JANUARY 8
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Jackie Thomas
OB/GYN & Lead, Early Pregnancy Clinic @ Mount Sinai Hospital @ Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. Jackie Thomas is an obstetrician and gynecologist practicing at in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Mount Sinai Hospital, where she leads a specialized clinic supporting women experiencing early pregnancy loss. Dr. Thomas is also an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. She has attained a national reputation based on three key areas: developing services and standards for early pregnancy care, creating examination preparation programs for residents, and promoting excellence in clinical practice through continuing medical education courses. In 2003, she opened Canada's first early pregnancy complications clinic. Dr. Thomas has received multiple awards for her contributions to resident education and continuing medical education. Her research has had significant impact, with her work on cervical preparation prior to hysteroscopy setting the standard of care in Canada. She co-authored the SOGC guideline on Ectopic Pregnancy and Pregnancy of Unknown Location and has been instrumental in developing quality standards for early pregnancy loss care in Ontario.

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FEBRUARY 5
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Phillip Segal
Endocrinologist & Medical Director, Diabetes Program @ University Health Network

Objectives:
1. Review the changes that occur in the body which may lead to diabetes.
2. Understand how diabetes causes severe complications involving the heart, kidney, brain, eyes and nerves.
3. Review current treatments (including insulin) for diabetes.

Phillip Segal completed his medical degree at the University of Alberta and his Internal Medicine and Endocrinology training at the University of Toronto. In 2011, he joined the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Toronto, where he is now an associate professor. He has completed the Master Teacher and cQUIPS quality improvement programs at the University of Toronto and the UHN-Rotman Leadership Development Program. Dr. Segal is a clinician-teacher involved in educating all learners from medical students to postgraduate endocrinology fellows. Additionally, he serves as the medical director of the diabetes program at the University Health Network and chairs the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre’s QUEST Committee.

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FEBRUARY 12
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Daniel Schwartz
Nephrologist & Medical Director, Home Peritoneal Dialysis Program @ Fraser Health Authority

Objectives:
1. Review strategies and supportive evidence to slow progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
2. Learn strategies to implement guideline-based CKD care in the real world.
3. Overcome common barriers and learn mitigation strategies to succeed in offering world-class CKD care.

Daniel Schwartz is a nephrologist as well as the medical director of the Fraser Health home peritoneal dialysis program. His clinical practice is based at the Royal Columbian Hospital in Fraser Health. He received his training at the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto. Interests include medical education, slowing progression of chronic kidney disease, peritoneal dialysis, and amyloidosis. Previous roles include medical director of the Fraser Health Renal Program and founder/CEO of QxMD. He has a keen interest in the intersection of information technology with clinical medicine. Learn more at https://drdanielschwartz.com.

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MARCH 5
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Erin Ziegler
Associate Professor & Nurse Practitioner Program Coordinator @ Toronto Metropolitan University | Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Lead Gender-Affirming Care Program @ Queen Square FHT

Objectives:
1. Recognize and carry out transition specific support and management such as assessment, hormone therapy, monitoring and surgical assessment for transgender and gender diverse individuals.
2. Identify and plan strategies for creating safer and more accessible spaces for transgender and gender diverse individuals.

Erin Ziegler (she/her) is a primary health care nurse practitioner and an Associate Professor in the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing at Toronto Metropolitan University where she teaches in the NP program. She is the clinical lead of a transgender primary care program with Queen Square Family Health Team. She is the chair of the NPAO Rainbow Community of Practice.  She is a faculty member with the Canadian Centre for Advanced Practice Nursing Research and the provincial course professor for the Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnosis course with the Ontario Primary Healthcare Nurse Practitioner program.  Her research focuses on exploring barriers and facilitators to accessing healthcare within the 2SLGBTQ population; nursing education; and advanced practice nursing. She co-developed the online eLearning toolkit Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Nursing (www.soginursing.ca) which aims to improve nurses and healthcare providers' understanding of cultural humility when caring for 2SLGBTQ individuals. She is an editorial board member for the Nurse Practitioner Open Journal and the journal Primary Health Care Research and Development.

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MARCH 12
8:00 PM - 9:30 PM ET

Dr. Akshay Jain
Endocrinologist @ TLC Diabetes and Endocrinology

Objectives:
1. Integrate guidelines into best clinical practices in the management of obesity.
2. Identify and employ strategies to improve the management of obesity based on the 3 pillars of obesity management (psychological interventions, pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery).
3. Increase understanding about neurophysiology of obesity and craving.

Dr. Akshay Jain is the first Canadian physician to be triple board-certified by the American Boards in Endocrinology, Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine. He trained in Internal Medicine at Rochester, NY where he became the only 4-time winner of the prestigious Rochester Academy of Medicine Awards. He completed his Fellowship in Endocrinology at Harbor UCLA/City of Hope in Los Angeles, CA. He is the only non-American physician to win the AACE Rising Star in Endocrinology Award (2022) and to feature on Medscape’s list of 25 Top Rising Stars of Medicine (2020). He is the first North American to win the prestigious Etzwiler Diabetes Scholarship at the International Diabetes Center and Mayo Clinic in MN, USA. He is a renowned educator and has spoken at over 1000 medical conferences/events across the world till date. He is a question-writer for the American Board of Obesity Medicine exams as well as for the Endocrine Society Self-Assessment Program (ESAP). He is a co-author of the 2023 Diabetes Canada Guidelines chapter on Mental Health and Diabetes. He is also the co-chair of the Obesity Update and Diabetes Update conferences. His clinical interests include diabetes, obesity, thyroid disorders and osteoporosis. He has active YouTube/Instagram channels dedicated to patient education with thousands of views till date.

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APRIL 2
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Doron Almagor
Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist & Medical Director @ Possibilities Clinic

Dr. Doron Almagor (he/him) is a Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist who completed his specialty training in Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. He is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, and disorders like anxiety and depression that often go along with it. He is the former Chair of CADDRA, the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance—an organization that provides health care providers across Canada with scientifically-supported guidelines for diagnosing and treating ADHD. He has also served as the President of the Ontario Psychiatric Association (OPA). Dr. Almagor has lectured internationally and trains medical residents at the University of Toronto in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. He is the Director of the Possibilities Clinic, headquartered in Toronto. The Possibilities Clinic serves children, teens, and adults across Ontario with in-person and telemedicine assessments and treatments.

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APRIL 9
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Michelle Jacobson
OB/GYN & Menopause Specialist @ Women's College Hospital & Mount Sinai Hospital

Objectives:
1. To screen and recognize menopausal symptoms 
2. To develop and approach to treating systemic menopause symptoms 
3. To understand the physiology and treatment algorithm of GSM

Dr. Michelle Jacobson is a menopause specialist at Women’s College and Mount Sinai Hospitals in Toronto where she directs the familial ovarian cancer clinic. She did her residency at McMaster university and fellowship in Menopause at the University of Toronto, followed by a Masters of Health Science in translational research. She is the creator and director of the SOGC’s community of practice in Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer and the primary author of the guidelines on the Gynaecologic Management of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer and Breast Cancer and Menopause.

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MAY 7
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Kieran McIntyre
Respirologist @ St. Michael's Hospital

Objectives:
1. Prevalence of COPD in Canada and impact on healthcare utilization.
2. Multisystem involvement (cardiac, pulmonary, mental health) for patients with COPD.
3. Emerging evidence for use of inhaler therapies, including triple therapy in single device (SITT) with cardiovascular disease and survival benefits.

Dr. Kieran McIntyre completed his undergraduate medical education at Western University. He then pursued internal medicine and respirology at the University of Toronto, followed by a fellowship in lung transplantation. Additionally, Dr. McIntyre received further training in quality improvement through the VA Quality Scholars Program and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement with a Master of Science in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety from the University of Toronto’s Institute for Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation. Currently, Dr. McIntyre serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Respirology, at the University of Toronto, at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health. His clinical responsibilities are divided between general respirology, Cystic Fibrosis, and interventional pulmonology. He runs a procedure clinic utilizing point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and manages patients with pleural and peritoneal diseases, both malignant and non-malignant.

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MAY 14
8:00 PM - 9:30 PM ET

Dr. Minna Miller
Nurse Practitioner, Asthma Clinic @ BC Children's Hospital

Objectives:
1. Describe the prevalence and economic burden of pediatric asthma in Canada.
2. Discuss asthma pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, triggers, diagnostic criteria and diagnostics.
3. Review evidence-based management strategies and apply to clinical case scenarios.

Dr. Miller has been a nurse practitioner at BC Children’s Hospital Asthma Clinic for the past 12 years providing asthma diagnosis, management and education for over 700 patients and their families each year. She teaches asthma related workshops and seminars for NP students across the three BC Universities and is an invited speaker on the topic at local and international conferences. She has recently been invited to author a book of pediatric asthma by Springer Publishers.  Dr. Miller holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Western University of Health Sciences, where she also completed a Post-Masters Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate. She has a Master of Science in Nursing from UBC, and a Nursing degree from Grant McEwan University. She is Affiliate Faculty at McMaster University Canadian Centre for Advanced Practice Nursing Research and is Adjunct Professor at UBC and Thompson Rivers University Schools of Nursing. She was the first Canadian NP inducted as a Fellow into the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and serves on the International Committee for the Association. She is the recipient of the Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award by The Nurses and Nurse Practitioners’ Association of BC and has been recognized as a Health Care Hero.  Internationally she is recognized as an expert in Advanced Practice Nurse role development, education, regulation and practice and has published her work in peer reviewed journals and book chapters.

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JUNE 4
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Sheila Lakhoo
Family Physician & Lifestyle Medicine Physician Certified with the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine

Objectives:
1. To learn how lifestyle medicine can lead to long lasting health changes and foster resiliency.
2. Current challenges in implementing systemic and widespread Lifestyle Medicine practices. 
3. Practical tips for implementing LM in your practice 

Dr. Lakhoo studied medicine at the University of Alberta and completed her residency training in family medicine at the University of Calgary. She moved to Toronto in 2008 to complete a master’s degree in health sciences in Family and Community Medicine with a concentration in global health at the Dalla Lana School of Public health. In 2010 Dr. Lakhoo started an academic family practice at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto and practiced there for 10 years. In 2020 Dr. Lakhoo received her diploma with the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. She has also completed a professional training program through The Center for Mind-Body Medicine. Dr. Lakhoo has developed Lifestyle Medicine Health Optimization programs for many community clinics as well as larger organizations. She is passionate about helping individuals reach their optimal health and wellbeing by implementing evidence-based lifestyle changes. Outside of her clinical work she is also involved in Lifestyle Medicine teaching, research, and advocacy to help advance Lifestyle Medicine within both medical education and primary care in Canada.

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JULY 9
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Ziad Solh
Hematologist & Transfusion Medicine Division Head @ London Health Sciences Centre

Objectives:
1. To develop an approach to anemia and gain an understanding of which anemias require a referral to a hematologist.
2. To develop a differential diagnosis for white blood cell and platelet abnormalities seen on CBC and how to approach them.

Dr. Ziad Solh is a hematologist and transfusion medicine specialist at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) in Canada, and an Associate Professor at Western University. He received his Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Ottawa and his hematology residency training at McMaster University. He then completed the Clinician Investigator Program and a Master of Science degree in Health Research Methodology at McMaster followed by a Transfusion Medicine fellowship with Canadian Blood Services. He currently directs the Adult Hemoglobinopathy Program at LHSC where he sees patients with sickle cell disease and thalassemia, and he is the head of the Transfusion Medicine Division in the laboratory.

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AUGUST 6
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Anil Gupta
Cardiologist & Medical Director, CCU and Clinical Cardiology @ Trillium Health Partners

Dr Gupta is a Staff Cardiologist at Trillium Health Partners and Physician Lead for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Diagnostic Services and Undergraduate Lead for cardiology at the University of Toronto, Mississauga Academy. He is a Council member for the CCS and chairs the continuing professional development committee, and Research Director for Cardiology at One Heart Care, and a Scientist at the Institute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners. Dr Gupta has been the Medical Director of the Coronary Care Unit and Clinical Cardiology for the Trillium Health Partners and the Innovation Lead for the Cardiac Program and the Founder and Co-Chair of the Smoking Cessation Program at Trillium. He is the Past President of the Trillium Health Centre Medical Staff Association and served on the Trillium Health Centre Board of Directors. Dr Gupta is a Lecturer at the University of Toronto and an active member of the teaching staff for the Mississauga Academy of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. Dr Gupta currently serves on Telefilm Canada’s Talent Fund and is a cardiology consultant to Basketball Canada. He also works with Tennis Canada as a Medical Officer for the National Bank Open, National Wheelchair and Junior tournaments. He served on the Canadian Hypertension Society Guidelines Implementation Committee (CHEP). He was a panelist for the CCS Fitness to Drive/Fly Consensus Document, CCS Peripheral Artery Disease Consensus Document and the CCS Antiplatelet Therapy Consensus Document.

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AUGUST 13
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Desmond She
Pediatrician @ Bloorkids & Village Park Paediatrics

Objectives:
1. To be able to triage pediatric presentations based on severity, highlighting those that require ED assessment as opposed to outpatient consultation.  
2. Recognizing concerning evolution to more common pediatric problems in primary care that warrant emergent or subspecialty management.  
3. Learning how and when to report to the appropriate child protective services, for concerns of physical or sexually child abuse, and the approach to medical neglect.  

Dr. Desmond She is a general pediatrician who completed his medical school and pediatrics residency through the University of Toronto, with subspecialty fellowship training in child maltreatment pediatrics. He presently enjoys practicing in both primary care and consulting pediatrics in two separate offices in the Toronto area, and has enjoyed community-hospital based community care including newborn deliveries, emergency department consultation, and in-patient management. He has special interests in constipation management and medical technology. An avid jazz fan, he dabbles as an amateur trombonist and guitarist.

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SEPTEMBER 3
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Andrew Boozary
Primary Care Physician & Executive Director, Social Medicine and Population Health @ University Health Network

Dr. Andrew Boozary is a primary care physician, policy practitioner, researcher, and founding executive director of the Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine at the University Health Network. He completed his medical training at the University of Toronto and health policy training at Princeton University and Harvard University. His work at the intersection of health policy, social justice and equitable health care delivery aims to improve health outcomes for marginalized populations. During the pandemic, Dr. Boozary served as co-lead of the Ontario Health Toronto Region COVID-19 Homelessness Response and holds the Dalla Lana Professorship in Policy Innovation at the University of Toronto. He is also the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Public Health Review and served in senior advisory roles for policymakers at various levels of government both nationally and abroad on public policy issues ranging from primary care reform to the implementation of pharmacare. Dr. Boozary has published in high-impact academic journals, and his writing and analysis appear in print and broadcast media. He has been the recipient of a number of national and international awards, and is the youngest physician recipient of the Louise Lemieux-Charles Health System Leadership Award and Commencement Speaker at the Temerty School of Medicine.

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SEPTEMBER 10
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Julia Hopyan
Neurologist & Director, Inpatient Stroke Neurology Services and Stroke Neurology Education @ Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Objectives:
1. To provide a practical office based approach to TIA/stroke detection and management.
2. To review the Canadian Best Practice Recommendations related to TIA/stroke prevention.
3. To provide an update of what’s new in the stroke prevention literature

Dr. Julia Hopyan completed her Internal Medicine and Neurology Subspecialty training in Sydney, Australia. She currently works as staff stroke neurologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and contributes to stroke education and curriculum development both locally and nationally. Her clinical interests focus on the management of cerebrovascular disease and neurosonology.

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OCTOBER 1
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Ally Murji
Chief & Medical Director, Women's and Children's Program @ Trillium Health Partners

Dr Murji is Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at University of Toronto. He graduated from the OB/GYN residency program at University of Toronto. He then completed a two-year fellowship in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at McMaster University. His training focused on advanced pelvic surgery. He also completed a master’s in public health from Harvard University. He has a keen interest in outcomes research and quality improvement. Dr Murji has an award-winning research program with over 120 peer-review papers and >$1.5 million in grant funding. He has been recognized nationally and internationally for his academic contributions to women’s health. Dr Murji established an AAGL-accredited fellowship training program in advanced pelvic surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital which focuses on endometriosis, reproductive surgery and robotics. Dr Murji is currently the Chief & Medical Director of the Women's & Children's Program at Trillium Health Partners.

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OCTOBER 8
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Jennifer Lipson
Dermatologist @ West Ottawa Specialty Care | Associate Physician @ The Ottawa Hospital | Consulting Physician @ Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Dr. Lipson is a fellow of the Royal College of physicans and surgeons of Canada, the American Academy of dermatology and the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. Dr. Lipson holds an Hon. BSc From Queen’s University, MD from the University of Ottawa where she also completed her Dermatology training. Dr. Jennifer Lipson is a medical dermatologist in Ottawa practising at West Ottawa Specialty Care. She is a lecturer at the University of Ottawa, an associate physician at The Ottawa Hospital and a consulting physician at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). She serves as a committee member for the Ottawa Dermatology Clinical and Scientific Biannual Meeting and The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Subspecialty Committee for Dermatology. She is on the medical advisory committee for the Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada. Her clinical interests include immune mediated inflammatory diseases, acne and women’s health in dermatology.

NOVEMBER 5
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Christie Tait
Nurse Practitioner, Founder & Director @ Structure Clinic

Objectives:
1. Enhance accuracy in diagnosing migraine and identifying red flags associated with secondary headaches.
2. Effectively assess the need for acute and preventive migraine treatment optimization.
3. Increase confidence in acute and preventive migraine treatments, including the latest CGRP antagonists.

Christie Tait is a Nurse Practitioner and the Founder and Director of Structure Clinic, a migraine clinic in Toronto. Christie completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph and at the University of Toronto and her Nurse Practitioner and masters degree at Toronto Metropolitan University. Christie educates internationally on the topic of migraine management with the aim to reduce stigma and misinformation related to migraine. She has contributed to content development of several educational programs including the Canadian Headache Society (CHS)'s Mastermind Program, a nationally accredited education program for primary care providers Canada, and the CHS NP Advanced Training in Headache Program. Christie volunteers her time to advocacy initiatives as a volunteer with Migraine Canada. Outside of her clinical practice, she stays busy chasing her 4 kids and an assortment of family pets. 

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NOVEMBER 12
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Naheed Dosani
Palliative Care Physician & Medical Director, Kensington Hospice @ Kensington Health

As a palliative care physician and health justice activist, Dr. Naheed Dosani is dedicated to advancing equitable access to healthcare for people experiencing structural vulnerabilities like poverty and homelessness. These efforts include founding & leading the Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH) Program at the Inner City Health Associates in downtown Toronto, serving as the Medical Director of Kensington Hospice, as Health Equity Lead at Kensington Health, a Health Equity Expert Advisor at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and as a palliative care physician at St. Michael’s Hospital at Unity Health Toronto. Dr. Dosani shares his passion for palliative care and health equity with learners as an Assistant Professor with the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. His research interests include improving care models for people experiencing structural vulnerabilities and access to palliative care for culturally diverse communities. Dr. Dosani has received many prestigious honours for his trailblazing work. These awards include the Meritorious Service Cross for Humanitarianism from Canada’s Governor General in 2018,  a humanitarian award from the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians in May 2019 and the Early Career Leader award from the Canadian Medical Association in 2020. Most recently, Dr. Dosani received an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Laws) from Ontario Tech University in 2022.

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DECEMBER 3
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Dr. Mia Biondi
Assistant Professor & Nurse Practitioner Program Coordinator @ York University | Director of Implementation, Viral Hepatitis Care Network @ University Health Network

Objectives:
1. Review how viruses replicate, why certain diagnostic tests are ordered, and how to interpret them
2. Describe the evolution of antiviral therapy, and the mechanism of action of antivirals
3. Discuss the concept of drug resistance in the context of viruses, and how this differs from bacteria, and review practical approaches to prescribing antiviral therapy 

Dr. Mia Biondi is PhD-prepared in Microbiology and Immunology, with post-doctoral fellowships at Toronto General and the National Microbiology Laboratory. As an RN and NP, Mia has practiced in diverse clinical environments including four models of primary care in Ontario; and in 2017 created focused practices in urban street outreach and rural and remote communities, in HIV prevention, hepatitis B & C across the province of Ontario. In 2022, Mia joined York University School of Nursing as a tenure-track Assistant Professor, and the coordinator of Primary Healthcare Nurse Practitioner Program. Mia's research has always focused on virology, and broadly, her research has touched most aspects of clinical care including prevention (HBV, HCV); assay development (HIV, HBV, HCV, COVID-19); host characterization (Zika, CCHFV, Ebola virus, COVID-19); animal models (Ebola virus, COVID-19); treatments and drug resistance (HIV, HCV, Ebola virus, Zika, COVID-19); clinical models of care (HIV, HCV, Ebola virus); and cost-effectiveness (HBV, HCV). She currently had 50 publications, 1223 citations, and an h-index of 17.

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