The Royal is pleased to announce the appointment of two interim medical directors in psychiatry, effective September 15, 2025:
- Dr. David Attwood – Interim Medical Director, Severe Mental Illness
- Dr. Susan Okigbo – Interim Medical Director, General Psychiatry
In addition, Dr. Floyd Wood has already been appointed as Interim Medical Director, Forensic Psychiatry, a role announced previously.
Together, these leaders bring deep expertise, stability, and dedication to patient-centred care. Their leadership will guide program development, support interdisciplinary teams, and strengthen psychiatry as The Royal advances its SPARQ strategic plan.
Strong medical leadership is essential as we deliver on our SPARQ strategic plan. Dr. Attwood, Dr. Okigbo, and Dr. Wood bring the expertise and dedication needed to strengthen collaboration and drive progress across psychiatry at The Royal.
- Dr. David George Attwood, MD, FRCPC
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Interim Medical Director, Severe Mental Illness
Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa
Psychiatrist, Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
Clinical Director, Integrated Schizophrenia Recovery Programs, and the Ozerdinc Grimes Regional Psychosis ClinicDr. David Attwood is an ex-patriot Newfoundlander, completing his M.D. (1994) at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and Residency in Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa, achieving the Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Canada, in 1999. His career inadvertently diverted into Medical Administration, so completed the Physicians Executive Management Program at Simon Fraser University in 2002. He has held multiple clinical, academic, and administrative positions in Ontario, British Columbia and Newfoundland, and experiences range across adolescent mental health, emergency psychiatry and crisis intervention, early psychosis intervention, treatment refractory psychosis, correctional psychiatry, secure care and assertive community teams. He has served as Clinical Director of an Early Psychosis Intervention Program, Medical Director of a Provincial Psychiatric Hospital, and Clinical Chief of Psychiatry for a Provincial Health Authority.
Dr. Attwood returned to the University of Ottawa in 2011 to work at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Center and is currently the Clinical Director of the Integrated Schizophrenia Recovery Program and until recently Associate Chief of Staff. A strong proponent of integrating research, academics and informatics into clinical practice, current interests focus on complex and treatment refractory psychosis and the creation of a trans-Canadian Treatment Refractory Psychosis Network.
Most recently, with the generous support of the Ozerdic Grimes Family, Dr. Attwood is spearheading the realization of the community based Ottawa Regional Psychosis Clinic, which aims to provide access to care for 1000 new patients with schizophrenia. In 2023, Dr. Attwood received the Ontario Medical Association Section of Psychiatry Service Award. Dr. Attwood’s philosophy of care is recovery-orientated, family-inclusive, and includes integrated multidisciplinary care, and firm commitment to a destigmatized, lifespan approach to the care of persons with persisting psychotic illnesses.
- Dr. Susan Okigbo, MBBS, MPH, MRCPSYCH(UK), FRCPC
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Interim Medical Director, General Psychiatry
Dr. Susan Okigbo brings many years of specialist experience in psychiatry. She completed her postgraduate training in Ireland, where she specialized in social and rehabilitation psychiatry. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. In addition, she holds a Master’s in Public Health from University College Dublin and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Teaching.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Okigbo has developed extensive clinical, academic, and leadership expertise across diverse mental health settings in Ireland, the UK, and Canada. Her practice spans both acute and rehabilitation psychiatry, with a strong focus on evidence-based, person-centred care that actively involves families, caregivers, and community partners.
Central to her philosophy is the belief that accessible mental health care must be of the highest quality, compassionate, and firmly grounded in evidence. She is dedicated to supporting individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, particularly those with complex needs.
Dr. Okigbo currently serves as the Clinical Director of the Community Mental Health Program at the Royal Ottawa Hospital (ROH), Clinical Lead of the Prompt Care Clinic, and Psychiatrist for the Catherine Street FACTT team.
- Dr. Floyd Wood
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Interim Medical Director, Forensic Psychiatry
Dr. Floyd Wood has been a part of the Royal’s Integrated Forensic Psychiatry Program, since 2015, following completion of his Forensic Psychiatry Subspecialty at the University of Ottawa. Throughout his education and training, Dr. Wood has received many awards including the national COUPE Early Educator Award (2020), the University of Ottawa’s UGME Health Advocate Competency Award (2019), the CAPL Fellowship Award (2015), Resident Research Award, UofO (2013) and Resident Leadership Award, UofO (2013).
Dr. Wood is the current Program Director in the PGY6 Forensic Psychiatry program, where he is also the co-chair of the national Forensic Coordinators of Psychiatric Education (For-COPE). He is also the Director of Social Accountability and Indigenous Mental Health through the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. He is affiliated or holds membership in several organizations: Canadian Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (CAPL), American Association of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL); Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA); Ontario and Canadian Medical Associations; and the Forensic Psychiatry Subspecialty Resident Training Committee. Dr. Wood’s areas of interest include working with marginalized populations, mental health and the law, and education.