Speaker Bios
Keynotes
Panelists
Workshops
Armand Aalamian, MDCM, CCFP, FCFP
Dr. Armand Aalamian is the Executive Director of Learning at the Canadian Medical Protective Association. He has extensive experience in supporting and advancing medical education. He spent two decades with McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine as an associate professor, where he held numerous leadership positions, including Associate Dean of Postgraduate Medical Education, Director of Development of New Family Medicine Residency Teaching Sites, Assistant Dean of Postgraduate Resident Affairs, and Director of the Family Medicine Program.
Eusang Ahn, MD, MSc (MedEd), Dipl. KSEM, FRCPC
Dr. Eusang Ahn is an emergency physician and clinician educator at the University of Ottawa. He serves as an external advisor to the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine’s task force for implementation of competency-based medical education. As a former international advertising account executive with a focus on consumer behavior, Dr. Ahn has a strong interest in culture and its role in workplace-based learning. He specializes in cross-cultural dissemination of best practices in creating learning cultures.
Callie Bland, PCC, CPCC, RN, BSN, BSc.
Ms. Callie Bland is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation, and a Registered Nurse. She is on faculty with the University of British Columbia Continuing Professional Development (UBC CPD) where she teaches the Communication Course for Healthcare Professionals. She also developed and teaches the leadership curriculum for UBCs Medical Oncology Residency Training Program. Ms. Bland has 20 years of experience working in both the public and private healthcare systems in Canada and the US as a facilitator and coach in various aspects of leadership development
Nicole Boutilier, BSC, MD, CCFP, FCFP, CCPE, CEC, ACC
Dr. Nicole Boutillier is the Executive Vice President of Medicine and Clinical Operations at Nova Scotia Health Authority. For more than 20 years, she has practiced in rural Nova Scotia in various settings including emergency medicine, collaborative primary health care, and youth health centres. She has also held a variety of progressive leadership positions during this time. Dr. Boutillier has received the CCPE credential, holds the Certified Executive Coach designation from Royal Roads University and is also certified with the International Coaching Federation.
Amanda Brisebois, MD, FRCPC, FACP, AoDI, PCC (ICF), CEC, MMgmt (IMHL), Med.
Dr. Amanda Brisebois is a Wellness, Healthcare and Executive Coach and mediator. Her leadership specialty is helping practitioners and teams find opportunity through conflict and creating successes through team playbooks. Dr. Brisebois is a multi-award-winning teacher, has been a keynote speaker at many international events and is a published author in her fields of expertise.
Paula Cashin, MD
Dr. Paula Cashin is the first Indigenous Radiologist and Nuclear Medicine physician in Canada. She is a dual FRCPC certified physician with subspecialty training in Nuclear Medicine at the University of British Columbia and an Interventional Radiology fellowship at the University of Toronto. She completed a Master of Laws (LLM) at Osgoode Hall Law School in 2021.
Dr. Cashin serves in national physician leadership roles as Vice Chair of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Board of Directors, Board Director of the CMA Foundation, and a council member of the Canadian Medical Protective Association. Dr. Cashin has a keen interest in medical education and she is the Faculty Lead for Indigenous Health in the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Ming-Ka Chan, BSc (Psych), MD, MHPE, FRCPC
Dr. Ming-Ka Chan, 陳明嘉 (she/her) is a pediatrics clinician educator and coach who focuses on healthcare leadership education and social justice. Her roles include Director, Office of Leadership Education at Rady Faculty Health Sciences, University of Manitoba; Pediatrics Lead, Antiracism and Social Justice; Doctors Manitoba’s Physician Health & Wellness Committee Chair; Sanokondu (a multinational learning community dedicated to fostering health leadership education), Executive Chair and President-Elect of the Canadian Association for Medical Education.
Zita Cobb
Zita Cobb is an eighth-generation Fogo Islander, Co-Founder and CEO of Shorefast, and Innkeeper of the Fogo Island Inn. A registered Canadian charity, Shorefast uses business-minded means to help secure economic and cultural resilience for Fogo Island, Newfoundland: a centuries-old settler fishing community off Newfoundland’s northeast coast. Zita graduated high school on Fogo Island before leaving home to study business in Ottawa. Following a subsequent successful career in high-tech, Zita returned to Fogo Island to help grow another leg on the Island’s struggling economy to complement its ever-important fishery.
Shorefast’s notable achievements to date comprise a holistic set of charitable initiatives, including the world-class artist-in-residence program Fogo Island Arts (fogoislandarts.ca), and three innovative social businesses whose operating surpluses are returned to Shorefast for reinvestment in further community development work. Specifically, Shorefast is behind the award-winning, 29-suite Fogo Island Inn (fogoislandinn.ca), Fogo Island Workshops (fogoislandworkshops.ca), and Fogo Island Fish. Shorefast has pioneered the innovative practice economic nutrition labelling for its social businesses, transparently demonstrating “where the money goes.” Shorefast’s model is both unwaveringly specific and universally applicable, holding relevance for communities worldwide.
Zita has been a Member of the Order of Canada since 2016 and was a 2020 inductee to Canada’s Business Hall of Fame. She holds honourary doctorates from McGill University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, the University of Ottawa, and Carleton University. She is an active CEO and volunteers her full time and energy for Shorefast’s work on Fogo Island
Graham Dickson, PhD
Dr. Graham Dickson is a Senior Research Advisor to the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders (CSPL) and the Canadian Health Leadership Network (CHLNet). He was principal investigator in a cross-Canada research project to develop LEADS in a Caring Environment Framework. He is the principal in LEADS Global, a not-for-profit enterprise to enable countries outside of Canada to use LEADS for leadership development.
He is professor emeritus at Royal Roads University, where he helped develop the Master of Arts in Leadership (Health specialization) and was the founding director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research. He is helping Sanokondu build leadership curricula for residents.
Dr. Dickson has co-authored two editions of Bringing Leadership to Life in Health: LEADS in a Caring Environment book and has had peer-reviewed articles on leadership published in many journals.
Gina Doxtator
Ms. Gina Doxtator is originally from the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron (London, Ontario). She is a member of the Oneida Nation and has resided in the urban centre of Ottawa (unceded Algonquin Territory) for many years dedicating her career to advancing wellness in the Indigenous community.
Ms. Doxtator has over 25 years of management experience, advocacy and community engagement, policy analysis and program development across local, provincial, and national Indigenous organizations, the federal government and private industry in many areas including Reconciliation, Health, Sport, Residential Schools, Justice and MMIWG. As a facilitator, she is experienced in creating and convening safe space for dialogue between diverse stakeholders balancing the complexities of issues, perspectives, and realities.
Kaitlin Endres, MD
Dr. Kaitlin Endres is an emergency medicine resident at the University of Ottawa. She has a strong interest in medical education, having internationally published and presented research from the trainee’s perspective on navigating uncertainty of health advocacy teaching and evaluation. As a general council member on her provincial resident union and local residency progression committee, she received a Faculty of Medicine Award in Leadership for her work in creating a positive and equitable resident training experience.
Mamta Gautam, MD, MBA, FRCPC, CCPE, CPE
Dr. Mamta Gautam is an internationally renowned psychiatrist, consultant, certified coach, author and speaker. A trailblazer in the field of physician well-being, she is known as the “The Doctor’s Doctor”. Her work focuses on physician well-being and physician leadership. A respected medical leader in Canada, Dr. Gautam is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards for her innovative work in physician health and has been awarded Distinguished Fellowships in both the Canadian and American Psychiatric Associations.
Liisa Honey, MD, FRCSC
Dr. Liisa Honey is the Director of Safe Medical Care Learning at the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA). Prior to joining the CMPA, she served as Department Chief, Medical Director and active member of the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Queensway Carleton Hospital in Ottawa. She completed a Master’s certificate in Physician Leadership Development through the Schulich School of Business, as well as the Quality Improvement and Patient Safety program through the Telfer School of Business.
Eddy Lang, MDCM, CCFP(EM), FCFP, FCAHS, CCPE
Dr. Eddy Lang is a professor and Department Head for Emergency Medicine at Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services, Calgary Zone. Dr. Lang serves as Senior Editor for the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine, Associate Editor for both ACP Journal Club and the International Journal of Emergency Medicine. In addition, he is a member of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (CTFPHC) and was appointed as the Scientific Director of the Emergency Strategic Clinical Network (ESCN) in Alberta. Dr. Lang has received educational awards at the university, national and international levels. He was also inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2022 and received the Canadian Certified Physician Executives credential the same year.
Jerry Maniate, MD, M.Ed, FRCPC, FACP, CCPE, CPC(HC), EMBA(C)
Dr. Jerry Maniate is a clinician-educator at The Ottawa Hospital, associate professor at the University of Ottawa, and EDIA Advisor and researcher at the Bruyère Research Institute. Dr. Maniate founded the Equity in Health Systems Lab (www.eqhslab.com), an international transdisciplinary team focused on addressing health equity, accessibility, and social justice challenges through collaborative partnerships using a scholarly lens.
Tamara McColl, MD, FRCPC, MMEd
Dr. Tamara McColl is an emergency physician in Winnipeg with a background in medical education. She is an assistant professor and the Director of Education Scholarship and Faculty Development within the department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Manitoba. She is also Chair of the Education Scholars Committee, sits on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians and is Chair of the Royal College Specialty Committee for Emergency Medicine.
Anne McNamara, MBChB (Otago, NZ), FRACP, FRCPC, CEC
Originally from New Zealand, Anne McNamara has worked in FHA as a Respirologist, Intensivist and Physician Leader. These experiences led her to physician coaching. Anne coaches individual and groups of medical leaders, and is passionate about supporting leader awareness, relationships, influence, change and innovation.
Nancy Merrow, MD, CCFP(PC), FCFP, G(CEC) ICF ACC Certified Executive Coach
Dr. Nancy Merrow is a Certified Executive Coach (Royal Roads University 2014) with a career in senior medical leader roles since 2004, having served as Chief of Department, Chief of Staff and VP Medical, Regional Medical Director and Program Director with experience at small, medium and large sized community hospitals as well as regional and provincial initiatives. She is a family physician by training, with a focus in palliative medicine from 2004-2013. Dr. Merrow is recognized as a mentor and a role model among her peers and trainees. Her current career focus is on physician success and the advancement of medical practitioners in leadership roles.
Heather Murray, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Dr. Heather Murray is a Physician Advisor in the Safe Medical Care Learning department at the Canadian Medical Protective Association. She is a professor of Emergency Medicine at Queen’s and is cross-appointed to the Department of Public Health Sciences. She is also the Evidence-Based Medicine lead for the School of Medicine. Dr. Murray has authored a large number of peer-reviewed scientific papers, book chapters, editorials and commentaries. As well, she is the recipient of numerous teaching awards.
Otsi’tsakèn:ra (Charles Patton)
Otsi’tsakèn:ra (Charles Patton) is a respected elder of the Kanien’keha:ka community of Kahnawa:ke, on the south shore of Otsira:ke (Hochelaga/Montreal) – the northern section of Kanien’keha:ka ancestral territory. His name Otsi’tsakèn:ra means Spotted Flower; he is Rotiskarewake (Bear Clan), married to Niioie:ren for 51 years, with three sons and seven grandchildren. He has been involved in spiritual and civic affairs of the Ronatha:te Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk Trail) Longhouse in Kahnawá:ke and throughout the Haudenosaunee territory for over 46 years. He is committed to ensuring the continuance of Kanien’kehá:ka tradition, language, spirituality, ceremony and culture.
Victoria Pawlowski, M.Ed., RCC
Ms. Victoria Pawlowski is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and certified teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion. She offers a compassion-focused and mindfulness-based holistic approach to counselling that integrates over 30 years of practice, education, professional training, life experience and a passion for health and healing.
André Picard
Mr. André Picard is a health reporter and columnist for The Globe and Mail, where he has been a staff writer since 1987. He is also the author of six bestselling books.
Mr. Picard is a two-time winner of the Columns category at Canada’s National Newspaper Awards, and past winner of prestigious Michener Award for meritorious public service journalism.
He was named Canada’s first Public Health Hero by the Canadian Public Health Association, a Champion of Mental Health by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health and was awarded the Owen Adams Award of Honour, the highest Canadian Medical Association award available to a non-physician. He received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and was appointed to the Order of Canada for his dedication to advancing public health understanding and practices in Canada.
Mr. Picard is a graduate of the University of Ottawa and Carleton University and has received honorary doctorates from eight universities.
Jodi Ploquin, MSc, TIC, CWT, CHE
Ms. Jodi Poliquin is the Provincial Program Manager of Physician Wellness, Diversity and Development at Alberta Health Services. She is a medical health physicist who has worked as a change leader in radiation safety, nuclear security, patient safety and physician wellness. She sits on the expert panel for Healthcare Excellence Canada as a co-creator of the Leading Change Toolkit. Ms. Poliquin is also the co-creator of the SAFER leadership framework for safe, inclusive leadership in healthcare.
Deepti Ravi, MD, FRCPC, FCAP, Exec. MBA
Dr. Deepti Ravi is a GI/Liver pathologist in Saskatoon (Saskatchewan Health Authority). She is the team lead for the GI/HPB pathology service and director for the surgical pathology fellowship program at University of Saskatchewan. She graduated with an Executive MBA from the prestigious Johnson School of Business. A natural speaker, she has participated in several national and international conferences and is currently interested in applications of negotiation and marketing strategies to address health care needs in her community.
Shayne P. Taback, MD, FRCPC, CEC
Dr. Shayne Taback is an associate professor of Pediatrics and Child Health in Manitoba. He has a strong background in academic medicine and is the founding director of the Manitoba Clinician Investigator Program (CIP). In 2016, Dr. Taback graduated from the Royal Roads University Graduate Certificate Program in Executive Coaching. He is currently Vice-Chair of the Royal College’s National CIP Advisory Committee and President of the Canadian Physician Support Company.
Bill Tholl
Bill Tholl is a former CEO of the Canadian Medical Association (2001-2008); HealthCareCAN (2014-2017); and Heart and Stroke Canada (1995-2001). As a former senior official at Health and Welfare Canada (1978-1990), he helped frame the Canada Health Act in 1984. Bill has co-authored two leadership textbooks (Springer: LEADS in a Caring Environment 2014 and 2020).
Mr. Tholl was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada (2019) and currently serves an Associate Professor at MacMaster University, in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Kelly Tremblay, PhD, FAAA, CEC, ACC
Dr. Kelly Tremblay is a clinician and neuroscientist who co-authored the World Health Organization’s (WHO) new guidelines on integrated care for older people and was an invited contributor to the WHO’s World Report on Aging and Health. While working with the WHO she gained a deep understanding of how work contributes to our overall health and our sense of identity. She integrates elements from the WHO’s healthy work framework, along with evidence-based practices, when advising physicians and healthcare leaders. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Coaching at McLean, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, an Executive Coach certified by the International Coaching Federation, and a member of the Canadian Physician Coaches Network.
Johny Van Aerde, MD, MA, PhD, FRCPC
Dr. Johny Van Aerde has 25 years of experience as a neonatologist, first as a clinician-researcher and then in various leadership roles, including medical director of several neonatal intensive care units, the Pediatric Home Nutrition Program for Northern Alberta, the neonatal initiative for Collaborative Practice and Quality Improvement and Regional Director of the Northern Alberta Neonatal Intensive Care Program. He is professor emeritus in Pediatrics at the University of Alberta and adjunct professor at the School of Leadership Studies, Royal Roads University. Dr. Van Aerde has published 100 peer-reviewed papers, two dozen book chapters and 150 abstracts on topics ranging from neonatal nutrition and metabolism to health system leadership.
Michelle Ward, MD
Dr. Michelle Ward is a health communications consultant, journalist, pediatrician, and associate professor in Ottawa. She is passionate about using communication to improve the health of Canadians. Throughout her 20 years in general pediatric and child maltreatment medicine, she has focused on translating complex health information for a wide audience, including patients, parents, health professionals, lawyers, and police officers. She is adept at connecting and communicating in high-stakes situations. She consults to government and advocacy groups on child health. Also, Dr. Ward develops curricula, teaches all levels of medical learners, and authors scientific articles, commentaries, book chapters and clinical guidelines.
Jennifer Williams, BSc, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Jennifer Williams is the Deputy Head (Clinical) at the University of Calgary’s department of medicine as well as clinical associate professor in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology. She has held numerous leadership roles, including on the Alberta Medical Association Board, founding member of the Specialty Care Alliance, medical representative (south sector), in physician wellness and diversity with Alberta Health Services and serves as a collaborator with Well Doc Alberta. Dr. Williams is the co-creator of the SAFER leadership framework for safe, inclusive leadership in healthcare and a founding member of Empowering HOPE.
Kristy Williams, MD, CFPC
Dr. Kristy Williams is a family physician and teacher of mindful self-compassion (MSC) who finds MSC skills essential for both her personal well-being and for her patients. She has been teaching since 2018, specifically to those training and working in health care.
Verna Yiu, MD
Dr. Verna Yiu is a highly regarded healthcare leader with over two decades of experience. She served as President and CEO of Alberta Health Services (AHS) from 2016 to 2022, overseeing the province’s largest healthcare system and leading its response to the pandemic. During her tenure, Dr. Yiu earned accolades for building trust and confidence both externally with Albertans and internally with AHS’s 100,000+ employees. Under her leadership, AHS received recognition as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for four consecutive years and earned several other employer awards. Dr. Yiu prioritized quality of care, resulting in reduced healthcare costs, and implemented operational best practices that significantly improved efficiencies. She spearheaded the launch of Connect Care, Canada’s largest clinical information system rollout, and guided AHS through one of the most challenging public health crises in history.
Dr. Yiu’s leadership extends beyond AHS to academia, where she held roles at the University of Alberta, including interim dean of the faculty of medicine and dentistry. She is known for her servant leadership approach, prioritizing the success of others for collective achievement. Dr. Yiu has received numerous awards, including the 2023 President’s Citation Award from the U of A’s Graduate Student Association and the 2022 Physician of the Year Award from the Edmonton Zone Medical Association. She was also ranked second on the Medical Post’s 2021 Power list of physicians in Canada.
Currently serving as Interim Provost and VP Academic at the University of Alberta, Dr. Yiu recently commenced a permanent role for a five-year term. She led the development of the university’s 10-year strategic plan, SHAPE, and played a key role in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. Dr. Yiu continues to provide care as a pediatric nephrologist at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. She holds degrees from the University of Alberta and Harvard University and serves on several boards, including the Canadian Institute of Health Information and Health Workforce Canada.
Adrienne Zarem
Adrienne Zarem (she/her) is an embedded Patient Partner with Healthcare Excellence Canada’s Patient Safety, Equity and Engagement team, and a passionate advocate for patient engagement and partnership in healthcare. After her youngest daughter was diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder, Adrienne embarked on a journey to partner with local and national organizations to help advance person-centred care through effective and meaningful patient and family engagement. She is a past co-chair of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital’s Family Advisory Committee, a current member of Holland Bloorview’s Integrated Quality and Safety Steering Committee, a graduate of Canada’s first Family as Faculty program, a Parent Advisor and Hub-Team member of ECHO Ontario Autism, and one of Canada’s first Patient Surveyors with Accreditation Canada.