MIC CEO Values Personal Connection
On the windowsill in Brian de Haan’s office – near family photos and the word “Dad” carved in wood – is the latest Consumer Choice Award earned by MIC Medical Imaging.
And while the chief executive officer is proud MIC is annually recognized as the diagnostic-imaging provider of choice, he says it’s even more gratifying to hear directly from patients. Today is one of those days, de Haan says.
He received an email from a patient who was diagnosed with breast cancer. She first went to MIC for a screening mammogram, and later returned for diagnostic exams and a biopsy. “She shared how – all along that whole journey – she felt like we were doing something different,” he says. “And that really warms my heart the most.”
A Strong Foundation in Health Care
De Haan’s rise to CEO of the largest radiology partnership in Canada began at the ground level. Nearly 26 years ago, he started as a biomedical engineering technologist, a field that combined his interest in computers and science. After working his way up through Alberta Health Services, he was chosen to lead the diagnostic-imaging program with Covenant Health in Edmonton.
During his time at Covenant Health, he says he forged strong connections with MIC radiologists. “The radiologists were great to work with in the hospital. They cared about the quality of care that was being delivered,” says de Haan, who first joined MIC as director of operations before becoming CEO in 2023.
Passing the Torch
When Ron Van Vliet hired de Haan as his successor, he says he knew MIC would be in good hands. “There were people that we interviewed that were really big business minds who had all kinds of ideas… but didn’t have a health care background,” says Van Vliet, who was with MIC for nearly 25 years, 14 of those as CEO. “It was important to have someone who understood what the mission of health care was all about,” he says.
Under Van Vliet’s leadership, MIC opened seven new clinics and undertook major renovations at four others. Being in charge, though, also meant overcoming challenges. None was more daunting than the COVID-19 pandemic. But together, Van Vliet and MIC’s executive team of radiologists worked to find the best balance between employee and patient needs.
“You make an investment when you get to know people and build relationships.”
Today, if you ask employees about MIC’s leaders, both past and present, they’ll likely point to a common attribute – the ability to connect with people and inspire others.
And each year, the company recognizes an employee who embodies those qualities – with an award named for MIC’s first CEO, Ivan Olsen, who passed away in 2025. One of the most valuable lessons for a leader? “You make an investment when you get to know people and build relationships,” Van Vliet says.
Building Connections
For de Haan, connecting with MIC’s radiologists and staff is a priority, though he admits that’s more challenging as the company continues to grow. Still, he makes it a goal to visit one of MIC’s 15 locations each week.
On this day, he’s at MIC’s Hys Centre clinic, where he greets staff by name, asking one technologist about her son’s athletic achievements and another about a vacation.
He spends time looking at holiday photos, and swaps stories before heading back to his office. “When I look back on my career, it was meaningful to me when leaders came and knew my name. My hope is to model this same leadership quality to demonstrate that MIC values every employee.”
