Elections

Caitlin Johnston (British Columbia)

Thank you for considering my nomination for the position of CPHA Chair-Elect. I am fully committed to the mission, values, and goals of CPHA and have greatly valued my experience serving as a Director.

For over 20 years I have worked in population and public health research and programming. My career includes leading, developing, collaborating on, implementing, and evaluating a range of health projects and programs. I have built strong partnerships across health-serving communities, academia, and both public and private sectors. Notably, I spent over a decade as the senior research coordinator in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, developed and led programs at BC Women’s Health Centre + Hospital, and contributed to community-supported housing for mental health clients and substance users at Vancouver Coastal Health.

Currently, I serve as the Clinic Director at the MOSAIC Community Clinic in Burnaby, BC – a collaborative priority population primary care home involving MOSAIC Settlement Services, the Burnaby Division of Family Practice, the Burnaby Primary Care Network, and Fraser Health.

If ratified as Chair-elect, I am committed to fulfilling the core responsibilities of the role and supporting our Board Chair. I look forward to collaborating with fellow Directors and the public health community to advance CPHA’s initiatives, contribute to strategic planning, and call attention to the critical role of public health in Canada.

Orrisha Denbow-Burke (Nova Scotia)

I am Orrisha Denbow-Burke, a Family Physician and Public Health Specialist. I am currently in my first year of residency at Dalhousie University as a Clinician Scholar in Family Medicine.

After completing my medical training in Jamaica, I commenced clinical practice as a General Practitioner (equivalent of a Family Doctor in Canada) and worked for three years until migrating here with my family.

During my purely clinical years, I felt a great desire to increase my capacity to have a positive impact on the well-being of my patient population. Hence, I undertook and successfully completed a Master’s in Public Health with Gerontology specialization at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. The subsequent evolution of my career led to my involvement in public health programs for dengue fever, chronic diseases and rheumatic heart disease, where my responsibilities included public health education programs and policy making. I also became involved in advocacy work for persons less represented in our society (seniors) and partnered with like-minded health workers to host discussion on issues aimed at improving the health of our communities.

Upon travelling to Canada, I completed my public health internship at the Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto (RGP). Shortly thereafter, I became actively involved in research centered around delirium. Through my public health lens, I was involved in policy developments around the mobilization clinical practice standards for older adults in hospital settings with the RGP and recently contributed to the “National Dementia Guidelines for health care providers ‒ Disclosing and Communicating a Diagnosis of Dementia’’ with the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada. I am currently part of a research team within the auspices of the University of Toronto – University Health Network (GEMINI Team) that is working on the development of a tool to assess delirium in hospitalized individuals. My intent on completion of my Family Medicine residency training is to be a public health specialist and clinician researcher and combine my unique skill sets to add to the advancement of health care for all.

I am standing for election to the post of member of the board of directors at CPHA to expand on my advocacy and contribution within Canadian communities in matters such as ageism, nutrition in the elderly, and the development of policies related to our ageing population. I believe as a member of the CPHA board of directors, I could be a voice for these public health issues and I would be able to have meaningful discussions and take action under the guidance of the CPHA where necessary to ensure we foster healthy and sustainable communities for generations to come.

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Andrea Irwin (Yukon)

As the Manager of Yukon Communicable Disease Control, I bring over 14 years of experience in healthcare with a background in nursing, clinical education, and communicable disease prevention, surveillance and control. My role involves leading a dedicated team of public health professionals who care for clients and collaborate with partners and communities to protect the health and well-being of the Yukon Territory’s population. This experience has equipped me with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in public health in Canada’s north, where I am grateful to live and work on the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.

My career has been marked by a commitment to building health systems that support healthy people and communities, which I have pursued through various roles and initiatives. I am skilled in knowledge translation, supporting the effective communication and implementation of the latest research within clinical and public health settings. My expertise in implementation science and change management has enabled me to lead successful projects aimed at improving system performance, enhancing people-centered care, and ultimately achieving better health outcomes for the populations we serve.

In addition to my role with Yukon Communicable Disease Control, I also serve as a surveyor with Accreditation Canada. In this capacity, I assess the quality and safety of healthcare organizations across the country, supporting the achievement of internationally recognized standards in areas such as public health and critical care. This role has further deepened my understanding of and appreciation for different public healthcare models and governance across Canada.

I have contributed to global public health through my involvement with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). I completed two contracts: one in Chad responding to a hepatitis E outbreak, and another in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where I led an emergency team. These international experiences broadened my perspective on global public health challenges and equipped me with valuable skills in advocacy.

I hold a Master of Public Health from the University of Liverpool, specializing in Health System Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alberta (bilingual English/French).

My drive to improve public health, extensive experience, and global perspective make me a strong candidate for the board of directors of the Canadian Public Health Association. I am eager to contribute to the Association’s governance and strategic direction, leveraging my skills in policy development, project management, and advocacy to advance its mission of promoting and protecting the health of Canadians. I am particularly interested in supporting CPHA to address the unique challenges faced by remote and underserved communities. My background, skills, and dedication to public health align with the values and goals of the Canadian Public Health Association, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to its important work.

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Foluso Ishola (Ontario)

My name is Foluso Ishola. I am a public health and preventive medicine resident physician at the University of Ottawa, and I have just recently completed my family medicine training. I have a master’s degree in public health from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a PhD in epidemiology from McGill University.

I have had the privilege of working in population and public health for ministries of health, intergovernmental agencies, academia and not for profit organizations. As a policy and program fellow with Susan G. Komen in the United States, I conducted health system assessments to identify barriers and propose recommendations to improve breast and cervical cancer screening programs. I supported the design and evaluation of the innovative USAID Mobile Moms Project aimed at improving access to health information and services for pregnant and postpartum women in sub-Saharan Africa. I developed communication briefs on child maltreatment in Canada for the Family Violence Epidemiology Section of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Through these experiences, I have gained a unique perspective and appreciation for the work of public health systems at various levels and maintained strategic collaboration for stakeholder satisfaction.

I have also had previous experiences authoring policy proposals, serving on advisory boards, and participating in working groups. Most recently, I served on the Trainee Advisory Committee and Underrepresented Minorities Student Advocacy Group of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) where I was tasked with promoting issues of diversity in post-secondary education, tackling institutional racism, and providing strategic advice on equity strategy and inclusion practices. I also served as the Chair of Elections and Vetting promoting CUGH’s visibility, diversity, and membership engagement among trainees. These experiences have provided me with the insight to apply an equity lens to public health issues.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about my experiences. I find great value in serving in various capacities to support a balanced vision of public health priorities at local, regional and national levels. I hope to advance the vision and mission of CPHA by providing valuable and unique perspectives that will inform its strategic plans and governance practices.

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Pemma Muzumdar (Quebec)

Hi, my name is Pemma. I use she/her pronouns, and I live, work, play, and parent in Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal) on the unceded lands and waters of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation.

By day, I’m a Knowledge Translation Specialist with the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health, working with excellent coworkers to support the public health community to both understand and address systemic injustice, and related health inequities. Over the past few years, I’ve led and contributed to work related to anti-racism, environmental and climate justice, disability poverty, migrant health and more. Outside of work, I spend my time and energy with my family, raising my two young children, finding moments of joy amidst much chaos, and working with others in my neighbourhood to build a great community.

I believe in the value of public health associations. At their best, associations convene members from multiple disciplines and perspectives to collaborate, debate, learn, act and be in community with each other. I’m interested in joining the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) Board because I want to play a more formal role in protecting, supporting, and growing all of that.

Sixteen years ago, during the first week of my Master of Public Health at the University of Waterloo, the odds were in my favour. Dr. Christina Mills ‒ then the Program Director ‒ pulled my name out of a bowl, winning me a free membership to the Ontario Public Health Association. I later served on their Board as a student member ‒ a formative experience. For the past 15 years, I’ve been an active member of CPHA, attending conferences and annual meetings, serving on the conference steering committee, contributing to plenary session workgroups, and providing feedback on various position statements.

My own values are aligned with those espoused by CPHA: respect, cultural humility, relationships, collaboration, equity, and social justice. If elected as Board member, I’d listen to the needs of my peers ‒ people who range from those in formal leadership positions, to community organizers and community-driven researchers, to public health practitioners at all levels. I’d encourage them to join CPHA, and work with them to contribute to much-needed advocacy and policy action.

On that note, I’ll share that there are many things that keep me up at night. If elected, I’d make an intentional effort to bring the following topics into Board discussions and actions:

• Creating communities that foster a sense of belonging and togetherness, of individual and collective power;
• Protecting the health of the planet ‒ the air, waters, lands, and life they support;
• Promoting peace and security at home and abroad, including by standing in solidarity with Gaza’s health workers, and calling for an end to unimaginable violence and suffering;
• Recognizing and disrupting ongoing systemic anti-Indigenous and anti-Black racism, including doing more to promote and celebrate opportunities for reconciliation, healing and joy.

Thank you for reading this, and for voting in this election!

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C'fine Okorochukwu (Saskatchewan)

I am a dedicated and passionate public health professional with over 18 years of experience in health planning, health promotion, epidemiology, and disease prevention. My academic background includes a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Imo State University and a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Nigeria, Enugu. I have further strengthened my expertise with specialized training in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University and a Diploma in Addictions and Community Service Work from ABM College, Calgary.

Throughout my career, I have served in various capacities where I leveraged my expertise to drive significant improvements in public health outcomes. As the Director of Health Promotion and Prevention at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, I lead a dynamic team in developing and implementing evidence-based policies and programs that address substance use and addiction. I have led legislative reviews, fostered cross-functional teams, and engaged multiple stakeholders to advance health priorities.

Previously, I managed community services programs for Northern Health in British Columbia and served as the Manager of Community Health Services at Tl’azt’en Nation. I developed comprehensive community health plans and improved service utilization rates by over 78%. My work in these roles has consistently focused on promoting health equity, reducing health disparities, and fostering inclusive community engagement. I have also worked extensively in Africa, developing and managing health programs in the areas of health promotion and prevention. I have also drafted and managed the project with the Centre for Public Impact to achieve health equity, trust, and confidence in government health programs in six states of the United States of America.

My decision to stand for election as a CPHA Director is driven by my commitment to advancing inclusive, equitable, and evidence-based public health and social services initiatives. My extensive experience in program development, policy analysis, and community engagement positions me well to contribute meaningfully to our organization’s strategic priorities. As a Director, I hope to leverage my skills to further our collective efforts in addressing complex health challenges, particularly those related to mental health, substance use, and health equity.

I am particularly interested in expanding our work in health equity, mental health promotion, substance use prevention, and harm reduction. I am committed to fostering a shared responsibility and mutual accountability culture, where every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute their best.

My qualifications align well with the strategic areas sought by the board, including my proven track record in public health leadership, policy development, and stakeholder engagement. I bring a collaborative spirit and a solid commitment to ethical practice, integrity, and inclusiveness. I am eager to get my experience, knowledge, and passion to the board and work collaboratively to achieve our shared vision for a healthier, more equitable society.

Thank you for considering my nomination. I look forward to the opportunity to serve and make a positive impact.

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Thomas Tchetmi (Senegal)

I am writing to express my keen interest in joining the Board of Directors of the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA). With over 20 years of experience in international public health and currently as Regional Advisor for Equitable and Sustainable Financing at the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for West, Central and North Africa, I am enthusiastic about contributing to CPHA's mission.

In my current role, I strive to fill financing gaps, improve financial efficiency, health systems strengthening and health technologies, and promote sustainable solutions for health financing including local manufacturing of medicines and other inputs. Recently, I provided technical support for the development of response plans to COVID-19 and Monkey Pox in several countries, which reinforced my skills in managing health crises and developing effective solutions. This experience is directly aligned with CPHA's objectives, particularly in terms of preparing for and responding to emerging health threats.

Previously, as Strategic Information Advisor at the UNAIDS Office in the Central African Republic, I played a key role in policy development and advocacy for transformative changes in HIV legislation. My role as Interim Country Director (ICO) gave me the opportunity to manage complex UN processes, which corresponds to the governance and strategic oversight responsibilities of a board member.

During my tenure as Strategic Interventions Advisor at UNAIDS in Cameroon, I led important initiatives in health, community response, human rights of key populations including LGBT, and the private sector, secured substantial funding, and eliminated user fees within the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework. These achievements underscore my ability to drive strategic health improvements and navigate complex funding environments, skills that will be invaluable to CPHA.

I am particularly impressed by CPHA's commitment to advocacy for health systems strengthening and look forward to applying my expertise in international health financing, crisis management and policy development to these goals. I would be delighted to discuss in more detail how my experience and skills could contribute to the success of your Board of Directors.

Thank you for your interest in my application.

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Bilqis Williams (Ontario)

My name is Bilqis Williams, I am a medical doctor, global and environmental public health practitioner and public servant. I possess over a decade of experience serving in clinical, research, managerial, patient advocacy, and crisis resolution roles. As an incumbent member and director on the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) Board, I have facilitated collaborations with Black, feminine health, mental health and addictions, community and policy development organizations as well as health equity advocacy in geriatrics, immigrant/ refugee, and displaced persons’ health in addition to inclusive leadership. I am an active advisor to public service sectors and independent research institutions on the varying intersections that influence health outcomes. Consequent to my lived and professional experiences, I have led different interprofessional teams to provide community support systems and sustainable energy projects between cities across the world, and I am a writer of interest on the environmental and global health scene.

In addition to creating the 25% equity rule, I am a member of the Finance Committee for CPHA, Chair of the Ontario SPOR Support Unit Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (OSSU SPOR) Patient Partner Working Group (PPWG), and I am the Strategic Policy Advisor for UMMA (United MusliMs Association). As the first-ever recipient of the Peace Prize for Community Activism who is listed by the Boston University School of Public Health as one of 20 change makers of our century, my continued participation on the CPHA Board of Directors will ensure that diversity is reflected in its leadership.

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