Dr. Nicole Boutilier

Dr. Nicole Boutilier lives and was raised in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. 

A graduate of Dalhousie Medical School, she completed her family medicine residency in Calgary, Alberta. Celebrating 31 years in medicine and 21 years in leadership in 2026, Dr. Boutilier has practiced in a variety of clinical settings, including emergency medicine, collaborative primary care and youth health centres. 

Throughout her career, she has held progressive physician leadership positions, including Executive Vice President of Medicine and Clinical Operations at Nova Scotia Health and co-lead of the Nova Scotia Office of Healthcare Professional Recruitment. 

Most recently, Dr. Boutilier has led Nova Scotia Health's Operational Excellence transformation, aligning the organization around quality, performance, data and continuous improvement to build a more efficient, sustainable health system.  

Beyond her executive leadership responsibilities, Dr. Boutilier is a sought-after speaker, educator and thought leader on physician leadership, health system transformation, innovation and healthcare improvement. She regularly contributes to national and international conversations on the future of healthcare through speaking engagements, advisory roles and educational initiatives. 

A certified executive coach, Dr. Boutilier brings a coaching mindset to every aspect of her leadership. She is passionate about developing people, strengthening teams and transforming systems to improve care for patients, providers and communities. Widely recognized by her peers and colleagues for her collaborative leadership style, authenticity and commitment to innovation, she was the recipient of the 2026 Chris Carruthers Excellence in Medical Leadership Award. 

Dr. Boutilier is motivated to drive change, resiliency, and innovation for patients and providers. Her calm, assertive energy has been a cornerstone of her career and life as she moves between her roles as an executive health leader, wife and mother of three young adults.