Board of Directors

​

​

Dr. James Kim 

MBBCh, PgDip, MScCH, CPC(HC), General Practitioner with special interest in diabetes, migraine and metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Calgary, Alberta.
Dr. Kim is a lead editor for the Primary Care section of the Canadian Journal of Diabetes and a co-editor for Canadian Primary Care Today. Dr. Kim is also a member of the steering committee for Diabetes Canada’s Clinical Practice Guidelines and the lead author of the guidelines on Diabetes and MASLD in adults. He contributes to the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Guidelines and is a scientific committee member for Migraine Canada. He was invited to join the Global NASH Council as one of its first Canadian members, Dr. Kim is working on a project in Calgary and Prince Edward Island to reduce specialist wait times. He has also been recognized as a Certified Professional in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for his contributions to continuing medical education in Canada.

​​​​

​​

​​​​

Dr. Akshay Jain 

MD, FRCPC, FACE, CCD, ECNU, DABIM, DABOM, Endocrinologist, Surrey, British Columbia, Clinical Instructor in Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Columnist, Medscape Diabetes and Endocrinology

Dr. Akshay Jain is the first Canadian physician to be triple board-certified by the American Boards in Endocrinology, Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine. He is founding President of the Canadian Chapter of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. He has been a guidelines co-author for Diabetes Canada and Obesity Canada. He is passionate about medical education and has spoken at over 1000 CME events and is also a columnist for Medscape Diabetes and Endocrinology. He is the co-host of the “Care is Primary” podcast with Dr. James Kim. He has been involved in several clinical trials in the diabetes, obesity and dyslipidemia.

​

​

​​​​

Dr. Alice Y.Y. Cheng

MD, FRCPC, Endocrinologist at Trillium Health Partners and St Michaels’

Hospital and an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Cheng was involved with the development of the Diabetes Canada clinical practice guidelines from 2003 to 2020 and was Chair for the 2013 version. She served as Chair of the Scientific Planning Committee for the 2023 and 2024 American Diabetes Association annual scientific meetings and sits on the planning committee for EASD 2025 and IDF 2025. In addition, she is a co-host of the podcast series “Diabetes Care On Air” for the journal, Diabetes Care. In

recognition of her contribution to the diabetes community, she has received the Outstanding Physician-Clinician in Diabetes Award from the American Diabetes Association and the Charles H. Best Award and the Gerald S. Wong Service Award from Diabetes Canada. She is also the creator of The Med Ed Pledge – an initiative to increase Diversity & Inclusion in continuing medical education (www.theMedEdPledge.com) along with CMEX – a searchable database of health care professionals interested in contributing to medical education.

​​​

​​

​

Dr. Nazli Parast

RN, CDE, CBE, HC-CHM, BScN, MScN, Doctorate of Education, Clinical Nurse Specialist/Consultant, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary

Dr. Parast obtained her doctorate degree in Education with focus on diabetes health literacy. She is certified diabetes educator with master’s degree in nursing. She has advanced training in chronic disease prevention and management and treatment across lifespan specially in cardiometabolic disorders. She has strong interest in health promotion with regards to cardiovascular health and diabetes/prediabetes condition. She has been Diabetes and Heart Failure Clinical Consultant providing support to physicians, nurses and other health care providers. Her research interest is in improving healthcare providers’ knowledge and assessment of women’s heart health as well as improving diabetes management in women with respect to hormonal changes during their lifespan.​

​​