Ms. Lizzette Yearwood, JP, MMH, MHA, a Registered Nurse, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority (HSA), with overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Cayman Islands Hospital on Grand Cayman, Faith Hospital on Cayman Brac, as well as District Health Centres and Clinics on all three Islands.

She holds a master’s degree in health services management from the University of Minnesota, an advanced certificate in quality management from the Singapore Productivity Institute, and a certification from the American Society of Healthcare Risk Management.

Ms. Yearwood has over 30 years of progressive experience in local and international healthcare settings. Since joining the HSA in 1993, she has amassed a wealth of experience and expertise that has contributed to the growth and success of the organisation. She is a recipient of the 2013 Medal of Honour (MMH). She was also recognized as an Emerging Pioneer in Healthcare at the 2015 National Heroes’ Day celebrations and awarded the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour (Cert. Hon.) in 2021 for meritorious services rendered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a dedicated leader, she has guided the HSA through numerous challenges. She assumed leadership during a particularly difficult time in the organisation’s history and, with the support of her senior management team and the HSA Board, led strategic initiatives that resulted in a significant financial turnaround and the achievement of the organisation’s first clean audit opinion in 2018 and the first Joint Commission International accreditation of the Islands’ largest healthcare system in May 2023. She is also a non-voting member of the HSA Board.

She is a proud alumnus of United World College and is proud to have passed on this tradition to her daughter. She also sits on the Board of the Alex Panton Foundation, a non-profit organisation that she helped to establish after the death of a close family friend. The foundation is working to break the stigma often associated with mental health challenges.

Prior to her appointment as CEO of the HSA, Ms. Yearwood served as Acting CEO, Deputy CEO, and Director of Corporate & Clinical Affairs, with senior management responsibility for laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and health information management.

Ms. Yearwood is a native of one of the Sister Islands, Cayman Brac, and has one daughter, Kelsey, who is an accomplished IT professional.