Medical Supplies and Equipment Advisory Committee

Denise Lalonde-Niccoli, Registered Nurse (British Columbia and Saskatchewan)

Denise Lalonde-Niccoli is a non-status Métis.

Ms. Lalonde-Niccoli graduated from the University of Athabasca in 2013 with a Bachelor of Applied Science, Registered Nursing. She is a registered nurse (RN) specializing in wound, ostomy and continence care.

Ms. Lalonde-Niccoli has worked in First Nations communities for 37 years providing nursing care mainly in northern Saskatchewan, as well as in northern British Columbia. She currently works in primary care and serves as a consultant with WOC Consulting Inc.

Rebekah Neckoway, Family Physician (Ontario)

Dr. Neckoway is a proud First Nations woman from Eabametoong First Nation (Treaty 9) and Fox Lake Cree Nation (Treaty 5).

Dr. Neckoway completed her medical degree at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in 2013 and her rural family medicine residency at the University of Alberta in 2015. Her medical career has focused on working with and for First Nations communities and their members. She is an Indigenous health advocate and is currently completing her Masters of Health Sciences in Health Administration at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Neckoway has extensive experience working in remote First Nations communities and caring for inpatients at the rural hospital of Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre. She is currently working with the Matawa Tribal Council in Thunder Bay.

Kash Shade, Registered Nurse (Alberta)

Kash Shade is a proud Blood Tribe member, working on his home reserve in Southern Alberta.

Mr. Shade is a registered nurse and is the current chief operating officer of the Blood Tribe Department of Health Inc.

Mr. Shade holds a Bachelor of Nursing (2012) and a Master of Health Services Management (2022) from the University of Lethbridge, Alberta.

Mr. Shade worked as a home care nurse for his community before transferring into the Non-Insured Health Benefits navigator role. Through his nursing background, he assisted clients with NIHB-related questions and concerns and advocated regarding gaps in health services.

Daniel Sperber, Health Economist (Ontario)

Daniel Sperber is a health economist and works for the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA). In his role, he assists Canada's public drug plans with the use of health technology assessment results to perform evidence-based negotiations for pricing and listing terms of new pharmaceuticals.

Mr. Sperber holds degrees from the University of Calgary and the University of York (UK).

James Adderson, Prosthetist (Nova Scotia)

James Adderson is a prosthetist who has worked in rehabilitation services for over 30 years. His responsibilities have included work in the areas of orthotics, prosthetics, seating, mobility, locomotor function and acquired brain injury. Mr. Adderson also worked in rehabilitation areas including stroke, traumatic brain injury, amputee, as well as rheumatology, ambulatory care, recreation therapy and a driver evaluation program.

Mr. Adderson was also a prosthetic consultant with the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch 2002 to 2021.

Mr. Adderson has volunteered internationally, teaching, training, and providing prosthetic care, and has presented original research nationally and internationally.

Chris Anderson, Pedorthist (British Columbia)

Chris Anderson is a certified pedorthist and a Mid Island Métis Nation member. He is Métis with Cree, Swedish and Irish heritage.

Mr. Anderson completed a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and a diploma in physical education. He then qualified as a doctor of chiropractic, where he dispensed custom-made foot orthotics. He returned to school and completed training as a Certified Pedorthist (C. Ped - U.S.) and completed a bridging program through the University of Western Ontario to qualify as a Canadian Certified Pedorthist, C. Ped (C). He has taken additional training through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the management of neuropathic foot and amputation prevention.

Mr. Anderson has operated a clinic at the Stz'uminus Health Centre for the last 5 years and has a specific interest in the pedorthic management of complications of diabetes.

Mr. Anderson has served as a member of the Pedorthic Education Advisory Panel for the College of Pedorthics Canada, as a director for the College of Chiropractors of British Columbia since 2013 and on the Discipline, Patient Relations, Quality Assurance, CEO Oversight and Executive committees.

Tracy-Joann Andrews, Podiatrist (Manitoba)

Tracy-Joann Andrews is a podiatrist working in private practice for a rural service area of 250,000 people in Brandon, Manitoba, located on Treaty 1 and 2. Before her work in Canada, Ms. Andrews worked for the British National Health Service in Wales.

Ms. Andrews holds a D.Pod.M. and an M.Sc. with distinction from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, and a B.Sc. (Hons.) from Derby University, UK.

Since 2006, Ms. Andrews has been the referral podiatrist for the Canadian Forces Base Shilo, providing custom-made foot orthotics and minor surgical procedures for their members. Currently, she is the registrar for the College of Podiatrists of Manitoba.

Robert Bereza, Hearing Instrument Practitioner (Manitoba)

Bob Bereza is a board-certified hearing instrument practitioner with over 25 years of experience in the hearing aid industry.

Mr. Bereza holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba, as well as a diploma from MacEwan University as a hearing instrument practitioner.

Mr. Bereza's clinic is located on Treaty 1 lands, the original territories of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Lakota, Dene peoples and the homeland of the Métis Nation. He serves many local NIHB clients, as well as clients who travel from northern Manitoba to the central Winnipeg clinic.

Mr. Bereza's main area of expertise is working with adults in dispensing and follow-up care of hearing aids, CROS and BiCROS devices, with a special interest in remote hearing aid telecare.

Caitlyn Debruyne, Occupational Therapist (British Columbia)

Caitlyn Debruyne is an occupational therapist with 10 years of practice experience as a generalist clinician in rural and remote care in northern communities, including various fly-in communities in Nunavut and northern British Columbia.

Ms. Debruyne started her career working in pediatrics in northern British Columbia after graduating in 2011. The relationships she built allowed her to contract her services to local First Nations communities. In 2015, she transitioned to working as a private contractor in the communities on a full-time basis.

Ms. Debruyne is co-founder of a rehabilitation practice that provides allied health services to isolated Indigenous communities throughout British Columbia, with headquarters located on the unceded Gitxsan and Wet'suwet'en territories in the north.

Charlotte Douglas, Audiologist (Saskatchewan)

Charlotte Douglas is a doctor of audiology with 30 years of experience working in a hospital setting. Since 2018, she has been working in private practice.

Ms. Douglas completed her M.Sc. in audiology in 1988 at the University of British Columbia, and her Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.) in 2011 through Central Michigan University.

Over the course of her career, Ms. Douglas has been involved in program development and implementation, including the Saskatchewan Cochlear Implant Program and the Saskatchewan Newborn Hearing Screening Program.

Ms. Douglas's areas of special interest include early hearing detection and intervention, tinnitus and sound tolerance, central auditory processing disorder, autism spectrum and service delivery to northern and remote communities.

Ms. Douglas has volunteered for audiology organizations at the provincial and national levels and is actively involved in clinical teaching and mentoring of audiology students and new professionals.

Joëlle Emond, Dietitian (Quebec)

Joëlle Emond is a registered dietitian and a certified diabetes educator. She is president of the Ordre des diététistes-nutritionnistes du Québec (ODNQ) since April 1, 2023. Ms. Emond holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences, Dietetics Major, from McGill University (2011). She has over 10 years of clinical experience working with the Kanien'kehá: ka (Mohawk) Nation at Thesakotisén, the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC) in Kahnawá:ke Mohawk Territory, as well as in the private sector.

In addition to her clinical work, Ms. Emond is an elected board member and member of the executive committee at the ODNQ and is also a member of the continuous quality improvement committee/primary care at KMHC. She is active in various research and networking groups in Quebec, including the Consolidation of Nutritionists and Nutrition Technicians in First Nations and Inuit Communities, led by the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission and Indigenous Services Canada.

Ms. Emond volunteered as co-president of the Groupe de travail sur le racisme en nutrition, a task force responsible for making recommendations on racial equity to ensure equitable access to nutritional care in the province of Quebec and was also a Canadian food guide expert advisor for Indigenous considerations. Ms. Edmond is the recipient of the 2018 Prix du mérite annuel en nutrition – Volet jeune professionnel and co-recipient of the 2012 Blé d'Or Général Mills – Mérite en nutrition publique for projects related to the health and nutrition of First Nations.

Karen Diane Ethans, Physiatrist/Rehabilitative Medicine (Manitoba)

Dr. Karen Ethans is a physician specializing in rehabilitation medicine and provides care to people with spinal cord injury, spasticity and other neurologic disabilities. She has practiced as a rehabilitation medicine specialist in Manitoba for 23 years.

Dr. Ethans completed her medical and specialty training at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Dr. Ethans works with people with new spinal cord injuries (for example, tetraplegia and paraplegia) from the acute care hospital through rehabilitation, and lifelong afterwards to help prevent and treat secondary complications and symptoms.

Indigenous clients make up a large proportion of her patient population. She also provides outreach care to some northern communities and provides telehealth and in-person care to patients all over Manitoba and northwestern Ontario.

As a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, Dr. Ethans works closely with an interdisciplinary team including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nursing and social work to troubleshoot coverage issues. In addition, she prescribes equipment and supplies for patients in rehabilitation and long-term outpatient settings.

Dr. Ethans conducts clinical research and articling and has published work on the economic savings of doing remote outreach clinical care.

Mark Fenton, Respirologist (Saskatchewan)

Dr. Mark Fenton is the director of the Lung Transplant Program, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Centre, and program director of the Respirology Training Program at the University of Saskatchewan and Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. He is also the past pandemic chief of staff for the Saskatoon area with the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

Dr. Fenton earned his undergraduate, master's and medical degrees at the University of Saskatchewan. He first trained in internal medicine and later in respirology, in addition to completing fellowships in lung transplantation and sleep medicine.

Dr. Fenton's clinical interests are in the areas of general respirology, lung transplantation, sleep medicine and pulmonary hypertension.

Johanna Geraci, Midwife (Ontario)

Johanna Geraci is a midwife who is currently working in a non-clinical capacity for the College of Midwives of Ontario in research and policy. She is a graduate of the McMaster Midwifery Education Program.

After training in Ontario, Ms. Geraci practiced at the Rankin Inlet Birthing Centre in Nunavut. This experience led her to pursue a graduate degree in Health Research Methodology at McMaster University where she researched and wrote her thesis on prenatal care in Nunavut. During her coursework, Ms. Geraci focused on rural and remote health services and applied this knowledge to a short placement in Iqaluit working on a perinatal database for the government of Nunavut.

Simone Gruenig, Physiotherapist (British Columbia)

Simone Gruenig is a physiotherapist with 20 years of wide-ranging clinical focus.

Ms. Gruenig completed her Bachelor of Science at the University of Ottawa in 2000, her Master of Science in Physical Therapy and her Master of Science in research at the University of Toronto in 2004. She completed post-graduate work in seniors care, pelvic floor therapy, community therapy, trauma-informed care, cardiorespiratory therapy and Indigenous cultural humility.

Since 2007, Ms. Gruenig has been working part-time for Vancouver Coastal Health and since 2015 has been collaborating with an outreach community health team, servicing the diverse needs of an inner-city Indigenous patient population. She is also a part-time instructor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia, primarily instructing clinical cardiorespiratory therapy, physiology and complex patient populations.

Ms. Gruenig is part of numerous committees including the Indigenous Health Subcommittee (part of the Global Health Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association), the Public Practice Advisory Committee of the Physical Therapy Association of British Columbia and the Initiatives for Indigenous Advocacy Committee at the University of British Columbia.

Ken Roberts, Ophthalmologist (New Brunswick)

Dr. Ken Roberts is a practicing ophthalmologist in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He obtained his medical degree from Dalhousie University in 2007 and his Royal College Certification in Ophthalmology in 2012.

Since graduation, Dr. Roberts has been providing medical and surgical services to the central and western portions of New Brunswick. This catchment area includes several First Nations communities including the Tobique First Nation and the St Mary's First Nation.

Dr. Roberts has been a consultant for the NIHB program for 6 years, providing medical opinions on a variety of eye-related claims.

Sarah Sark, Speech-Language Pathologist (Ontario)

Sarah Sark is a proud Mi'kmaq woman and a member of the Lennox Island First Nation located on Prince Edward Island.

Ms. Sark is a speech-language pathologist (S-LP) and is the CEO of ConnectWell Community Health in Ottawa Ontario. She credits her father, Elder and former chief of Lennox Island First Nation, for modelling effective leadership style and the importance of communication, open-mindedness, respect and kindness. She has practiced as an S-LP for 27 years, working with a diverse caseload from infants to seniors. She is an Assistive Devices Program authorizer and is experienced in the area of augmentative and alternative communication.

Ms. Sark completed an H.B.Sc in Psychology/Neuroscience in 1991 and an M.Sc. in Human Communication Disorders in 1994 at Dalhousie University.

Ms. Sark worked with Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) on the development of the "Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Services for First Nations Position Statement" and helped prepare a SAC brief for the House of Commons regarding speech and language, and long-term care on reserve. She is the chair of the Language Express Preschool Speech-Language Steering Committee, and a member of the Digital Health committee and Connecting Mental Health to Primary Care special committee for the Lanark Leeds Grenville Ontario Health Team (LLGOHT).

Nael Shoman, Otolaryngologist (Nova Scotia)

Dr. Nael Shoman is a specialist in otology, neurotology and skull base surgery. His clinical interests include pediatric and adult complex ear surgery, hearing loss, balance disorders, cochlear implants and other implantable auditory devices, facial nerve paralysis and skull base surgery.

Dr. Shoman completed his fellowship in otology and neurotology at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. His residency training in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery was through the University of British Columbia, and his Doctor of Medicine was earned at the University of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Shoman has been part of the active surgical staff in the Division of Otolaryngology at Dalhousie University since 2017. He is also a member of the Canadian Infant Hearing Task Force. Previously, Dr. Shoman was the director of research (2015 to 2017), director of the Saskatchewan Cochlear Implant Program (2013 to 2017) and director of the Saskatchewan Pediatric Auditory Rehabilitation Centre (2013 to 2017), all at the University of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Shoman continues his research and interest in education through his membership with the Halifax Cochlear Implant Program and the Maritime Lateral Skull Base Clinic. He is a co-supervisor of the Dalhousie Advanced Otology-Neurotology Fellowship. He is currently the Dalhousie otolaryngology undergraduate director and a member of the Dalhousie Surgery Undergraduate Education Committee (SUEC).

Dave Swift, Respiratory Therapist (Ontario)

Dave Swift obtained his certificate in respiratory therapy in 1983 from Algonquin College. He was the lead respiratory therapist for the Health Canada National Office of the Healthcare Emergency Response Team. During the SARS crisis, Mr. Swift was involved with ensuring Indigenous communities were able to access federal resources.

Mr. Swift worked for 37 years at the Ottawa Hospital in respiratory therapy and was also the campus coordinator for respiratory therapy. He has expertise in many areas including work with the adult and neonatal intensive care units, trauma, neurological observational unit, internal medicine acute monitoring area, emergency and interventional bronchoscopy assistance.

In 2020, Mr. Swift retired from his position with the Ottawa Hospital and continues to work in diverse roles in respiratory therapy.

Benoit Tousignant, Optometrist (QC)

Dr. Benoit Tousignant is an optometrist and an associate professor in Optometry and Public Health at the University of Montreal (UM). He obtained his doctorate in optometry (OD) in 2000 (UM), followed by a residency in primary eye care from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (2001), a Master of Science in Visual Science (UM, 2005) and a Master's in Public Health from Harvard University (2008).

Dr. Tousignant's clinical and research interests are eye care for marginalized and underserved populations such as Indigenous, homeless, migrant and carceral populations. For the past 20 years, he has served on various boards and committees of regulatory bodies, governmental and non-governmental instances regarding eye care and public health.

Since 2011, Dr. Tousignant has been clinically practicing among the Inuit population of Nunavik, mostly in the communities of Akulivik, Ivujivik and Salluit. More recently, he has also become involved in direct clinical care and supervising residents who travel to some Innu communities in northeastern Quebec.