and recently the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology’s Distinguished Clinician and Teacher Award (2025).

As President and CEO, Dr. Beanlands is focused on strengthening UOHI’s legacy of innovation, inclusion, and world-class cardiac care, while expanding its reach locally, nationally, and globally. Through strategic partnerships, community engagement, and an unwavering commitment to patient-centred care and a people-first culture, he is dedicated to elevating the Institute’s impact and ensuring it continues to grow as a global leader transforming cardiac care and heart health for all.

Division Head, Cardiology
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Tier 1 Clinical Research Chair, University of Ottawa

Dr. David Birnie is the Division Head of Cardiology at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. He was educated in Scotland and received his medical degree (MB ChB) from the Glasgow University in 1990. Dr. Birnie was recruited to the Heart Institute in 2002 as staff cardiac electrophysiologist (EP) and clinician investigator. He was later appointed as Deputy Chief of the Division of Cardiology of the Heart Institute.

Dr. Birnie is a Tier 1 Clinical Research Chair at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ottawa. His major ongoing research interests are cardiac sarcoidosis, selection and optimization of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for heart failure patients, investigating optimal strategies for complication reduction around EP procedures. Dr. Birnie has been involved in over 500 peer-reviewed presentations, publications, and book chapters.

His clinical focus is on all aspects of cardiac EP including radiofrequency ablation of simple and complex arrhythmias and implantation and follow-up of device therapy. Dr. Birnie is the founding member of the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society and he was elected to the executive committee of the World Association of Sarcoidosis (WASOG) in 2020.

Chief Scientific Officer
Vice President, Research

Dr. Katey Rayner is the scientific officer and vice president, research at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, and her doctorate in philosophy from the University of Ottawa. She pursued postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital and New York University School of Medicine.

Dr. Rayner holds many leadership positions with prominent health societies and associations and is the incoming chair of the American Heart Association's atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology council. She is a member of several peer-review committees, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Rayner is a member of the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars. She has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Mid-Career Excellence Award from the CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health and the Canadian Society of Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; and the American Heart Association’s Joseph Vita Award.

Division Head, Cardiac Anesthesiology
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa

Dr. Bernard McDonald is the Division Head of Cardiac Anesthesiology at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. He earned both his MD and a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. Dr. McDonald then completed his anesthesia residency at the University of Ottawa, obtaining his Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCPC) in Anesthesiology. He subsequently completed a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Fellowship in Critical Care Medicine at the University of Ottawa.

Dr. McDonald joined the Heart Institute as a member of the Division of Cardiac Anesthesiology in 2002. From 2009 to 2021, he served as Medical Director of the Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit where he continues to attend as a Critical Care Physician. Dr. McDonald is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Ottawa. His academic interests include applied cardiovascular physiology, long-term outcomes post cardiac critical illness, and novel pharmaconutrition interventions in the critically ill. He continues to lead and participate in multiple clinical trials of perioperative care interventions in critically ill cardiac surgical patients.

Division Head, Cardiac Surgery

Dr. Pierre Voisine is head of the Division of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. His faculty appointment with the University of Ottawa is in the Division of Cardiac Surgery.

Dr. Pierre Voisine graduated from medical training in 1996 and completed residency in cardiac surgery in 2002 at Université de Montréal. He then completed a two-year fellowship in translational research at Harvard University. Dr. Voisine joined the cardiac surgery team at the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute in 2004. He worked both in clinical and fundamental research, acting as a principal investigator and a member of the steering committee for the National Institutes of Health-sponsored Cardiothoracic Surgical Trials Network. He was responsible for the creation of a cardiac surgery residency program at Université Laval.

Dr. Voisine holds academic positions as an elected member of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery, and The American Heart Association’s scientific sessions program committee of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia. He is the former chair of the cardiac surgery examination committee of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Vice President, Quality, Risk and Health Information
Chief Nursing Officer

Bonnie Bowes obtained her undergraduate and Master of Nursing Science degrees in Australia at the University of Western Sydney and Charles Sturt University and holds specialty certifications in critical care and cardiovascular nursing. She has extensive education and experience in quality processes, performance measure, and risk management.

Bonnie Bowes joined the University of Ottawa Heart Institute in 2001, holding roles as a clinical nurse, clinical nurse educator, Epic project site lead and director of quality, risk and privacy. She sits on several regional and national committees focusing on quality, risk management and cardiac practice. She has been an active member of the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses as a presenter and former committee member.

Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration
Chief Financial Officer

Diana Burns is the Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and its related entities, the Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation.

She has over 15 years of progressive financial management and leadership experience in both the private and public sector. Prior to joining the Heart Institute, Diana Burns was the Director of Financial Services at Queensway Carleton Hospital in Ottawa where she was responsible for working with Ontario Health and other key stakeholders on operational planning and reporting, leading external audits, and providing support to the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. She has a strong accounting background having worked with KPMG LLP both in Canada and Australia.

Diana Burns graduated with Honours from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. She is a certified professional accountant (CPA).

Vice President, Public Affairs, Strategy
Chief Communications Officer

Jennifer Kuss is an Ottawa native who has been building people-focused communications strategies for more than a decade. As a senior communication advisor to multiple federal ministers, she has led, designed and branded policies that have helped businesses, communities and Canadians from coast to coast. She is a respected convenor and problem solver known for navigating hot-button issues with diplomacy and ease.

Jennifer Kuss holds an honours bachelor's degree in public relations from the University of Ottawa.

Vice President, Clinical Operations

Erika MacPhee graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario with a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree and completed her Master of Health Sciences Nursing degree at Charles Sturt University in Australia.

She joined the University of Ottawa Heart Institute in 1991, working in many different roles, including as a nursing coordinator, nurse educator, regional cardiac care coordinator, and most recently as the advanced practice nurse for the Cardiac Virtual Care program and clinical manager of the Heart Function Clinic.

Erika MacPhee is a member of the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses Association and is a registered nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario.

President, UOHI Foundation
Vice President, Philanthropy
Chief Advancement Officer

Lianne Laing comes to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation with a background in media and communications. She spent 20 years working in broadcast television with CTV/Bell Media as a reporter, anchor and host. She spent the last decade working in television as the host of CTV Morning Live.

An Ottawa native, Ms. Laing has served and chaired on several boards, including the Snowsuit Fund and Youth Services Bureau, and she is a former ambassador of The Ottawa Senators Foundation. Over the last 20 years, she has hosted and emceed hundreds of events, helping raise funds and awareness for dozens of charities and campaigns. The United Way of Ottawa recognized her with a Community Builder Award.

As an entrepreneur and health and wellness advocate, Ms. Laing’s company “Living Your Life with Lianne Laing” allowed her to continue her passion for storytelling, speaking and writing.  Her podcast educates, entertains and inspires her listeners to make informed choices to live longer, healthier and more fulfilled lives. Guests and listeners tune in to the podcast from around the world. Her incredible network of experts hit on limitless topics related to healthy living, both physically and mentally, and spiritually as well.

Ms. Laing, a former Canadian elite gymnast, received a full NCAA Scholarship to the University of Massachusetts/Amherst and graduated with two business degrees.

Senior Vice President, Digital Health and Cardiac Technology
Chief Information and Technology Officer

Timothy Zakutney is a Professional Engineer with a specialty in Systems Design from the University of Waterloo along with a Masters in Health Science in Clinical Engineering from the University of Toronto. With over 20 years’ experience in providing leadership and guidance surrounding medical and biomedical technology issues for healthcare, his portfolio of responsibilities include Information Technology, Cardiac Imaging, Biomedical Engineering, Facilities and Capital Projects, Radiation Safety, Radiochemistry. Timothy oversees the synergies between Digital Health and Advanced Cardiac Technologies Management for both the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation to achieve outstanding patient care, cardiovascular research, and education.

Timothy is an internationally Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE). He serves on several boards and committees. He is a member of and is former chair of the Canadian Board of Examiners for Clinical Engineering Certification. He is a member of the Canadian Medical & Biological Engineering Society (CMBES) and the American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE). In fact, he was awarded the Outstanding Canadian Biomedical Engineer of the Year Awards in 2008 by the CMBES for his exceptional contribution. Timothy is an Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton University and has been published in numerous reviewed journals.