Organizational Structure and Committees

Oversight for the development of the joint medical degree is provided by a Steering Committee, co-chaired by Dr. Margaret Steele, Dean of Medicine at Memorial University, and Dr. Greg Keefe, interim President at the University of Prince Edward Island and is made up of representatives from Memorial, UPEI, the PEI medical community, and broader community.

Steering Committee
Leadership Committee
Curriculum Committee
Planetary Health Committee
Distributed Medical Education Committee
Facilities Committee and Related Small Working Groups
Student Assessment and Program Evaluation Sub-Committee
Faculty Development/Continuing Professional Development Sub-Committee
Admissions Sub-Committee
Research and Graduate Studies Sub-Committee
Financial/Operations Sub-Committee
Learner Well-Being and Success Sub-Committee
Postgraduate Sub-Committee
Faculty Affairs Sub-Committee
Information Technology Sub-Committee
Community Engagement and External Relations Working Group

Steering Committee

  • Dr. Margaret Steele, Dean of Medicine, Memorial University; Co-Chair
  • Dr. Greg Keefe, President and Vice-Chancellor (Interim), UPEI; Co-Chair
  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

UPEI

  • Dr. Greg Naterer, Vice-President Academic and Research, UPEI
  • Ms. Jackie Podger, Vice-President Administration and Finance, UPEI
  • Dr. John VanLeeuwen, Interim Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UPEI
  • Dr. Geraldine Johnston, Member, Board of Governors, UPEI
  • Ms. Lisa Thibeau, Deputy Minister, PEI Department of Health and Wellness
  • Dr. Michael Gardam, CEO, Health PEI
  • Ms. Ann Partridge, PEI Department of Education and Lifelong Learning
  • Mr. Darren Chaisson, Capital Projects Lead, UPEI
  • Dr. Laurie McDuffee, Professor of Large Animal Surgery, Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI; Director of Human and Animal Health Collaborations
  • Dr. Trevor Jain, Director of UPEI Paramedicine; Director of Clinical Programs, UPEI
  • Dr. Christina Murray, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing
  • Ms. Marilyn Barrett, Director, UPEI Health and Wellness Centre
  • Ms. Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, Executive Director of Development and Alumni Engagement and Government Relations, UPEI
  • Ms. Nicole Phillips, Director of Communications and University Relations, UPEI

Memorial

  • Dr. Taryn Hearn, Associate Dean, UGME, Memorial University
  • Mr. Paul Tucker, Chief Operating Officer, Memorial University
  • Dr. Reza Tabrizchi, Vice Dean, RGS, Memorial University
  • Dr. Brenda Wilson, Associate Dean, CHH, Memorial University
  • Dr. Michael Grant, Associate Dean, BMS, Memorial University
  • Dr. Danielle O’Keefe, Chair, Discipline of Family Medicine, Memorial University              
  • Dr. Sohaib Al-Asaaed, Associate Dean, PGME, Memorial University
  • Dr. Kara Laing, Chair, Discipline of Oncology, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Council Member, Memorial University
  • Dr. Andrew Hunt, Assistant Dean, Distributed Medical Education, Memorial University
  • Ms. Danielle Younker (Class of 2024), Undergraduate PEI Learner Representative, Memorial University
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Members at Large

  • Dr. Herb Dickieson, Retired Rural Physician
  • Dr. David Bannon, Retired Rural Physician
  • Dr. William Montelpare, Professor, Margaret and Wallace McCain Chair in Human Development and Health, Faculty of Science/Faculty of Nursing
  • Dr. George Carruthers, CEO, College of Physicians and Surgeons PEI
  • Vacant, Medical Society of PEI
  • Dr. Colin McMillan, Retired Cardiologist
  • Dr. Ron Whalen, Family Doctor – Emergency Medicine

Legal Counsel

  • Mr. Murray Murphy, Stewart McKelvey, UPEI Legal Counsel
  • Ms. Raelene Lee, Associate General Counsel, Memorial

Leadership Committee

Dr. Cathy Vardy, Chair; Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

UPEI Representatives

  • Dr. Greg Keefe, President and Vice-Chancellor (Interim)
  • Dr. Greg Naterer, Vice-President Academic and Research
  • Ms. Jackie Podger, Vice-President Administration and Finance
  • Ms. Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, Executive Director of Development and Alumni Engagement and Government Relations

Memorial Representatives

  • Dr. Margaret Steele, Dean, Faculty of Medicine
  • Mr. Paul Tucker, Chief Operating Officer
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager 
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Curriculum Committee

Dr. Cathy Vardy, Chair; Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Memorial Representatives

  • Dr. Alison Haynes, Undergraduate Curriculum Lead
  • Dr. Andrew Hunt, Assistant Dean, Distributed Medical Education
  • Dr. Taryn Hearn, Associate Dean, UGME
  • Mr. Brian Kerr, Curriculum & Accreditation Advisor
  • Mr. David Stokes, HSIMS Instructional Designer
  • Mr. Steve Pennell, Manager, Health Education Technology & Learning
  • Ms. Janet Bangma, Interim Dean of Libraries
  • Dr. Julia Trahey, Director of Centre for Collaborative Health Professional Education
  • Mr. Adam Reid, Interprofessional Education Coordinator
  • Dr. Norah Duggan, Phase 4 Lead, Associate Professor, Discipline of Family Medicine
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

UPEI Representatives

  • Dr. Trevor Jain, Director of UPEI Paramedicine; Director of Clinical Programs
  • Dr. Laurie McDuffee, Professor of Large Animal Surgery, AVC; Director of Human and Animal Health Collaborations
  • Dr. William Montelpare, Professor, Margaret and Wallace McCain Chair in Human Development and Health, Faculty of Science/Faculty of Nursing
  • Ms. Jackie Podger, Vice-President Administration and Finance
  • Mr. Dana Sanderson, Chief Information Officer, IT Systems and Services
  • Mr. Blair Vessey, Associate Chief Information Officer, IT Systems and Services
  • Ms. Kim Mears, Health Sciences and Scholarly Communications Librarian, Robertson Library
  • Dr. Peter MacPherson, Consultant Pediatrician, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
  • Dr. Jason Doiron, Associate Professor, Director of Clinical Training, Doctor of Psychology program, UPEI
  • Dr. Jenn Altman, Assistant Professor of Psychology
  • Mr. Darren Chaisson, Capital Projects Lead, UPEI
  • Dr. David Bannon, Retired Rural Physician

Planetary Health Committee

  • Dr. Bill Montelpare, Co-Chair; Professor, Margaret and Wallace McCain Chair in Human Development and Health, Faculty of Science /Faculty of Nursing, UPEI
  • Dr. Laurie McDuffee, Co-Chair; Professor of Large Animal Surgery, AVC, UPEI; Director of Human and Animal Health Collaborations
  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI
  • Dr. Atanu Sarkar, Community Health & Humanities, Memorial
  • Dr. Delphine Grynszpan, Assistant Professor in Public Health, CHH, Memorial
  • Dr. Ken Kao, Professor of Oncology, Memorial
  • Dr. Megan Jones, Assistant Professor, AVC Pathology and Microbiology; UPEI
  • Dr. John Vanleeuwen, Interim Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UPEI
  • Dr. Jason Doiron, Director of Clinical Training, Doctor of Psychology program, UPEI
  • Dr. Alyson Campbell, Assistant Professor, Nursing
  • Dr. Aitazaz Farooque, Interim Associate Dean, School of Climate Change and Adaptation
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Distributed Medical Education Committee

  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Chair; Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI
  • Dr. Andrew Hunt, Assistant Dean, Distributed Medical Education, Memorial
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Facilities Committee and Small Working Groups

  • Ms. Jackie Podger, Co-Chair; Vice-President Administration and Finance, UPEI
  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Co-Chair; Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI
  • Dr. Sohaib Al-Asaaed, Associate Dean, PGME, Memorial
  • Ms. Janet Bangma, Interim Dean of Libraries, Memorial
  • Ms. Marilyn Barrett, Director, UPEI Health and Wellness Centre
  • Ms. Lisa Breen, Admissions Officer, Memorial
  • Mr. Darren Chaisson, Capital Projects Lead, UPEI
  • Mr. Derek Brennan, Principal, Architects 4
  • Mr. Doug Burton, IT Systems and Services, UPEI
  • Dr. Patricia Cousins, Manager of Medical Laboratories, Memorial
  • Dr. Sue Dawson, Professor of Anatomy; Chair, Biomedical Sciences; Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI
  • Dr. Jason Doiron, Associate Professor, Director of Clinical Training, Doctor of Psychology program, UPEI
  • Dr. Shannon Curtis, Family Physician, PEI
  • Dr. Charles Duffy, Acting QEH Medical Director, Health PEI
  • Dr. Norah Duggan, Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Memorial
  • Mr. John Greenan, Senior Electrical Design Engineer, Richardson Associates Ltd.
  • Ms. Alison Haynes, Undergraduate Curriculum Lead, Memorial
  • Mr. Fred Horrelt, Associate Vice-President, Facilities Management and Construction, UPEI
  • Dr. Andrew Hunt, Assistant Dean, Distributed Medical Education, Memorial
  • Dr. Trevor Jain, Director of UPEI Paramedicine, Director of Clinical Programs
  • Mr. Phillip Jefferson, Architect, PEI Department of Health and Wellness
  • Ms. Paulette Jones, Facilities Coordinator, Memorial
  • Ms. Tara Judson, Comptroller, UPEI
  • Dr. Michelle Levy, Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Clinical Medical Director, Memorial
  • Dr. Jo-Ann MacDonald, Interim Dean, Faculty of Nursing, UPEI
  • Ms. Maureen MacInnis Wheatley, Learning Resource Centre Coordinator, Faculty of Nursing, UPEI
  • Mr. Alan Maynard, Director of Public Works and Planning, PEI Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Dr. Laurie McDuffee, Professor of Large Animal Surgery, AVC, UPEI; Director of Human and Animal Health Collaborations, UPEI Faculty of Medicine
  • Dr. Kathy McNally, Chief Medical Officer, Medical Affairs, Health PEI
  • Ms. Kim Mears, Health Sciences and Scholarly Communications Librarian, Robertson Library, UPEI
  • Mr. Donald Moses, University Librarian, UPEI
  • Dr. Tammy Muirhead, Associate Professor of Anatomy, Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI
  • Ms. Tammie Muise, Clinical Nursing Instructor, Faculty of Nursing, UPEI
  • Ms. Paula Mullins, Manager of Operations, CLSC, Memorial
  • Dr. Danielle O’Keefe, Chair, Discipline of Family Medicine, Memorial
  • Mr. Sean O’Neill, Director of HSIMS, Memorial
  • Mr. Steve Pennell, Manager, Health Education Technology and Learning, Memorial
  • Ms. Jill Purcell, Office Coordinator, Learner Wellbeing and Success, Memorial
  • Dr. Greg Radu, Associate Dean, Learner Wellbeing and Success, Memorial
  • Ms. Liz Rostant, Manager of Health, Safety, and Environment, UPEI
  • Mr. Dana Sanderson, Chief Information Officer, IT Systems and Services, UPEI
  • Ms. Donna Sutton, Associate Vice-President of Students and Registrar, UPEI
  • Mr. Paul Tucker, Chief Operating Officer, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial
  • Mr. Blair Vessey, Associate Chief Information Officer, IT Systems and Services, UPEI
  • Dr. Mary Wells, Medical Director, CLSC, Memorial
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager 
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Student Assessment and Program Evaluation Sub-Committee

  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Chair; Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI
  • Dr. Laurie McDuffee, Professor of Large Animal Surgery, AVC, UPEI; Director of Human and Animal Health Collaborations
  • Dr. Vernon Curran, Associate Dean, OPED, Memorial
  • Dr. Heidi Coombs, Education Specialist/Program Evaluation, Memorial
  • Dr. Alan Goodridge, Chair, Undergraduate Program Evaluation Committee, Memorial
  • Ms. Katrin Zipperlen, Student Assessment Sub-Committee Representative, Memorial
  • Dr. Tess Miller, Professor, Interim Dean, Faculty of Education, UPEI
  • Dr. Aleisha Murnaghan, Emergency Medicine Physician, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
  • Mr. Steve Pennell, Manager, Health Education Technology and Learning, Memorial
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Faculty Development/Continuing Professional Development Sub-Committee

  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Chair; Executive Director, Medical Program Development, UPEI
  • Dr. Trevor Jain, Director of UPEI Paramedicine; Director of Clinical Programs
  • Dr. Laurie McDuffee, Professor of Large Animal Surgery, AVC, UPEI; Director of Human and Animal Health Collaborations
  • Dr. Vernon Curran, Associate Dean, OPED, Memorial
  • Ms. Cindy Whitton, Manager of Operations, OPED, Memorial
  • Dr. Patrice Drake, Assistant Professor, Nursing, UPEI
  • Dr. Patrick Burns, Associate Professor, Companion Animals, AVC
  • Dr. Garth Slysz, Hospitalist, PEI
  • Dr. Kamran Khan, Staff Anaesthesiologist, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
  • Ms. Heather Mullen, Health Policy Analyst, College of Family Physicians of Canada
  • Ms. Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, Executive Director, Development and Alumni Engagement, UPEI
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Admissions Sub-Committee

  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Chair; Executive Director, Medical Program Development, UPEI
  • Dr. Barton Thiessen, Assistant Dean, Admissions, Memorial
  • Ms. Lisa Breen, Admissions Officer, Memorial
  • Dr. Anne Marie Carey, Professor, AVC Academic and Student Affairs, UPEI
  • Dr. Gary Evans, Interim Dean, Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies, UPEI
  • Ms. Donna Sutton, Associate Vice-President Student Affairs and Registrar, UPEI
  • Mr. Jeff MacLean, Manager, Enrolment Services, UPEI
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Research and Graduate Studies Sub-Committee

  • Dr. Laurie McDuffee, Co-Chair; Professor of Large Animal Surgery, AVC, UPEI; Director of Human and Animal Health Collaborations
  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Co-Chair; Executive Director, Medical Program Development, UPEI
  • Dr. Reza Tabrizchi, Vice Dean, RGS, Memorial
  • Dr. Diana DeCarvelho, Professor, Division of Community Health & Humanities, Memorial
  • Dr. Laurie Twells, Assistant Dean, Clinical Research, Memorial   
  • Dr. Ann Dorward, Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies, Memorial
  • Dr. Rabin Bissessur, Associate Vice-President of Research, Dean of Graduate Studies, UPEI
  • Dr. Larry Hammell, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, AVC
  • Dr. Xander Wang, Associate Professor, School of Climate Change and Adaptation, UPEI
  • Dr. Nadja Bressan, Associate Professor, Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, UPEI
  • Dr. Aaron Sibley, Associate Director, UPEI Paramedicine
  • Dr. Craig Moore, Associate Professor of Neuroimmunology, Memorial
  • Dr. Bill Montelpare, Professor and Margaret and Wallace McCain Chair in Human Development and Health
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Financial/Operations Sub-Committee

  • Ms. Jackie Podger, Co-Chair, Vice-President Administration and Finance, UPEI
  • Mr. Paul Tucker, Co-Chair, Chief Operating Officer, Memorial
  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI
  • Mr. Sean O’Neill, Director of HSIMS, Memorial
  • Mr. Tony Martin, Manager of Finance, Memorial
  • Ms. Janet Norman, Manager of Human Resources, Memorial
  • Ms. Tracey Pittman, Manager of Academic Affairs, Memorial
  • Dr. Laurie McDuffee, Professor of Large Animal Surgery, AVC, UPEI; Director of Human and Animal Health Collaborations, UPEI Faculty of Medicine
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI 

Learner Well-Being and Success Sub-Committee

  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Chair; Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI
  • Dr. Greg Radu, Associate Dean, Learner Wellbeing and Success, Memorial
  • Ms. Jill Purcell, Office Coordinator, Learner Wellbeing and Success, Memorial
  • Dr. Laurie McDuffee, Professor of Large Animal Surgery, AVC, UPEI; Director of Human and Animal Health Collaborations, UPEI Faculty of Medicine
  • Mr. Darren Chaisson, Capital Projects Lead, UPEI
  • Ms. Sarah Roach, Manager, Student Recruitment, UPEI
  • Ms. Anne Bartlett, Director of Student Services, UPEI
  • Dr. Tammy Muirhead, Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences; Director of Student Wellbeing, AVC, UPEI
  • Dr. David Bannon, Rural Family Physician
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Postgraduate Sub-Committee

  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Chair; Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI
  • Dr. Sohaib Al-Asaaed, Associate Dean, PGME, Memorial
  • Ms. Tracy O’Brien, PGME Coordinator, Memorial
  • Dr. Danielle O’Keefe, Chair, Discipline of Family Medicine, Memorial
  • Dr. Laurie McDuffee, Professor of Large Animal Surgery, AVC, UPEI; Director of Human and Animal Health Collaborations, UPEI Faculty of Medicine
  • Dr. Trevor Jain, Director of UPEI Paramedicine; Director of Clinical Programs, UPEI Faculty of Medicine
  • Mr. Darren Chaisson, Capital Projects Lead, UPEI
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Faculty Affairs Sub-Committee

  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Chair; Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Information Technology Sub-Committee

  • Mr. Dana Sanderon, Co-Chair; Chief Information Officer, UPEI
  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Co-Chair; Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI
  • Mr. Sean O’Neill, Director, HSIMS, Memorial
  • Mr. Steve Pennell, Manager, Health Education Technology and Learning, Memorial
  • Mr. David Stokes, HSIMS Instructional Designer, Memorial
  • Mr. Donald Moses, University Librarian, UPEI
  • Mr. Blair Vessey, Associate Chief Information Officer, UPEI
  • Mr. Doug Burton, Manager, Info Systems, UPEI
  • Mr. Leigh McIsaac, Manager, Solution Development and Deployment, UPEI
  • Ms. Kelly Dawson, Project Manager, IT Systems and Services, UPEI
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI

Community Engagement and External Relations Working Group

  • Dr. Cathy Vardy, Chair; Executive Director, Medical Program Development, UPEI
  • Ms. Corinne Chappell, Advisor to the Vice-President Academic and Research on Indigenous Affairs, UPEI
  • Dr. Trevor Jain, Director of UPEI Paramedicine; Director of Clinical Programs
  • Mr. John Horrelt, business owner and philanthropist, representing the broader community
  • Dr. Dylana Arsenault, Health PEI
  • Ms. Heather Mullen, Health Policy and Government Relations, Atlantic Chapter Support, College of Family Physicians of Prince Edward Island
  • Mr. Darren Chaisson, Capital Projects Lead, UPEI
  • Ms. Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, Executive Director of Development and Alumni Engagement and Government Relations, UPEI
  • Ms. Nicole Phillips, Director of Communications and University Relations, UPEI
  • Ms. Heather Mullen, Health Policy and Government Relations, Atlantic Chapter Support
  • Dr. Vernon Curran, Associate Dean, OPED, Memorial
  • Dr. Danielle O’Keefe, Chair, Discipline of Family Medicine, Memorial
  • Dr. Andrew Hunt, Assistant Dean, Distributed Medical Education, Memorial
  • Ms. Virginia Middleton, Senior Communications Advisor, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial
  • Ms. Gerona McGrath, Project Manager
  • Ms. Joan Fillier, Assistant to the Executive Director, Medical Program Development for UPEI
Faculty of Medicine

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