Board of Directors

Jason is a Medical Officer of Health and the director of the Public Health and Preventive Medicine (PHPM) residency program at the University of Calgary. His educational background includes a Doctor of Medicine degree from Queen’s University, and both an FRCPC in PHPM and MSc Epidemiology from the University of Calgary. His work has focused on environmental health, chronic disease prevention, advancing public health education, and providing evidence to inform action and decision-making in health systems and communities.

Caitlin has over two decades of experience in community-based health research, programming, and management, complemented by an MSc in Population and Public Health. She is a Director at the Multi-lingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities (MOSAIC). MOSAIC provides comprehensive services to support newcomers to Canada throughout their settlement journey. Caitlin’s portfolio includes a partnership with the Fraser Health Authority, the Burnaby Division of Family Practice, and the Burnaby Primary Care Network to establish a Patient Medical Home - Priority Population Clinic (PMH). The PMH offers essential, longitudinal primary care services to Burnaby's most marginalized communities, including newcomers, new mothers and their babies, individuals with complex mental health issues, and those experiencing homelessness. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by these populations – such as language, cultural, and socio-economic barriers – the clinic is designed to offer accessible, trauma-informed, and culturally safe healthcare. Caitlin is guided by values of inclusion, social justice, and equity. These principles influence her professional work and community involvement. She has volunteered with several community-based organizations in Canada, Kenya, and Guatemala, including the Canadian Red Cross, Co-Development Canada, U-Tena Arts and Education Society, Nuevo Horizonte Cooperative, and the Asociación Payasos Atz’anem K’oj.

Sherry Baidwan is a Registered Nurse and Public Health Director with Fraser Health in British Columbia. With over 25 years of broad and progressive experience in Public Health, she currently leads Sexual Health and Communicable Disease Prevention and Control programs. Previous portfolios have included leadership of Harm Reduction and Toxic Drug Response programs, Immunization services, Pandemic Response, and supporting the health needs of Priority Populations such as the Unhoused. In addition to certificates in Perinatal Nursing and Harm Reduction, Sherry also holds a Masters in Public Health, and draws upon her experience in both the Ontario and BC public health systems. She is committed to advancing data and evidence informed public health policies, initiatives, and services, in order to support populations in achieving the best possible health outcomes across our communities.

Andrea Irwin is a Registered Nurse in Whitehorse, Yukon. With over 14 years in healthcare, she manages Yukon Communicable Disease Control, leading a team committed to protecting public health in the Yukon. Her background in nursing, clinical education, and critical care is complemented by experience in knowledge translation and change management. She also serves as an Accreditation Canada volunteer surveyor, evaluating healthcare quality nationwide, and has field experience with Doctors Without Borders in Chad and the DRC. Andrea holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Liverpool and a BScN (bilingual EN/FR) from the University of Alberta.

Foluso Ishola is a resident physician in Public Health and Preventive Medicine at the University of Ottawa, where she also completed her family medicine training. She holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a PhD in Epidemiology from McGill University. Foluso’s experience spans the areas of health policy, health equity, maternal and newborn health, reproductive health and global health governance. She has served in clinical, research and advisory roles for ministries of health, governmental agencies, academia and non-profit organizations in sub-Saharan Africa, US and Canada. She is passionate about reducing health and social inequities through public health practice, research, and education.

Pemma Muzumdar (she, her) lives in Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal) on the unceded lands and waters of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation. Pemma completed her Master of Public Health at the University of Waterloo. Currently, she is a Knowledge Translation Specialist with the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health. In her everyday work, Pemma supports the public health community to build a culture of equity and address interrelated structural, social, and ecological determinants of health. She has led and contributed to work on anti-racism, intersectionality, environmental and climate justice, migrant health and more. Pemma co-produces Mind the Disruption, a podcast about building a healthier world for everyone.

Jennifer Njenga, MD, MPH, DrPH
Jennifer Njenga is a global health physician and leader with over 24 years of experience advancing health equity across Africa, Oceania, and North America. She is the Founder and CEO of BriJen, a purpose-driven health equity platform, and Engage Global Health, a consulting firm advancing the UN SDGs through innovation, health systems strengthening, and research. A recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and multiple leadership awards, she has held senior roles in primary care reform in Canada and New Zealand. Jennifer serves on several boards and collaborates globally on equity-focused health initiatives.
 

C’fine Okorochukwu is the Director of Prevention and Health Promotion Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction and a public health professional; his educational background includes a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Nigeria, a Master’s in Public Health (MPH), a diploma in addiction counseling and community health services from ABM College Calgary Alberta, a certificate in prevention, control, and management of malaria, hepatitis and schistosomiasis from Centre of Disease Control, Shanghai China, and a certificate in project management. C’fine is highly interested in the social determinants of health and its intersection with substance use health. He has extensive experience in public health, worked as Director of Community Health Services, T’lazt’en Nation, British Columbia; Manager of Community Health Services Northern Health, Prince George, British Columbia; Director of Global NGO Executive Committee, United Nations, Centre for Public Health; United Nations Representative and Member WHO Civil Society Commission. He is experienced in substance use health and addiction, prevention and health promotion, primary health care, and support services.

Alex Petiquan, MD
Alex Petiquan is Anishinaabe from Wabauskang First Nation. He graduated from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and is currently in residency, specializing in public health. His work spans Indigenous public health, health policy, governance, epidemiology, and data sharing agreements, both as a Senior Analyst in the Federal sector and as a member of the Health Expert Advisory Panel for Grand Council Treaty #3.