FMPE’s Board of Directors is comprised of current members, as well as members from the academic department of family medicine at McMaster, the national chairs of family medicine, and an academic member from another Canadian university.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Alison Baker – Representing Ontario
Alison Baker is a Family Physician in Brantford, Ontario, and an Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster University. She is the Assessment Director and Chair of the Central Competence Committee for McMaster’s Family Medicine Residency Program. She is a Fellow in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and holds a Royal College Clinician Educator Area of Focused Competence. She is Chair of the CFPC’s Faculty Development Interest Group and Chair of the CFPC’s National Assessment Community of Practice and sits on the CFPC’s Faculty Development Education Committee and Certification Process and Assessment Committee. She is the lead physician for the Brant Family Health Organization and a member of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Brantford Brant Norfolk Ontario Health Team’s Primary Care Council.
Dr. Sarah Chritchley – Representing British Columbia, Alberta & Yukon – Vice Chair
Dr. Sarah Chritchley established her full-service longitudinal family practice in 2010. Prior, she experienced many areas of family medicine such as clinical work in a dialysis unit, surgical assists, team work at a community health centre and episodic care at walk-in clinics. She understands the challenges faced by Family Physicians in different environments and believes we need to collaborate to improve the system. Dr. Chritchley now sits as Vice-Chair of FMPE’s Board of Directors. Most of all, Dr. Chritchley loves being a family doctor and feels privileged to do this important work, and appreciates the support of the FMPE and her group.
Dr. Tony Gabriel – Representing Atlantic Region – Chair
Dr. Tony Gabriel is a Family Physician in his thirty second year located in Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador. Dr. Gabriel still practices more or less full time, but is aiming to take more time off during summer breaks. He has been a Facilitator of an FMPE small group since joining in 1995. He joined the Board in 2018 as the Atlantic representative and is the current Chair of the Board. Dr. Gabriel is married with his wife Sherry, a Dental Hygienist, and has a daughter Ellen, who began Medical School this past fall. He is an avid, if not good, golfer. Same goes for poker…..and his curling game!! He also spends time being creative with a community Drama Club, the Avion Players, which just put on a production of Local Newfoundland comedy skits.
Dr. Kristin Heinrichs – Representing Manitoba, Saskatchewan, NWT & Nunavut
Dr. Kristin Heinrichs is a family medicine physician located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She has practiced since 2012. Dr. Heinrichs is a co-owner of a multidisciplinary family medicine clinic where she spends most of her time, but also does some hospitalist work at a small community hospital. She dedicates one day to the provincial medical assistance in dying team as an assessor and provider. Dr. Heinrichs has been a Facilitator of a Practice based learning program at FMPE since 2017, but started participating in the small group learning modules during her residency. In her spare time, she is a busy mother of two and enjoys backcountry camping and canoeing, cross country skiing, cycling, long distance running and tap dancing.
Dr. Ed Hirvi – Representing Academic Chairs of Family Medicine
Dr. Ed Hirvi is a Family Physician in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario working at the Group Health Centre. Dr. Hirvi is the Co-Section Chair for Family Medicine and Associate Professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. He’s been a member of FMPE’s small group program since beginning in clinical practice thirteen years ago. He took over as group Facilitator for the past six years. Dr. Hirvi’s professional interests include medical education, EMRs, and care of the elderly. He has three boys and enjoys family outings at the many outdoor activities his community has to offer.
Dr. Ryan Hunt – Representing Québec
Dr. Ryan Hunt works in Quebec having studied medicine at McGill University. Dr. Hunt specializes in both emergency medicine and family medicine in a small teaching unit affiliated with McGill. Small group learning at FMPE has been pivotal to his journey as a physician, being the foundation of CMEs for the past 20 years, enhancing practice and guiding teaching. Dr. Hunt is a champion of the FMPE program which provides evidence for making informed choices and offering care that helps confirm and improve practice. He enjoys spending time traveling, golfing, taking photos, and learning languages.
Dr. Opeyemi Sobowale – FT appointee at a Canadian University (University of Manitoba)
Dr. Opeyemi Sobowale is a Family Physician working primarily out of a teaching clinic in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with a scope of practice that includes both inpatient and outpatient care. Dr. Sobowale attended the University of Ilorin in Nigeria for medical school, and then subsequently completed residency in Family Medicine at the University of Manitoba. She later joined the same Department of Family Medicine as a faculty member. Dr. Sobowale has a special interest in Medical Education and enjoys working in an academic environment with avid learners. In her non-medicine world, she enjoys the company of three teenage boys for movie nights, creating fun activities, and traveling with them for their numerous sport trips including hockey, football, basketball and volleyball.
Dr. Justin Weresch – FT appointee at a Canadian University (McMaster)
Dr. Justin Weresch currently works at McMaster Family Practice, one of the teaching units in the Department of Family Medicine’s Residency Program. In addition, serving as a primary preceptor for residents and medical students, he is the curriculum coordinator for the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences longitudinal curriculum for the residency program. He started small group learning with FMPE in residency and continues to attend meetings as a group member.
OFFICERS
Dr. Tony Gabriel – Chair
Dr. Sarah Chritchley – Vice Chair
Dr. Heather Armson – President and Executive Director
Ms. Erin McLeod – Secretary & Treasurer