After a long and distinguished career marked by compassion, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to high-quality patient care, Dr. Peter Potts announced earlier this year his plan to retire as Chief of Staff at WRHN, concluding two five-year terms in this pivotal leadership role.
Over the past several months, the WRHN Board of Directors and Selection Committee, in partnership with external executive search firm the Medfall Group, conducted an extensive recruitment process to identify a transformational physician leader to carry forward this important legacy.
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Anirudh Goel, MD, as the new Chief of Staff at WRHN effective December 1, 2025.
Born and raised in Waterloo, Dr. Anirudh (“Rudy”) Goel returns home with deep local roots and a profound sense of connection to WRHN—where he was born, first volunteered in high school, and later, completed clinical electives during medical school. Serving most recently as Chief of Staff and Vice President Medical & Academic Affairs at the Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS), Dr. Goel’s personal and professional journey reflects a powerful alignment with WRHN’s values of Care & Compassion, Trust, Respect & Integrity, Innovation & Courage, and Welcome, Inclusion & Collaboration.
Spanning over a decade, Dr. Goel’s career as a family physician and acute care hospitalist has included positions at hospitals across British Columbia and Ontario. He joined BCHS in 2017, and was appointed Chief and Medical Director of Hospital Based Medicine in 2018. In 2020, he took on the role of COVID-19 Physician Lead, and was appointed Chief of Staff and Vice President Medical & Academic Affairs in 2021. During his progressive tenure in senior leadership at BCHS, he led the development and implementation of multiple service expansions based on local needs, from rapid access and critical care programs to new mental health and specialty services, delivered through teamwork and trust. Dr. Goel is a values-driven, equity-focused, and data-informed leader with a proven record of advancing healthcare systems through collaboration and thoughtful change.
Dr. Goel is also a passionate advocate for provider wellness, having introduced meaningful programs that foster culture, connection, and professional recognition. These efforts have strengthened team resilience and created the conditions for high-quality care at BCHS, principles that will guide his leadership at WRHN.
As Chief of Staff, Dr. Goel will report directly to the Board and play a critical role in shaping the future of care across our organization. He will serve as an influential ambassador for WRHN while inspiring and motivating professional staff to deliver safe, innovative, and compassionate care in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
Dr. Goel will usher in a new chapter at WRHN as we continue to meet the changing and complex needs of the patients and communities we care for, and the dedicated teams of professionals at WRHN who provide life-changing and life-saving care. We are delighted that he has chosen WRHN and look forward to welcoming him to the team.
As we are preparing to welcome Dr. Goel, we reflect upon the incredible contributions of Dr. Potts, whose leadership has laid a strong foundation for the next chapter of WRHN’s journey. Throughout his long career as a physician and as WRHN’s Chief of Staff, Dr. Potts has been a steady and visionary presence—guiding our Hospital forward with integrity, clinical excellence, and a deep dedication to the health and wellbeing of our patients, teams, and community, during some of the most challenging and transformative years our Hospital has encountered. While we will miss Dr. Potts’ leadership, natural warmth, expertise and wisdom, we know he leaves behind a lasting legacy of care for all and wish him only the best in his very well-deserved retirement. Dr. Potts will continue to serve as WRHN’s Chief of Staff until Dr. Goel assumes responsibilities on December 1, 2025, to ensure a smooth transition.
Please join us in extending our heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation to Dr. Potts for his many contributions, enduring impact and his outstanding leadership, and a very warm welcome to Dr. Goel, who will help lead our team into the next chapter of evolution and growth at WRHN.