Nicole Boutilier was raised in Pictou County and attended Dalhousie Medical School. She completed her family medicine residency in Alberta and for more than 20 years, she has practiced medicine in rural Nova Scotia. Dr. Boutilier has had experience in a variety of clinical settings including emergency medicine, collaborative primary health care, and youth health centres.
Since 2005, she has held a variety of progressive leadership positions, including Interim President and CEO, Vice President Medicine, and Chief of Emergency in the former Pictou County Health Authority. She is a certificant of the Canadian College of Family Physicians since 1997 and obtained her fellowship in 2018. Dr. Boutilier is a Certified Physician Executive with the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders. She holds the Certified Executive Coach designation from Royal Roads University and is also certified with the International Coaching Federation. She was drawn to coaching by her wish to empower others to reach their full potential and to help better mentor and develop leaders within her own teams.
Since NSH formed in 2015, Dr. Boutilier has served as Medical Executive Director for Northern Zone, Interim Co-Vice-President of Medicine at Nova Scotia Health, and VP Medicine since 2019. Nicole is currently Executive Vice President of Medicine and Clinical Operations for Nova Scotia Health. Along with her co-lead Craig Beaton, ADM Department of Health and Wellness, she is responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professional Recruitment since September 2022.
Nicole lives in rural Northern Nova Scotia with her husband. She has three adult children who bring her immense joy and inspiration.