Chief Medical Office
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Susan Shaw, has oversight of: Senior Medical Health Officer, Practitioner Staff Affairs, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, shares oversight of Provincial Department Heads with the Dean, College of Medicine, and jointly oversees Provincial Clinical Networks with the Chief Operating Officer.
Dr. Susan Shaw - Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Susan Shaw balances a rewarding career in Critical Care Medicine and Anesthesiology with clinical and system improvement work at the local, regional and provincial level in Saskatchewan. She has been a successful department head, a physician leader with the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative and co-lead of the former Saskatoon Health Region's Safer Every Day Breakthrough Initiative. Prior to joining the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Dr. Shaw worked with the Saskatchewan Medical Association as Director of Physician Advocacy and Leadership.
Dr. Shaw is currently board chair for the Saskatchewan Health Quality Council and is looked to as a leader in patient-centred care, physician leadership, continuous improvement and large scale change.
Senior Medical Health Officer
Dr. Phillip Fourie - Deputy Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Phillip Fourie comes to his new role from Yorkton, where he has been a practicing family physician since 1999. Since 2013, Dr. Fourie worked as Vice President of Medical Affairs and Senior Medical Officer for the former Sunrise Health Region.
Dr. Fourie’s education includes a Medical Degree and Diploma in Anesthesia, as well as leadership training through the Physician Leadership Institute. His commitment to patient and family centred care is demonstrated through his passion for safe and high quality services. He has furthered his education in health system quality improvement at Inter-Mountain Health Care (mini-Advanced Training Program) and is a Certified Lean Leader. He is a champion of change and a coach and faculty member of the Saskatchewan Clinical Quality Improvement Program (CQIP) for physicians.
He has served in several local and provincial physician leadership roles including as President of the Saskatchewan Medical Association (2011). Dr. Fourie is dedicated to collaboratively improving the Saskatchewan Health Care System, to provide high quality patient centred care.
Dr. Jordan Wingate - Deputy Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Jordan Wingate is a rural family physician originally from Regina, Saskatchewan. After receiving his medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) in 1996, he completed his residency in Family Medicine through the University of Saskatchewan’s rural residency training program. Since establishing his medical practice in Melfort in 1998, he has provided care in several realms including obstetrics, emergency and hospital care.
Dr. Wingate served as the Senior Medical and Vice President of Medical Services, in the former Kelsey Trail Health Region from 2012 to 2017. He is also a clinical professor for the University of Saskatchewan, site coordinator for the Department of Family Medicine, and is Lean Leader Certified. Dr. Wingate’s service to his community extends outside the health care realm. He volunteers with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), plays in a band and has organized charity concerts, successfully raising thousands of dollars for charitable organizations close to his heart.
In 2017, Dr. Wingate assumed the role of Northeast Area Chief of Staff, a position where his leadership has been instrumental in stabilizing physician leadership and workforce within the region. Committed to the mentorship of the next generation of physicians, he expanded the USask’s College of Medicine and the Department of Family Medicine Residency Training Program to include Nipawin and advanced the redevelopment of Prince Albert’s program. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Wingate led as Pandemic Area Chief of Staff.
Dr. Jordan Wingate promotes sustainability of medical care in rural Saskatchewan, advocating on behalf of residents and physicians, which provide comprehensive care in a rural setting. Dr. Wingate looks forward to continuing to engage with the implementation of the Collaborative Inpatient Case initiative and advancing a provincial system of credentialing and quality concerns.
Steve Chard - Executive Director, Practitioner Staff Affairs
Steve Chard is the Executive Director of Practitioner Staff Affairs for the Saskatchewan Health Authority supporting physician leadership across the province.
Steve brings over 20 years of experience in healthcare including clinical experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist in adult, neonatal and pediatric acute tertiary care as well as adult continuing care and rehabilitation settings. He subsequently worked in Risk Management and Patient Safety for the former Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region before taking on his role in Practitioner Staff Affairs where he has gained experience in physician contract negotiation, health human resources management and professional regulation.
Steve has held various provincial and national leadership roles through his work as registrar of the Saskatchewan College of Respiratory Therapists including work on multiple iterations of the national entry to practice framework for Respiratory Therapy and work on the former national Committee on the Accreditation of Respiratory Therapy Education in Canada.
Steve holds a diploma in Respiratory Therapy, and a Master Degree in Health Administration from the Johnson-Shoyama School of Public Policy at University of Regina. He is a Certified Health Executive (CHE) with the Canadian College of Health Leaders and a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists and a site surveyor with Accreditation Canada. Steve is committed to working collaboratively with physicians and operational leaders to improve the quality of care to the people of Saskatchewan.
Area Chiefs of Staff
Dr. Dorothy Thomas - Area Chief of Staff, Regina
Dr. Dorothy Thomas is the Area Chief of Staff for Regina. She completed medical school at Dalhousie University, her internal medicine residency at the University of Saskatchewan and her nephrology fellowship at Queen’s University. She returned to Regina to practice nephrology and serve the residents of Southern Saskatchewan. She currently lives within the traditional Treaty 4 territory of the First Nations and Métis people.
She began her physician leadership career with the Saskatchewan Health Authority in 2020 as the Pandemic Physician Leader for Regina. In this role, she navigated our initial response to the uncharted public health emergency together with the diverse team of nursing and operational leaders.
As Area Chief of Staff, her main goal is to deliver patient-focused, compassionate care in a culturally safe environment. She promotes the work of the local physician leadership in developing quality care and continuous improvement initiatives. She values collaborating with provincial stakeholders to improve patient outcomes across the province.
Dr. Pam Meiers - Area Chief of Staff, Saskatoon
Pamela Meiers is the lead Area Chief of Staff in Saskatoon. She is an accomplished professional with a diverse background spanning law, healthcare governance, and surgical leadership. She completed her degrees in Commerce, Law and Medicine and then Surgery Residency at the University of Saskatchewan. She went on to complete her Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the University of Toronto Princess Margaret Hospital. This diverse educational background enables her to approach challenges with a multidimensional perspective, incorporating strategic thinking and compliance considerations.
Dr. Meiers was the Irene and Leslie Dube Breast Center of Care Surgical Director for the past 12 years and helped to lead this multidisciplinary team to improved patient outcomes and experiences.
As a member of Council for the college of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan, Dr. Meiers is actively engaged in maintaining professional standards and accountability. She demonstrates a commitment to upholding professional integrity and enduring the highest standards of practice.
Dr. Meiers is a life-long learner and excited to take on this new opportunity to contribute to the ongoing improvement in patient care and health-care advocacy.
Dr. Eileen Dahl - Area Chief of Staff, Saskatoon
Dr. Eileen Dahl is an Area Chief of Staff for the Saskatoon Area where she oversees the credentialing, reappointment and concern handling of 1200 medical staff, together with the Area Chief of Staff office and the Practitioner Staff Affairs team. She has an interest in clinical quality improvement particularly to improve the prompt flow of patient information between acute care and the community.
Dr. Dahl has served as Chief of the Department of Family Medicine and Associate Senior Medical Officer with the former Saskatoon Health Region. Interaction with medical students and residents as Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Family Medicine has been a rewarding part of her career. She received the “Saskatchewan Family Physician of the Year” award from the Canadian College of Family Physicians, Saskatchewan Chapter, in 2000, an honor of which she remains particularly proud.
She received her Certification in Family medicine (C.C.F.P.) in 1995 and her Fellowship in the Canadian College of Family Physicians (F.C.F.P) in 2006. She has completed the Canadian Medical Association (C.M.A.) Physician Management Institute courses Levels I – IV and continues participatation in the C.M.A. Joule Physician Leadership Institute (P.L.I.) program aimed at supporting physicians in driving system-level change.
Dr. Dahl balances her leadership work with a rewarding, busy family practice at Erindale Health Centre in Saskatoon. Her fondest career memories include the delivering of babies and the celebration that follows with parents, grandparents and nursing staff. No other career avails a provider with such an intimate family experience and celebration.
Dr. Christine Ryan - Area Chief of Staff, Northeast
Originally from Unity, Saskatchewan, the North East area is well known to Dr. Ryan. After graduating from high school, she completed both her Cellular Biology and Medical Degree at the University of Saskatchewan.
As a University of Saskatchewan learner, she was both a JURSI and Family Medicine Resident based in Prince Albert. Upon completion of her training, her initial year of clinical work was as a rural family medicine locum within the former Prince Albert Parkland Health Region and immediately thereafter, she set up practice at Shellbrook in August 2016.
Since the inception of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Dr. Ryan has taken on the role of Family Medicine Department Lead for Networks 1-4 with her primary base at Shellbrook.
Dr. Ryan believes strongly in an equity-based approach to medicine and has worked to build relationships with both first nations and municipal communities.
Dr. Ryan brings a wealth of leadership experience to the Area Chief of Staff, North East role and has expressed a passion for quality improvement initiatives and relationship building in the workplace.
Dr. Oladapo Mabadeje - Area Chief of Staff, Northeast
Dapo Mabadeje comes to this role with over a decade of leadership experience within the Saskatchewan health sector. He had been the Area Departmental Lead for Surgery since 2018 and prior to this, he was the Chief of Surgery for the former Prince Albert Parkland Health Authority. His clinical practice encompasses the broad specialty of General Surgery including Acute Care Surgery, Endoscopy and Laparoscopic Surgery. His undergraduate medical education was from the University of Benin, Nigeria. He then completed surgical residency training in Dublin, Ireland under the auspices of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. A fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and Canada, he is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He obtained a Master's degree in Surgical Technology at the Department of Surgery and Cancer of the Imperial College London, United Kingdom. He is a graduate of the Saskatchewan Leadership Program and has also received leadership training through the Physician Leadership Institute.
He is passionate about quality improvement and actively seeks out opportunities to improve clinical care. As part of his CQIP project, he initiated the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery program for colorectal surgery, which has now been extended to other specialties in Prince Albert. This program has been successful in improving post-operative outcomes including reducing the length of stay for patients.
Dr. Mabadeje has served as a member of the Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan since 2018, where he actively participates in regulating and maintaining the standard of practice of medicine. He currently sits on its executive committee.
He believes an engaged physician workforce is vital for patient safety and quality improvement. He looks forward to collaborating with other physician leaders across the province while fostering a culture of patient centered care in Northern Saskatchewan. He is an avid reader, soccer enthusiast and loves medical missions.
Dr. Lyle Williams - Area Chief of Staff, Northwest
Dr. Williams comes to his role from Unity, Saskatchewan where he has been a practicing family physician for the last ten years. He also has served as the Senior Medical Officer since 2014 and prior to that as the Deputy Senior Medical Officer, former Heartland Health Region. Dr. Williams has worked towards improving the rural standards of care and implementation of patient and family centred care in the rural setting. He has also served on the Saskatchewan Medical Association Representative Assembly for the former Heartland Health Region and is a certified Lean Leader.
Dr. Williams is passionate about primary and emergency care in the rural setting and is excited to work towards addressing the challenges in the northwest area through continuous improvement initiatives and a focus on improving the patient experience.
Dr. Erin Hamilton - Area Chief of Staff, Northwest
Dr. Erin Hamilton is a family physician working in North Battleford. She has the immense privilege of practicing medicine in the same hospital where she was born. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan Medical School and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition as well.
Her family medicine residency was completed through the University of British Columbia. She maintains active interests in the areas of addiction medicine, physician leadership and quality improvement.
Dr. Ajibola Ogunbiyi - Area Chief of Staff, Southeast
Dr. Ajibola Ogunbiyi comes from former Sunrise Health Region in east central Saskatchewan, where he practices as a consultant psychiatrist. He has served as the President of the Regional Medical Association and Co-Chair of the Regional Health Authority Practitioner Liaison Council.
Dr. Ogunbiyi completed his residency training in psychiatry in Ireland. He obtained his certification in Clinical Psychiatry from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and he holds a Master’s Degree in Child Health from the University of Dublin, Ireland. He maintains active memberships in several professional organizations, including the Saskatchewan Medical Association, the Saskatchewan Psychiatric Association and the Canadian Psychiatric Association.
As an advocate of patient-centred care, Dr. Ogunbiyi is committed to physician engagement and health system quality improvement. He looks forward to fostering collaborative relationships and integrated healthcare services for Saskatchewan's unique and diverse citizens.
Dr. H. Schalk Van der Merwe - Area Chief of Staff, Southeast
Dr. H. Schalk Van der Merwe has been practicing comprehensive Family Medicine in Moosomin, Saskatchewan since 1999. He is a physician staff member of the Southeast Integrated Care Centre in Moosomin where he provides inpatient as well as Emergency Department coverage. He prides himself for starting the community Oncology program in Moosomin over 20 years ago as well as bringing the MORE OB program to Moosomin as part of an initiative of the former Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region.
Dr. Van der Merwe has taken on many leadership positions throughout the healthcare field including, most recently, Family Medicine Area Division Lead for Network 7, South East. He is very passionate about high quality healthcare being delivered to our patients in a very complex environment and has an unrelenting passion for understanding and implementing the qualities that make highly effective teams successful. Dr. Van der Merwe believes that building highly successful teams while looking after our team members is the only way to succeed in delivering the high quality health care that our patient's need. He believes in Extreme Ownership for everything he does.
Dr. Hein de Klerk - Area Chief of Staff, Southwest
Dr. Hein de Klerk is a family physician from Swift Current. He is responsible for providing leadership to the practitioner staff, ensuring appropriate practitioner staff review and appointments, supporting and leading quality initiatives, coordinating clinical organization within the southwest area, as well as collaborating with the other area chiefs of staff to conform clinical pathways and processes across Saskatchewan.
Dr. de Klerk has practiced Comprehensive Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine in Swift Current, Saskatchewan for the last 18 years. He served as Director of Family Medicine for former Cypress Health Region Vice President of the Cypress Regional Medical Association, as a member of the Saskatchewan Medical Association Committee on Rural and Regional Practice, and on Quality Care Committees of former Cypress Health Region . He obtained his medical degree at the University of the Free State in South Africa.
Dr. de Klerk is active in his community and shares responsibilities as a team physician, caring for the medical needs of the WHL Swift Current Broncos. He strives to build on the professional relationships he has with his colleagues in the Southwest and forge new strong relationships with healthcare professionals and communities to create a robust, competent, and caring human resource team that always focuses on the care of our patients.
Dr. Ivo Radevski - Area Chief of Staff, Southwest
Dr. Ivo Radevski started his practice in Shaunavon, SK in 2001 where he practices as a family physician at the Collaborative Emergency Centre. He has also worked in Maple Creek, SK and as emergency physician at the Cypress Regional Hospital in Swift Current. Over his 32 years of experience Dr. Radevski has gained vast experience in variety of practice settings and locations, including rural South Africa, academic practice and research. He has in-depth first-hand knowledge that rural family physicians face on daily basis in their practice and personal lives.
Dr. Radevski has also considerable administrative and physician leadership experience. He has been the Senior Medical Officer of the former Cypress Health Region since 2004 and also served as Vice President, Acute Care in the region since 2015. At present Dr. Radevski is the Southwest Area Chief of Staff of the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Dr. Radevski is a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and holds the Certified Physician Executive designation from the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders.
Dr. Radevski is a strong believer in patient and family centered care and is an advocate for physician wellbeing. He believes that through their bylaws, policies and procedures various parties such as the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the College of Physicians and Surgeons have an important role to play in enhancing physician wellbeing by creating practice environment in which physicians thrive and do their best for the benefit of their patients.
Dr. P.J. Vertue - Area Chief of Staff, Southwest
Dr. P.J Vertue is a fulltime emergency room physician from Moose Jaw. He has a special interest in Medical IT, ultrasonography and strong physician leadership.
Trained at the University of Pretoria in South Africa as a family physician and completed both his Canadian Family medicine certification and Special interest in Emergency Medicine certificate.
He helped plan and design the Emergency room of the new Dr.F.H.Wigmore Regional Hospital and is still busy getting the department totally paperless with active work in Sunrise Clinical Manager.
He is certified in ATLS / ACLS/ PALS, and EDE 1 as an independent provider. He is an active member of the Canadian Family Physicians of Canada, Canadian Emergency Ultrasound Society and the Canadian Academy of Emergency Physicians. He has completed multiple ultrasound courses including EGLS, EDE 2 and EDE3, completed a micro-fellowship in chest ultrasound at the University of Toronto and has taught ultrasound at EDTU, EDE Bootcamp and the University of Saskatoon.
The opportunity to serve and provide guidance in the new Saskatchewan Health Authority has rekindled his desire to make Saskatchewan a better place to receive treatment and practice medicine.
Provincial Department Heads
Dr. Sheldon Wiebe - Provincial Department Head, Medical Imaging
Dr. Sheldon Wiebe is a professor in the Department of Medical Imaging and took over the role of Interim Provincial Head of the Department in January 2018. While in this interim role, he has worked with radiologists and others to create an open and transparent department that is patient-centred and creates clinical and academic value to the system.
Dr. Wiebe completed his undergraduate and postgraduate medical training in Saskatchewan. He undertook a Pediatric Radiology fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto from 2002 to 2004, accepted an academic position at the University of Saskatchewan in July 2004, and has been practicing at the Royal University Hospital since. Soon after beginning, he became interested in the imaging research possibilities at the Canadian Light Source and began working with Dr. Dean Chapman and members of the Biomedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) beamline community. Through his involvement in this work, he earned an MSc degree in 2012.
Dr. Wiebe has been an active member at the Radiology Society of Saskatchewan (Provincial Radiology). He was previously the Acting Head of the Department (UofS/SHR) from 2006 to 2009, and again in 2010, prior to Dr. Paul Babyn taking the position in December 2010. He was active at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons as a member of the specialty committee for Pediatric Radiology and was the inaugural chair of the exam board for the RCPSC specialty exam for Pediatric radiology; through that work he was awarded the title of "Founder of Pediatric Radiology" in 2011. He has recently accepted a position as a Board Member of the Canadian Association of Radiologists.
Vacant – Provincial Department Head, Pediatrics
Dr. Haissam (Sam) Haddad - Provincial Department Head, Medicine
Dr. Haissam (Sam) Haddad received his B.Sc. from Tichreen University in Syria in 1980 and graduated from Medical School at Tichreen University in 1983. Following a family medicine practice in Syria, Dr. Haddad immigrated to Canada and trained in Internal Medicine at Dalhousie University and successfully completed training in cardiology at the University of Alberta and training in heart failure and transplant at Dalhousie University. In July 1997, Dr. Haddad joined the Division of Cardiology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S. and was Medical Director of the Heart Transplant Program and Director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. In September 2001, Dr. Haddad joined the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and was the Director of the Heart Failure Program, and Medical Director of Heart Transplant Program from 2001 to 2016.
Dr. Haddad is a member of the Panel of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society’s consensus conferences on the management of heart failure (2001-2017), on heart transplantation in adults (2003) and on heart transplantation in pediatrics (2005). He also chaired the Society’s consensus conference for heart transplant in 2008 and Evaluation and Management of Cardiovascular Complications of Cancer Therapy 2016. Dr. Haddad has earned numerous prestigious awards, namely the Anemia Institute for Research and Education Award in 2005, the 1st Award Prize in the International Competition of the American College of Physicians in 2000, and The UOHI CEO and President TEAM SPIRIT award 2016. Dr. Haddad was elected and served as Chair of the Board of Directors to the Canadian Heart Failure Society from April 2015 to Sept 2017. He moved to Saskatchewan in April 2016 to be the Unified Head of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan and Saskatoon Health Region.
Dr. Mateen Raazi - Provincial Department Head, Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Management
Dr. Mateen Raazi became the first Provincial Head in Anesthesiology for the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the University of Saskatchewan on January 1, 2018. Prior to that, he spent 15 years as the Program Director and the Executive Director of Education in Anesthesiology, a role that encompassed a range of portfolios in medical education, administration, scholarship and innovation at the local, regional, national and international levels.
A highly regarded medical educator and administrator, he completed his undergraduate medical studies at the King Edward Medical College in Pakistan. He subsequently completed his postgraduate medical education in anesthesiology and fellowships in Pediatric Anesthesiology and Pediatric Critical Care at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, University of Philadelphia (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) and the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Raazi’s current research interests encompass medical and health care systems administration, medical education, physician wellness and pediatric perioperative anxiety. His scholastic interests outside of medicine include contemporary history, philosophy, comparative religious and spiritual traditions, and interfaith harmony. He enjoys classical music (eastern and western) and jazz, is an amateur percussionist and an advocate of physical, mental and spiritual health.
Dr. Michael Kelly - Provincial Department Head, Surgery
Michael Kelly, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS, is professor at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, and Provincial Department Head of Surgery for the University of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Health Authority.
He did his undergraduate, medical school, neurosurgery residency and PhD at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Kelly completed an open cerebrovascular neurosurgery fellowship at Stanford University and an endovascular neurosurgery fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. He returned to the University of Saskatchewan in 2008.
Dr. Fergall Magee - Provincial Department Head, Pathology and Laboratory
Dr. Fergall Magee completed his residency in Anatomic Pathology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), followed by Pediatric Pathology at the BC Children's Hospital, and a staff position for 10 years. Prior to leaving Vancouver, he completed a Masters in Clinical Epidemiology at the UBC School of Population and Public Health. In 2005, he relocated to IWK Health Centre/Dalhousie with a Pathology appointment and cross appointment in pediatrics and bioethics.
In 2015, Dr. Magee was appointed as Department Head, for Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. In 2018, he also assumed the role as Interim Provincial Medical Director, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Dr. Magee is currently an active member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, serving as Chair of the Credentials Committee, member of the Health Systems and Policy Committee, and Assessment Committee.
Dr. Kathy Lawrence - Provincial Department Head, Family Medicine
Dr. Kathy Lawrence is from Regina and completed her medical degree (1994) and Family Medicine residency training (1996) at the University of Saskatchewan (Regina Campus). She received Certification in Family Medicine in 1996 and became a Fellow of the CFPC in 2007. She also received a BSc in Biology from the University of Regina in 1992. She has practiced at the Family Medicine Teaching Unit at the Regina Centre Crossing throughout her career. She is an Associate Professor with the University of Saskatchewan and served as the Postgraduate Director for Family Medicine from 2005 to 2018.
Dr. Lawrence served as a member of the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s National Executive Committee in 2010 and completed terms as Honorary Secretary-Treasurer, President-Elect, Chair of the Board, President and Past President. In addition, she served as Board Member of the Saskatchewan College of Family Physicians (SCFP) from 1998 to 2003 and as President from 2005 to 2007. She currently chairs the CFPC’s Postgraduate Education Committee and is a member of the CFPC’s Committee on Examinations, Certification and Assessment Committee, Program Evaluation Advisory Group, Specialty Committee, Accreditation Committee and Advisory Committee for the CFPC Outcomes of Training Project. In addition, she is the family medicine representative to the Canadian Residency Accreditation Consortium’s Accreditation Process Advisory Committee.
Dr. Joanne Sivertson - Provincial Department Head, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Joanne Sivertson, MD, FRCSC, was born and raised in rural Saskatchewan and spent her undergraduate years at the University of Regina. She then went to medical school at the University of Saskatchewan, where she also subsequently completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency. She has been working as a general OBGYN in Prince Albert since completing her residency.
Dr. Sivertson has a passion for system improvement and physician leadership. She spent nine years on the board for the Saskatchewan Medical Association, including four years on the executive and President 2017-2018. She is an advocate for returning birth to communities and promotes enhanced surgical skills training for family physicians. She also has a special interest in caring for women with HIV and addictions. Dr. Sivertson is dedicated to keeping patients at the forefront of decision-making in health care.
Dr. James Stempien - Provincial Department Head, Emergency Medicine
Dr. James Stempien completed medical school at the University of Toronto in 1984. His first job was as a GP anesthetist in Inuvik in 1986. He then spent the next 10 years working in northern Canada and isolated areas internationally.
Dr. Stempien has been working in Saskatoon as the Head of Emergency Medicine since 2007 and has been the Interim Provincial Head since 2016. He lives on an acreage just east of the city with his wife, three children, 20 chickens and four hives of bees.
Dr. Stempien is interested in quality improvement and patient-centred research. As Provincial Head, he is looking towards a provincial approach for quality care and system improvement.
Dr. AG Ahmed - Provincial Department Head, Psychiatry
Dr. AG Ahmed has a background in forensic psychiatry, along with master's degrees in psychological medicine, drug use and addictions and health law. He has trained mental health professionals across North America and Africa, including clinicians at the World Health Organization's Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health.
Dr. Gary Linassi - Provincial Department Head, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Dr. Linassi is a Physiatrist and the Provincial Head for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). After working as a gold geologist for 10 years, he completed medical school in Ireland and Royal College residency in PM&R in Saskatoon. His clinical practice is focused on spinal cord injury, amputation and ALS, corresponding with his research interests as an Associate Professor with the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. He is a medical educator with past appointments as UGME Program and PGME Program Director in Saskatoon and Dalhousie University and Assistant Dean UGME with the College of Medicine.
He has current appointments as a national and international Royal College examiner. He is passionate about advocating for people with disabilities and has sat on many provincial and national advisory committees and non-profit boards. Dr. Linassi feels privileged to work with an outstanding team of professionals, based in Regina and Saskatoon, who serve the province through a dedicated tertiary level rehabilitation service model and who contribute to educational excellence. As a rehabilitation specialist, Dr. Linassi regularly works with a diverse group of widely dispersed health care providers and sees the creation of the SHA as an opportunity to improve care by building a large team with dedicated, interconnected members.