Women leading change: The impact of Laure Pitfield in healthcare innovation

Photo of Laure Pitfield.

This International Women's Day, we celebrate the remarkable contributions of women in health care. A fine example of someone who makes a significant difference is Laure Pitfield, in whose visionary leadership as QCH’s Director of Decision Support and Privacy Officer is transforming how health care data is managed and used.

Laure’s role is both dynamic and essential. At QCH, she oversees the entire spectrum of data, from its collection and analysis to its protection and interpretation. “I love my job,” she says, reflecting a passion for a position that blends strategic oversight with hands-on operations. Every day, her work improves patient care and streamlines hospital processes.

Her journey into health care leadership began during her doctorate in industrial-organizational psychology, where she explored workplace behavior, transformational leadership, job engagement, and change management. Her academic work provided the tools needed to make a difference, and designing selection tools and training programs for managers laid a solid foundation for her transition into health care, especially after a thesis project on quality improvement sparked her passion for the industry.

Before joining QCH, Laure honed her expertise in organizational consulting, focusing on employee engagement surveys. An unexpected influence that helped shape her leadership style was her time on the basketball court. As a high-level athlete earning accolades such as First Team All-Canadian, MVP in the Quebec university league, and representing Canada internationally -- she learned that leadership is about consistency and teamwork. “I wasn’t always the best player on the court, but I was often the most consistent,” she recalls. That experience taught her that effective leadership means lifting others up and steering a team through both calm and challenging times.

Family has also played a key role in her journey. Her mother, Nicole Jauvin, a respected public servant and former Deputy Minister, has been a major inspiration. “My biggest inspiration is my mom,” Laure says, crediting her with instilling a deep sense of purpose and commitment to service. This legacy motivates her daily as she navigates the challenges of managing health care data and patient information.

Today, Laure is at the forefront of integrating new technology into health care operations. One exciting development is the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, which is revolutionizing patient care by enhancing predictive analytics, streamlining administrative tasks, and uncovering insights that lead to better clinical decisions. “AI is a game-changer,” she says, noting its potential to transform everything from resource allocation to early disease detection and, ultimately, patient outcomes.

Yet challenges remain. A significant hurdle is data accessibility. "We invest significant time and effort in collecting, curating, and ensuring the quality of our data, yet we only use a small fraction of it — something that’s common across the healthcare industry," she acknowledges. Her QCH assignment is to liberate the full potential of this information while balancing the need for privacy and security with practical user-friendliness. By making sure that correct information is being used by the proper folks at just the time they require it, she promotes evidence-based decision-making which benefits both patient care and hospital efficiency.

On this International Women’s Day, Laure Pitfield’s journey stands as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring women leaders in health care. Her story is one of continuous learning, resilience, and a commitment to service. As she advises, “stay curious, ask questions, and thrive in chaos.” Behind every data point is a real patient, and every decision contributes to a larger mission of improving lives.

Laure’s work advances health care data management and exemplifies the power of leadership, innovation, and passion. Her journey shows how women in health care can drive transformative change, ensuring that every decision paves the way for a brighter, healthier tomorrow.