Interim CEO

John is familiar to Youthdale, having previously served as Interim CEO in 2020. He brings extensive leadership experience and deep sector knowledge, including his former roles as CEO of Surrey Place Centre, Vice President of Bridgepoint Hospital and Executive Director of Casey House Hospice. He has served on multiple boards and committees across the health and social services sector and has been recognized with numerous awards for his contributions.

His volunteer work has included his membership on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities, the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation, Central Toronto Youth Services, Hassle Free Clinic, the Canada AIDS Russia Project, and as a member of the Ontario Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS.

John has been a long-standing member of the Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care and has had the privilege of sitting on the Board of Directors as its President. He holds an RN Diploma from Centennial College and a BScN and MScN: D’Youville College, Buffalo New York. John has been the recipient of numerous awards at the local, provincial and national level.

Vice President, Clinical Service Excellence

Janet is a dedicated transformational leader with over 30 years of healthcare experience in both Ireland and Canada, holding a master’s degree in nursing. She has held progressive leadership roles in various healthcare settings across Ontario. Her experience has helped her develop a strong clinical background in strategic planning, operational management, and strong business acumen. Notable achievements include leading organizations through accreditation achieving exemplary status, and implementation and operational oversight of withdrawal management services within the GTA. Additionally, she has focused on implementing mental health quality standards across multiple hospitals.

In her personal life, Janet is a mother of four adult children and two beautiful grandchildren, Hayes and Lennon. The other love in her life is Tilly, her four-legged friend!

Janet’s passion for continuous quality improvement drives her visionary leadership and helps her achieve organization strategic goals. She has a strong ability to analyze complex situations, develop innovative solutions, and implement effective strategies to drive positive results. Janet is most proud of ensuring her passion to foster a collaborative work environment, and building high performing teams is at the forefront of her leadership.

Chief of Psychiatry

Dr. Mitesh Patel brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Youthdale. As an Education Scholar, Dr. Patel has been published widely and holds a Masters of Science in Community Health for Health Practitioner Teacher Education.

As one of a few dually qualified Child, Adolescent and Forensic Psychiatrists in the country, his unique skillset encompasses developmental neuropsychiatry, mental health of youth raised in at-risk environments, and youth forensic mental health. His expertise in criminal responsibility, fitness, and risk assessments brings an elevated level of specialization to Youthdale.

Dr. Patel joined Youthdale as Chief of Psychiatry in July 2023.

Senior Director, Business Transformation & Corporate Services

Jason Langer joined the organization in 2004 and has worn many hats since. His various roles over the years span Intensive Treatment, Secure Treatment, Inpatient Services, and Quality Improvement.

Now, as the Senior Director of Business Transformation & Corporate Services, he leads Youthdale's mission to provide effective treatment for young people facing complex mental health challenges.

Jason's exceptional leadership has led to stellar accreditation records and he has always driven a culture of continuous quality achievement.

Senior Director, People, Performance & Culture

Nilesh holds a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources Management and maintains the Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation. He is an active member of the Human Resources Professionals Association and serves on the CHRL Exam Validation Committee. With nearly two decades of experience in the HR field spanning both the manufacturing and healthcare sectors, Nilesh brings a deep commitment and passion to his work.

Since joining Youthdale in 2020, Nilesh has focused on engaging, empowering, and elevating staff at all levels to help reshape the organizational culture in alignment with Youthdale’s Strategic Plan. He leads employee relations, compliance, risk management, and HR administration functions, ensuring that policies and practices support a fair, safe, and high-performing workplace.

He is also a Certified Gallup Strengths Coach and serves as the internal champion for Strengths-based development and partnership initiatives across the organization.