The Royal is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Maiko Schneider as our new Senior Medical Officer & Deputy Chief of Staff.
Dr. Schneider has held leadership roles across the psychiatry sector, including Deputy Chief for Adult Psychiatry at Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. His expertise, leadership and vision will help guide The Royal’s clinical strategy and strengthen our commitment to patient- and family-centered care.
Dr. Schneider shares: “Mental healthcare is evolving, and organizations must respond rapidly to these shifting demands. Modernization and system integration are pivotal to increasing the value of patient care. The Royal is currently undergoing a major transformation, making it the most compelling environment for someone who believes the healthcare system requires fundamental change. The Royal has the right stakeholders in place, and its mission and values are deeply aligned with the needs of the community. This is the perfect recipe to act as pioneers, leading alongside regional and provincial partners. The community asked for change—and The Royal is responding.”
Learn more about
Dr. Schneider
Dr. Maiko Schneider joins us from St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and McMaster University. Driven by a passion for education and research, Dr. Schneider has been recognized and awarded for his excellence as both a clinician educator and an early-career researcher.
As the former Head of Service for Mood & Anxiety Disorders and other adult specialty clinics at St. Joseph’s, he led service transformations designed to increase access and improve the quality of care through the implementation of measurement-based care. He played a vital role in streamlining the transition from acute to tertiary mental healthcare in Hamilton, championing key quality improvement initiatives and fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making within the organization.
Collaboration and integration
With an increasing focus on system integration, Dr. Schneider served the Greater Hamilton community in the inaugural role of Deputy Chief of Adult Psychiatry. In this city-wide strategic capacity, he supported faster access to care and smoother transitions across the healthcare system by advancing care pathways beyond hospital walls. His commitment to innovation is evidenced by his co-leadership of projects focused on access and flow; these data-driven approaches earned prestigious recognition, including an award from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in 2025.
At the regional and provincial levels, Dr. Schneider chairs the Suicide Prevention Working Group with Mental Health Partners, collaborating with nine of Ontario’s largest mental health hospitals. This province-wide initiative identifies system-level gaps across institutions and populations to improve the care received by individuals experiencing suicidal ideation.
Beyond the Clinic: Dr. Schneider is an avid fan of 70s and 80s rock music. Given his musical tastes, it isn’t difficult to guess why his dog is named Freddie!
About The Royal
The Royal is one of Canada’s foremost mental illness and addiction treatment, research, and education hospitals, dedicated to supporting individuals aged 16 and older who are living with complex mental illness and addiction. Since opening in 1910, The Royal has grown into a trusted resource for people across eastern and northern Ontario, western Quebec, and Nunavut.
With campuses in Ottawa and Brockville, and clinical teams working directly in homes and communities, The Royal delivers compassionate, evidence-informed care grounded in cutting-edge research, including through its partnership with the University of Ottawa and other academic and community partners. Its integrated model brings together care, research, education, and strategic partnerships to help build a future of recovery.
At The Royal, we separate the person from the illness, helping more people reclaim their lives.
