NOHT-ÉSON Welcomes Tara Galitz as New Executive Director

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara Ontario Health Team – Équipe Santé Ontario Niagara (NOHT-ÉSON) is very pleased to announce the appointment of Tara Galitz as its new Executive Director, effective April 14, 2025. Tara succeeds Sabrina Piluso, who has led the NOHT-ÉSON through a foundational period of collaboration and innovation.

With over a decade of experience in the community health sector, Tara brings with her a deep passion for health equity, system integration, and strategic transformation. Her professional journey includes impactful leadership roles such as Lead for Policy and Stakeholder Relations with the Alliance for Healthier Communities, Director of Primary Care at the Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton/Niagara, and most recently, Senior Director of Clinical Health Services at Lamp Community Health Centre in Etobicoke.

Tara is no stranger to Niagara. During her time with the Centre de Santé, she was actively involved in early conversations around the formation of the NOHT-ÉSON and participated in shaping the submission that led to its approval. “In a way, it feels like I’m coming back home,” Galitz shared. “I was able to gain so much connection and understanding of the reality on the ground that led to the development of what is now the NOHT-ÉSON.”

Her return to the region is driven by her strong belief in planning, interconnectedness and the need to remove the barriers to care in the health and social systems. “I’m very passionate and dedicated to the whole concept of planning and interconnectedness—being able to look at the health and social services system as a whole,” she said. “I strongly believe there cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution. We must apply a health equity lens intentionally, not just as an afterthought.”

Tara is eager to demonstrate that Niagara has an efficient, integrated, and responsive health and social care system. “With the creation of the NOHT-ÉSON, there is both an opportunity and expectation—from the community, the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health—to prove that this is an organized ecosystem that functions in a coordinated, high-performing way,” she explained.

Frank Ruberto, Co-Lead of the NOHT-ÉSON Planning Table, extended a warm welcome to Galitz on behalf of the network’s leadership. “Tara brings a wealth of experience in community health and system integration, along with a deep commitment to equity and collaboration—values that are at the heart of our shared vision for Niagara,” said Ruberto. “We are excited to have her leadership as we continue building a more connected and responsive health system.”

Ruberto also expressed great appreciation for Meredith Maxwell, the NOHT-ÉSON’s Project Manager for Population Health, who stepped into the role of Interim Executive Director during the transition. “We are incredibly grateful to Meredith for her steady and thoughtful leadership over the past few months. Her dedication has been key to maintaining momentum and ensuring a smooth handover, helping to set the stage for continued success.”