Speakers

Cardiologist, Women’s College Hospital and University Health Network
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
Canada Research Chair in Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Outcomes
Hold’em for Life Professor in Cancer Research
University of Toronto
Heart and Stroke Chair in Women’s Heart and Brain Health

Husam Abdel-Qadir is a cardiologist at Women’s College Hospital and the University Health Network, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, and a junior investigator in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre Clinical Trials and Translation Unit.

He graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine with the Silver Medal, then completed residencies in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, followed by a PhD in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research at the Institute for Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation.

His research interests include cardio-oncology, atrial fibrillation, and lipoprotein(a). He holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Outcomes, a Hold’ Em for Life Professorship in Cancer Research, and recently completed a tenure as Early Career Chair in Heart and Brain Health from Heart and Stroke.

His work has been recognized by the Young Investigator Award and Atrial Fibrillation Research Award from the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, the European Society of Cardiology Young Investigator Award, and the Polanyi Prize in Medicine/Physiology.

Dr. Abdel-Qadir is a former board member and Director of Continuing Professional Development of the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario. He is also a member of the Advisory Board to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.

In 2025, he was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his volunteer contributions to promotion of cardiovascular health with the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada.

Assistant Professor
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario

Dr. Allana is a women’s cardiovascular health researcher, particularly focusing on diverse women’s cardiovascular health.

The goal of her research program is to develop culturally safe and responsive, as well as innovative and co-designed solutions with community partners, to address the systemic health inequities experienced by underserved women with CVDs.

Her multi-disciplinary program of research is focused on addressing persistent health inequities and ensuring health equity for women, immigrant, refugee, and racialized populations as well as other underserved groups.

She utilizes an intersectionality-based multi-pronged approach to achieve this aim via her research, which is underpinned by a social justice and health equity lens.

Technology is at the heart of her research program. One arm of her research program explores the co-creation of digital health tools and telehealth/virtual care programs for cardiovascular disease management, that are culturally and contextually relevant to the needs of equity-deserving groups.

She co-creates virtual care and tele/digital health tools from a health equity perspective, through community-and-patient-partnered research methods.

Another arm of her research program explores the effective translation of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policies into practice in Canadian healthcare settings.

The third arm of her research program explores the settlement and social integration of immigrants to Canada, and the potential role of technology in enhancing their settlement and social integration.

During the last three years of her current position at Western University, as well as during her PhD, Dr. Allana has secured competitive and prestigious national, provincial, and local funding for her research.

She has 44 publications to her credit.

At the beginning of her current tenure-track position, she secured three university-based competitive research grants, namely:

1. Western Strategic Support CIHR Success Grant,
2. Western Strategic Support SSHRC Success Grant, and
3. Faculty Development Research Grant.

Utilizing these grants, she started some foundational work for her program of research.

Based on this groundwork, Dr. Allana secured 2 CIHR Planning Grants—developing research agenda, network, and partnerships in:

• Intersectionality-based Cardiovascular Care, and
• the Translation of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Policies into Practice,

as well as an AMS Healthcare Fellowship in Compassion and Artificial Intelligence, as a primary investigator—co-creating the principles of compassionate and equitable virtual care for South-Asian patients, and a SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant.

These projects are currently underway.

Currently, she is a co-investigator on:

• two CIHR project grants,
• two CIHR Knowledge Synthesis and Knowledge Mobilization grants,
• a CIHR Women’s Health Hub grant,
• a CIHR Planning Grant,
• a SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant, and
• a Public Health Agency of Canada grant.

She has also been a collaborator on:

• a SSHRC Insight Development Grant,
• a NIH-NINR funded grant, and
• a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute funded grant.

Dr. Allana has established long-standing partnerships with immigrant communities and patient partners, clinicians, and hospitals.

She also partners with immigrants’ settlement organizations all over Canada.

These partnerships have been instrumental in undertaking community, clinician, and patient-partnered research, and in disseminating the findings to the appropriate audiences, which essentially makes her research impactful.

Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine; School of Global Health and Social Medicine, McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario (Linkedin: Sandi Azab)

Dr. Sandi Azab completed her bachelor’s (2006) and master’s (2010) degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Alexandria University, Egypt.

Since 2016, she has been a registered pharmacist with the Ontario College of Pharmacists and has been practicing community pharmacy in Hamilton, with certification in smoking cessation counseling.

Through a fully funded scholarship from the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education, Dr. Azab received her doctoral degree in Chemical Biology and Metabolomics from McMaster University (2020). Her research included developing novel high-throughput methods for fatty acid profiling and PFAS biomonitoring. Her doctorate work also involved metabolomic investigations of peripheral artery disease and dietary biomarkers.

She completed her postdoctoral training in epidemiology and omics at the Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University. In 2022, she was the recipient of a VAST (VAScular Cognitive Impairment Training) Scholarship, investigating the effects of air pollution on cardiovascular disease in the Canadian Alliance of Healthy Hearts and Minds cohort.

Dr. Azab is a recipient of the CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award (2023).

She is an Assistant Professor in Metabolomic Epidemiology and Global Health with expertise in metabolomics and biomarker discovery. She works to expand omics measurements in existing and new population-based cohorts using a health equity lens. She leads multidisciplinary research focused on cardiovascular and metabolic disease, as well as child and maternal health, within multiethnic Canadian and global cohorts.

Advanced Care Paramedic,
Acting Superintendent of Clinical Training & Development
Ottawa Paramedic Service, Ontario Canada 

Amber Bean is an Advanced Care Paramedic with the Ottawa Paramedic Service and has served the Ottawa community for their medical and trauma needs for over fourteen years. Amber is also an Acting Superintendent of Clinical Training & Development for the Ottawa Paramedic Service, where she facilitates and creates educational content that supports frontline Ottawa Paramedics in their biannual recertification and education. 

Amber is passionate about the paramedic profession, and she has a positive, professional attitude that has enabled her to carry out her duties effectively and to continue expanding her skills through the learning experiences found in her routine deployment as a first responder on a specialty unit called;  Paramedic Response Unit where she responds to      9-1-1 emergencies alone in an SUV prior to an Ambulance. 

Amber is a diligent supporter of public relations and education as seen in her volunteer activities within the Paramedic Service as a Diversity Champion Program member where she promotes women-based initiatives, and she is also a Cultural Champion Network Ambassador. She strives to continually promote the profession and the Ottawa Paramedic Service through her external advocacy with the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance. 

Amber strongly believes in lifelong learning and has benefitted from educational experiences outside traditional learning institutions, a perspective she has developed as a mature student returning to school while managing competing priorities including a 25-year marriage and raising three young adults. From her personal life experiences, she offers an organized, dedicated, and meticulous approach to any endeavor she may encounter.  
 

Scientist, University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Associate Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa

Dr. Kelly Cobey is a Scientist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. She advocates for transparency in scientific publishing, particularly open science implementation. She serves as the Director of the Metaresearch and Open Science Program and is an Associate Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health.

Cobey’s work focuses on improving the reproducibility of research and addressing issues like publication bias, sub-optimal data management, and predatory publishing. She is a frequent speaker and educator on responsible conduct in research and evidence-based publishing practices.

She is co-chair of DORA (Declaration On Research Assessment), an international initiative with a mission to reform research assessment across all scholarly disciplines so that it supports the best quality research.

Kelly sits on a number of national and international committees, including the CCA panel of Dual-Use Research. She was recently honoured by Nature and Sense About Science for her advocacy work to improve the research ecosystem.

Associate Professor, Cardiology
Assistant Dean, MD Admissions, Queen's University
Medical Director, KHSC Echo Lab
Queen's University
Kingston, ON

Dr. Peggy DeJong is a citizen of the Metis Nation of Ontario and Manitoba Metis Federation, originally descending from a founder family in the Red River. She is the great-great grand-niece of Louis Riel.

Dr. DeJong received her Honors Bachelor of Science (Health Sciences) from the University of Waterloo and her medical degree from Queen’s University. Her clinical training consisted of Internal Medicine and Cardiology at Queen’s University. She completed an additional fellowship year at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver General Hospital in Echocardiography. She joined the Division of Cardiology at Queen’s University in 2014.

Dr. DeJong’s clinical practice focuses on valvular heart disease, aortopathies, and general cardiology. She participates in the CCU and general cardiology ward duty roster, and reads echocardiograms. She also participates in the E-consult service, which allows physicians in the region to quickly and efficiently consult specialists to address issues that do not require an in-person assessment. As of December 2022, she is the Medical Director of the Echocardiography Lab at Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

At Queen’s University, Dr. DeJong served as the Director of the Adult Cardiology Residency Training Program from July 2015 to December 2019. As part of the Queen’s University competency-based medical education (CBME) plan, she was the CBME Lead for Cardiology from 2015-2022, and created the curriculum and assessment plan to successfully launch CBME for all incoming Cardiology residents at Queen’s since July 2017. As of September 1, 2023, Dr. DeJong is the Assistant Dean, Admissions, for the MD program at Queen’s University.

Dr. DeJong’s chief academic interest is medical education. She completed her Masters in Medical Education with distinction from the University of Dundee, Scotland (supported by the Department of Medicine, Queen’s University) in 2022.

She also has a significant interest in advancing Indigenous health and incorporating Indigenous health issues into medical education. She co-created, and taught the Masters of Health Professions Education course on Indigenous Health Education at Queen’s University from 2021 to 2023. She launched an initiative to reduce barriers in the medical school admissions process at Queen’s University in 2024 with the launch of the Qualified Applicant Randomization Selection (QARS) in the early phase of the admissions process, and is continuing these initiatives with the launch of a comprehensive Black student recruitment strategy at Queen’s in 2025.

Associate Professor, Indigenous Health Learning Lodge
McMaster University
Hamilton, ON

Dr. Bernice Downey is of mixed Saulteaux/Celtic ancestry with kinship ties to Lake St. Martin and Dauphin River First Nations within Treaty 2 boundaries in Manitoba.

She is a medical anthropologist and former Registered Nurse who has invested most of her professional career in working with Indigenous peoples to inform and mobilize self-determining approaches to health and research.

Her long career in nursing led to senior leadership roles with health and research-related, national-level Indigenous non-profit organizations, namely the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association and the former National Aboriginal Health Organization. She was a CIHR – Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health, Institute Advisory Board Member for two three-year terms.

She holds an early-career, CIHR – Heart and Stroke Foundation-sponsored Research Chair in Indigenous Women’s Heart and Brain Health. She is a former Board Member with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and a member of the national Heart and Stroke Foundation Indigenous Health Council.

She continues to uphold Indigenous self-determining OCAP principles in research through participatory methodologies in partnership with Indigenous communities. She is committed to engagement processes that support anti-Indigenous racism and reconciliation approaches to systemic change in health and research and strives to collaborate and lead in this regard.

Healthcare Professional Co-Chair, Health Systems and Policy, CWHHA
Scientist and Director, Brain and Heart Nexus Research Program
Director, UOHI Population Outcomes Research Unit
Scientific Director, UOHI Data Science Centre
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Adjunct Scientist, ICES
Associate Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa
Ottawa, ON | @brainheartnexus

Dr. Jodi Edwards is the Director of the Brain and Heart Nexus Research Program at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI), Associate Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa, Director of the UOHI Population Outcomes Research Unit, and Scientific Director of the UOHI Data Science Centre.

Dr. Edwards’ expertise is in cardiovascular epidemiology, and her research focuses on risk assessment and predictive modeling for the heart-brain interface, clinical prediction tools, and neuromodulation interventions for recovery.

Dr. Edwards receives funding from CIHR, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Brain Canada, and NSERC. She is one of the 10 named PIs on the Brain-Heart Interconnectome CFREF program ($109M over 7 years) and is also the lead PI on the STROKECOG CIHR Clinical Trials Training Platform for innovative clinical trial training initiatives in stroke and cognition ($3M over 3 years).

Since 2020, she has been awarded the Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) National New Investigator in Women’s Heart and Brain Health, UOHI Investigator of the Year, Faculty of Medicine Early Career Researcher of the Year, Faculty of Medicine Researcher of the Year, the Canadian Women’s Heart, Brain, and Vascular Health Investigator Award, and she was nominated to the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists.

Dr. Edwards publishes extensively in leading clinical journals and has received national media attention for her work. She is Co-PI of the Canadian Platform for Trials in Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation, Co-Chaired the International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance Roundtable on Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation, and is a member of the Executive Committee for the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance.

Vice-President, Health Equity and Mission Impact
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Toronto, Ontario

Christine is Vice-President, Health Equity and Mission Impact at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. She has been with the Foundation since 2016 and leads the Foundation’s Women’s Heart and Brain Health Strategy.

She holds a PhD in Population Health from the University of Ottawa and has over 25 years of experience in the community and non-profit sector, working at the local, provincial, national, and international levels.

Christine is passionate about population-level health interventions, health equity, organizational strategy, data and impact evaluation, innovation and learning, and partnership approaches to drive collective impact.

Since 2022, she has been acting as the Chair for the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Research Initiative of the Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum (GCRFF), a global alliance of 12 major cardiovascular research funders around the world.

Associate Professor, University of British Columbia
Neurologist, Vancouver Stroke Program
Sauder Family and Heart and Stroke Foundation Professorship of Stroke Research
Bluesky: VancouverStroke.bsky.social
X: @VancouverStroke

Dr. Thalia Field is a stroke neurologist and clinician-researcher at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada), where she is an Associate Professor and holds a Sauder Family/Heart and Stroke Professorship of Stroke Research.

Her research is focused on clinical trials and stroke in younger adults, particularly cerebral venous thrombosis and adults with congenital heart disease.

She is currently leading a national longitudinal study examining brain health in children and adults with congenital heart disease.

Member, Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA), Quality and Assurance Team, Wear Red Canada Manitoba
Board Chair, Alliance of Direct Support Professionals of Manitoba (ADSPM)
Social Services Professional, specializing in Disability Case Management, Accessibility, and Human Rights Advocacy
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Stevie Goller (she/her) is a passionate advocate for Women's Heart Health, with lived experience as a person diagnosed with heart failure at the age of 28 in 2020.

As a member of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA), Stevie contributes to their Quality and Assurance team, helping to improve outcomes and raise awareness about heart disease in women. She is also an enthusiastic supporter of the Wear Red Canada campaign, actively serving the Winnipeg and surrounding Manitoba areas, and works tirelessly to be a voice for young adults who face heart health challenges.

Stevie shares her own journey of navigating pregnancy and childbirth after being diagnosed with heart failure, providing hope and highlighting the realities of such an experience.

In addition to her advocacy work, Stevie is employed in Social Services, specializing in Disability Case Management, Accessibility, and Human Rights Advocacy. With over 16 years of experience, she has dedicated her career to providing person-centered support, advocating for accessibility, and upholding human rights in the disability and mental health sectors.

Stevie currently serves as the Board Chair for the Alliance of Direct Support Professionals of Manitoba (ADSPM), where she plays a pivotal role in supporting professionals who work directly with individuals with disabilities. Her career is a reflection of her passion for fighting for what she believes in and raising awareness around the issues that matter most to her.

Stevie's work and advocacy are driven by a deep commitment to making a difference and ensuring that the voices of those who are often overlooked are heard.
 

Department Head, Department of Medicine
F.M. Hill Chair in Women’s Academic Medicine
Associate Professor, University of Toronto
Women’s College Hospital
Toronto, ON 

Dr. Harvey is an Australian Medical Graduate. After completing her specialty training and subsequent PhD in 1999, she relocated to Canada as an NH&MRC Scholar to complete post-doctoral training in Cardiovascular Physiology at the University of Toronto.

In 2002, Dr. Harvey was appointed to faculty in the Division of Cardiology, University Health Network.

In 2010, she joined Women's College Hospital (WCH) as Director of Cardiovascular Research and subsequently also as Medical Director of the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative.

In December 2013, Dr. Harvey was appointed Division Head of Cardiology at WCH.

In 2017, she was appointed Physician-in-Chief of the Department of Medicine at WCH and the F.M. Hill Chair in Women’s Academic Medicine.

Dr. Harvey’s clinical and research focus is on cardiovascular disease in women across the lifespan, with a special interest in hypertension and complex blood pressure disorders, autonomic disorders such as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), cardiovascular disease prevention through lifestyle interventions such as exercise, and cardiovascular disease in autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatological disorders (cardio-rheumatology).

Clinical Professor of Medicine
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Division of Community General Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine Consultant
Co-Chair Knowledge Translation and Dissemination, Executive Steering Committee, Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance

Dr. Shahin Jaffer is a Clinical Professor at the University of British Columbia and holds a Master’s degree in Health Care and Epidemiology. She has been practicing as an internal medicine specialist for over 25 years, with a focus on weight management, diabetes, and cardiovascular health.

She is a former member of the UBC Department of Medicine Academic Appointments and Promotions Committee and the Board of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Dr. Jaffer also served as President of the Vancouver branch of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada and was a national board member for several years.

Dr. Jaffer has contributed to the Knowledge Translation Working Group of the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA) and has been involved in multiple committees and projects since the Alliance's inception in 2018. She currently serves as the Knowledge Translation and Dissemination Co-Chair of the CWHHA Executive Steering Committee and Co-Chair of the Chest Pain in the Emergency Department Committee.

Her leadership roles also include mentoring medical students and residents, serving as a principal investigator in cardiovascular and diabetes-related clinical trials, and authoring publications in peer-reviewed journals. She is a presenter, moderator, and collaborator with allied health care professionals—including physicians, nurses, midwives, and pharmacists—not only in Canada but also at universities and health services in East Africa and Central Asia.

In 2022, Dr. Jaffer received the Career Leadership Award from the BC Society of General Internal Medicine. In 2023, she was awarded the Women’s Heart Health Centre Advocacy Award for her visionary contributions to the heart, brain, and vascular health of women in Canada. More recently, she received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her significant volunteer contributions and service to the Canadian community.

Scientist and Assistant Professor
KITE - Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Canada
Chair, International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (ICCPR) 
Toronto, Canada
Twitter: https://x.com/gabrielamghisi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielameloghisi/

Dr. Gabriela Ghisi is an Affiliate Scientist at the KITE Research Institute, University Health Network (Canada). Her research centers on patient education in chronic disease management and global access to cardiac rehabilitation (CR).

She has supported the development and implementation of an evidence-based patient education curriculum in collaboration with CR programs in 10 countries and has led its evaluation. She has published over 160 papers, authored clinical practice guidelines, and developed 17 cardiac rehabilitation-related scales that are used for both clinical and research purposes.

Her global recognition in CR research is underscored by her ranking as one of the top three researchers globally in CR (SciVal/Scopus 2019-2024).

Dr. Ghisi is also Chair of the International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (ICCPR).

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
EPICORE, University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB

Dr. Shania Liu is a pharmacist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at EPICORE at the University of Alberta.

Since completing her PhD at the University of Sydney on health services interventions to improve the safe and appropriate use of analgesics in 2023, Dr. Liu has published over 20 peer-reviewed publications and secured over $CAD2M in competitive grant funding.

As a leading clinician committed to improving patient care, Dr. Liu has held leadership roles in Advanced Pharmacy Australia (the peak hospital pharmacy association in Australia), the International Association for the Study of Pain, and the International Pharmaceutical Federation.

Her postdoctoral work focuses on coordinating randomized trials to evaluate pharmacist-led interventions to improve patient outcomes related to chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease.

Verna McGregor resides in her community of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, which is 140 kilometers north of Ottawa-Gatineau.

She has remained grounded in the Algonquin language and culture through organizing gatherings with Elders and the recent establishment of the Algonquin Culture Institute.

Verna is a past manager in personal banking with the Royal Bank of Canada and worked in real estate sales in the Ottawa area. This background also contributed to the empowerment of Indigenous People in Canada, as she managed a task force on the issue of access to capital.

She has also worked with the Public Service and various National Indigenous organizations in areas such as economic development, forestry, and urban issues.

She recently published a children’s book on the issue of smoking cessation.

Sr. Manager, Digital Health & Learning
Heart & Stroke; Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance 
Toronto, Ontario
www.linkedin.com/in/briannemcveigh

Brianne McVeigh is a Registered Dietitian and Learning Experience Designer who specializes in health education.

Passionate about supporting people on their health journeys, Brianne employs a person-centred approach, using digitally enabled strategies to develop strategic and impactful programming.

Her work focuses on creating engaging content that drives enhanced professional practice, behavior change, and measurable health impact.

As Senior Manager, Digital Health & Learning at Heart & Stroke, Brianne leads strategy, planning, and development of digital health and learning initiatives.

With a collaborative approach, she leverages content, partnerships, and technology to promote health, support recovery, and improve condition management through innovative solutions.

Throughout her career, Brianne has successfully developed and implemented programs recognized for their effectiveness in both school and health sectors.

Her dedication to collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous growth has led to her involvement with the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance and her role as Co-Chair of the Community and Public Health Nutrition Network with Dietitians of Canada.

She also acts as a preceptor/mentor for emerging health professionals and has completed a Fellowship in Accelerating Learning Experience Design at OISE, University of Toronto.

Professor of Medicine, Dalhousie University
Professor Emeritus, Mayo Clinic
Past-President, Canadian Society of Echocardiography
Co-Director, Women’s Heart Health Clinic
QE II Health Sciences Centre
Halifax, Nova Scotia | @HeartDocSharon

Dr. Mulvagh is Professor of Medicine at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Professor Emeritus at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Dr. Mulvagh is a clinical cardiologist, echocardiographer, and clinician investigator for multiple Federal (CIHR-Canadian Institute of Health Research) and Foundation (Heart and Stroke Canada; Dalhousie University) funded collaborative research projects in Canada and USA focused on women and heart disease, contrast echocardiography, and POCUS.

She is Co-Director of the Women’s Heart Health Clinic at the Maritime Heart Center in Halifax, NS, and the Immediate Past Director of Dalhousie University GIM POCUS program.

She is Immediate Past-Chair of the Nova Scotia Provincial Board of Directors for Heart & Stroke Canada, and Immediate Past-Chair of Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance Knowledge Translation and Mobilization Working Group.

She is Immediate Past-President of the Canadian Society of Echocardiography, Past-Chair of ASE Scientific Sessions 2022, past co-director of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) Echo Hawaii, past member of ASE Board of Directors, and current member of the NBE Critical Care Echocardiography and NBE Adult Comprehensive Echocardiography Certification Committees, and National Board of Echocardiography (NBE) Critical Care Echocardiography Exam Writing Committee.

She is also a member of the International Contrast Ultrasound Society Board of Directors. She has chaired numerous echocardiographic guidelines imaging task forces and committees, including the initial consensus statement and subsequent guidelines and updates on Ultrasound Enhancing Agents.

She has over 200 peer-reviewed publications and has served on the editorial boards of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, and Echo Research and Practice.

Dr. Mulvagh received her medical degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Ottawa, Canada, interned at Dalhousie University, then completed her residency at Boston University, and cardiology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX.

There, she consulted for Universities Space Research Associates (USRA) at NASA, Johnson Space Center, monitoring cardiac responses during spacewalks from Mission Control, training astronauts to do echocardiograms during spaceflight, and developing countermeasures to microgravity.

She then embarked on a 26-year academic career at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, subsequently returning to Canada in 2016 to establish clinical and educational programs in cardiovascular care for women, stress/contrast echocardiography, and point of care ultrasound.

Professor, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing-University of Toronto
Nurse Practitioner, Cardiac Program, Kingston Health Sciences Centre
Faculty Profile: https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/faculty/monica-parry/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-parry-66b2601a/ 
X: @parryresearch 

Monica Parry is a Professor in the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto and a Nurse Practitioner with over 35 years of cardiovascular (CV) clinical experience at Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

Her clinical expertise has laid the foundation for a program of research to reduce the global burden of CV disease in women by 2030. Her program of research addresses five of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030): #3-Good Health and Well-Being, #5-Gender Equality, #9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, #10-Reduced Inequalities, and #17-Partnerships for the Goals.

Monica is a member of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA, https://cwhhc.ottawaheart.ca/national-alliance/cwhha); a Co-PI and Chair of the Knowledge Mobilization and Implementation Subcommittee of the Health Research Training Platform in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (MyRoad); and a Co-I with the CANadian Consortium of Clinical Trial TRAINing platform (CANTRAIN).

She is currently leading a research team to develop and test at heart, the first progressive WebApp developed for women with heart disease using the pervasive information architecture of mHealth interventions, a user-centred co-design approach, and the sequential phased approach recommended by the Medical Research Council.

Monica is also an AMS Fellow in Artificial Intelligence and Compassionate Care, with an overall aim to integrate attributes of compassion into conversations between at heart’s Chatbot and women with heart disease.

Monica has also received advanced training from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to engage patients as partners in health research and is currently funded (CIHR) with Clinical Trials Ontario to develop a toolkit/decision resource for patients and investigators wishing to engage in Patient-Oriented Research (POR).

Director, Canadian Centre for Rare Cardiac Conditions 
Director of Cardiac Imaging
Co-Director Cardiac MRI
Saul & Edna Goldfarb Chair in Cardiac Imaging
Professor, Medicine, University of Ottawa
Adjunct Professor, Medicine, University of Alberta
University of Ottawa Heart Institute

Ian Paterson, MD, is a cardiologist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and a professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa since 2022.

He is the medical director of UOHI Cardiac Imaging and the Canadian Centre for Rare Cardiac Conditions.

Dr. Paterson received his medical degree from McGill University and completed post-graduate medical training in internal medicine, cardiology, echocardiography, and cardiac MRI. He previously worked at the University of Alberta until 2022 and served as director of residency training in adult cardiology from 2009 to 2017. He also co-founded the Edmonton Cardio-Oncology Program.

Dr. Paterson’s research interests include cardiovascular imaging in heart failure, cardiomyopathy, cardio-oncology, and post-COVID syndrome. He has published over 200 scientific articles, abstracts, and book chapters, and frequently presents his research regionally, nationally, and internationally.

He has chaired and/or co-authored position statements and guidelines and has led CIHR-funded, multi-centre clinical trials in cardio-oncology and cardiac MRI.

Vice President, Research and Science
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Edmonton, AB

Dr. Ryan Perry joined the Heart & Stroke in February 2024 and is the Vice President, Research and Science. In this role, Ryan provides overall leadership and strategic direction to the Foundation’s research and science enterprise, driving excellence and innovation in the delivery of research programs, training and career development, and strengthening linkages with research partners, volunteers, supporters and stakeholders.

Ryan has a deep understanding of the health research environment in Canada and abroad, and brings extensive experience in partnership development, knowledge mobilization, training and development, and developing and implementing innovative research programs and research impact frameworks.

Ryan is an experienced and trusted medical science professional with a strong background in cardiovascular science and over 15 years of leadership experience in the Canadian health research ecosystem. Prior to his role at Heart & Stroke, Ryan was the Associate Scientific Director at the national Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR-IRCH). There he played a pivotal role in advancing the national cardiovascular and respiratory research strategy and enterprise and led national and international initiatives, developed innovative funding models, and fostered critical strategic partnerships with key stakeholders.

Ryan is a champion of health research talent development and mentorship. He has led numerous career development workshops and symposiums, collaborating with national health professional and research organizations. These efforts have directly benefited thousands of research trainees across Canada and contributed to building a strong, diverse and inclusive health research workforce in circulatory and respiratory health.

In his free time, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family (wife and three children), woodworking, and pretty much anything outdoors (e.g., golf, mountain biking, hiking, skiing), preferably in the mountains.

Ryan has a PhD in Biochemistry, an MSc in Experimental Medicine, and a BSc (Honours) in Physiology. 

Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair
Toronto Metropolitan University (Primary), McGill University (Status Only), Rotman Research Institute (Status Only)
Toronto, Ontario  
X: @mnrajah 

Professor M. Natasha Rajah is a Full Professor in the Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Sex, Gender and Diversity in Brain Health, Memory and Aging. She is also an Adjunct Faculty at the Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Adjunct Scientist at the Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest, and CIHR Sex and Gender Research Chair in Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction.

Prior to joining the Psychology Department in Fall 2023, Natasha was a Full Professor with tenure in the Department of Psychiatry, and Associate Member of the Department of Psychology at McGill University (2005-2023). Dr. Rajah also held senior administrative roles at McGill University, including as Director of the Douglas Brain Imaging Centre (2011-2021) and Assistant Dean (Academic Affairs), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) (2022-2023). She received her PhD in Experimental Psychology at University of Toronto (St. George Campus) and did her postdoctoral training at The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California (Berkeley). 

In her Brain Health Equity in Aging and Memory (BHEAM) Lab at TMU, she conducts cognitive and clinical neuroscience research on memory, aging, and dementia prevention. She uses structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in combination with behavioral, neuropsychological, blood-based endocrine and protein analysis, and genetic methods to advance knowledge about: 

1. The cognitive neuroscience of episodic memory 
2. How biological sex and sociocultural gender affect cognitive brain aging and AD risk – with a focus on midlife and the effect of menopause 
3. How social determinants of health and lifestyle factors affect cognitive brain aging in diverse samples. 

The goal of her research program is to identify the biological, environmental, and social factors that support the maintenance of normative memory across the adult lifespan, and, to determine what factors negatively affect cognitive and brain aging and place individuals at greater risk of developing AD.  

Dr. Rajah is Vice-Chair of the CIHR Institute of Aging Advisory Board, the EDI Lead for Phase III of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) and serves  as  Editor-in-Chief of Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition. During her free time Natasha enjoys yoga, reading, cooking, and travelling.

Director, Leslie Diamond Women's Heart Health Clinic
Cardiologist, Vancouver General Hospital and British Columbia Women's Hospital
Clinical Associate Professor, University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC | @Women__Heart

Dr. Tara Sedlak received her Doctor of Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency, and Cardiology Residency from the University of British Columbia.

She also completed a fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, California, focusing on women’s heart health, particularly chest pain syndromes in women with no significant coronary artery disease.

Dr. Sedlak practices General Cardiology at Vancouver General Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital and is the Director of the Leslie Diamond Women’s Heart Health Clinic.

Her research interests include etiologies of myocardial infarction and chest pain in women with non-obstructive coronary artery disease, as well as therapeutic strategies in microvascular coronary dysfunction and coronary vasospasm.

Wendy Wray, is the Director of the McGill University Health Center Women’s Healthy Heart Initiative (WHHI), which opened in 2009.

Her professional experience includes CCU, pre-angiogram and angioplasty out-patient clinic, and in 2000, co-developing a model of collaborative care in Cardiovascular Risk Management Prevention.

Wendy is a Fellow and was the founder and past co-chair of the Montreal Chapter of the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association. She was a member of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance Advocacy Working Group and co-lead of the Eastern Regional Committee.

She is the recipient of the 2017 Sara Louise King Award for Cardiology Research, the Senate of Canada 150 Bronze Medal, and the 2017 MUHC Foundation Healthcare Professional of the Year Award.

She served on the 2021 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Lipid Guideline Committee.

Publications in peer-reviewed journals include the Canadian Journal of Nursing (2014) and the Canadian Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing (2020).

Associate Professor, Stroke Neurologist 
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Instagram & Twitter: @amyyu_md

Dr. Amy Yu is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, a Sunnybrook Research Institute Senior Scientist, and a stroke neurologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

She holds a Canada Research Chair in Data-driven Design of Stroke Systems. She is the Chair of the Heart & Stroke’s National Quality Advisory Committee and the Chair of CorHealth Ontario’s Hyperacute Stroke Performance Task Group.

She is an Associate Editor for the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences.

Her work has been recognized by several national and international awards, including the Heart and Stroke National New Investigator Award and the American Academy of Neurology Michael S. Pessin Stroke Leadership Prize.

She received the Canadian Women’s Heart, Brain and Vascular Health Investigator Award in 2021.

She is the Nominated Principal Investigator leading StrokeGoRed, Canada’s first research network aiming to advance knowledge on stroke in women.

Emergency Physician at The Ottawa Hospital 
University of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital 
Ottawa, ON
X: https://x.com/azia_skhan 

Dr. Ayesha Zia is an Emergency Physician at The Ottawa Hospital, where she completed her residency in Emergency Medicine (FRCPC) and specialized training in Prehospital and Transport Medicine from the University of Ottawa.

She is the principal investigator of a research study focused on improving STEMI activation by paramedics, for which she has received a prestigious Junior Investigator grant.

Dr. Zia is deeply passionate about advancing women's health, promoting gender equity, and fostering female physician leadership in medicine. Her academic pursuits are driven by a commitment to improving patient care and outcomes, particularly in the prehospital environment.

Outside the emergency department, Dr. Zia is a full-time mom to two boys and enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially traveling and playing board games.