Advisory Board
Our advisors contribute their expertise to guide PPME strategy and uncover innovative opportunities.​
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Dr Kapil Bhangirath BCs(Hon), MD, FRCP (C), FACC, FASE Cardiologist
Clinical Associate Professor in Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Fraser Health General Cardiology lead, Surrey, British Columbia
Dr Kapil Bhangirath is a Cardiologist from Surrey, BC, specializing in clinical hypertension and has received Advanced Echocardiography fellowship training from Mayo Clinic. He is also a current lead cardiologist for Fraser Health Authority, and a Clinical Assistant Professor at University of British Columbia. He has been involved with numerous trials, being Principal investigator in some of them. He has won many awards during
his medical training, and also as a cardiologist, where some of them were related to a medical education.
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Dr Shahebina Walji MD, CCFP
Family Physician with special interest in weight management, Calgary Weight Management Centre – Medical Director, Clinical Assistant Professor in Dept of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
Dr Shahebina Walji is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, and a Diplomate of American Board of Obesity Medicine. She is a medical director of Calgary Weight Management Centre, providing comprehensive, evidence-based care to the patients. She was previously Co-Chairperson for the Calgary Chapter of Obesity Canada, and is currently a Scientific Committee Member for the
national Obesity Canada organization. Dr. Walji is a co-author for the Primary Care Chapter of the Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines.
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Dr Farnaz Amoozegar MD, MSc, FRCPC
Neurologist with subspecialty in headache, Clinical Assistant Professor in Dept of Neurology, University of Calgary and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary Headache Assessment and Management Program, Calgary, Alberta
Dr. Amoozegar is a neurologist and clinical assistant professor at the University of Calgary. After completing her neurology residency, she returned to Calgary to complete subspecialty training in Headache and Facial Pain. Her interest in interest in clinical research led her to complete a Masters Degree in Clinical Epidemiology. Currently, Dr. Amoozegar practices as a neurologist and headache subspecialist at the University of
Calgary and the Calgary Headache Assessment and Management Program, while being heavily involved with numerous clinical trials.
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Dr Alan Kaplan MD, CCFP (EM)
Family Physician with special interest in respiratory and pain medicine, York Region, ON
Dr Alan Kaplan is an internationally renown family physician from York region, ON, with special interest in respirology medicine. He is the current chair of Family Physician Airway Group of Canada, and past chair of numerous national and international organizations and conferences. He has been a member of numerous advisory committee for the government organizations such as Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, and Health Quality Ontario. He is the sole author of the current Canadian
Sinusitis guidelines, and have contributed to national guidelines including asthma, COPD, and H. pylori.
Dr Rob Hauptman BMCs, MD, MCFP
Family Physician with special interest in respirology and pain medicine, St Albert, Alberta
Dr Rob Hauptman is a family physician from St Albert, Alberta, and a Clinical Assistant Professor in Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, who is a nationally recognized medical educator. He has served as a President of the Pain Society of Alberta, as well as Alberta Medical Association Section of Chronic Pain. He was a past chief of Sturgeon General Hospital in Department of Family Medicine. Currently, he serves as a Secretary Treasurer of the Family Medicine Airway Group of Canada.
Dr Hauptman has been very active in medical educations especially in the field of respiratory and chronic pain medicine.
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Rick Siemens BSc, Biol, CDE, CPT
Clinical Pharmacist with special interest in diabetes and travel medicine, Lethbridge, Alberta
Rick Siemens is clinical pharmacist with special interest in diabetes and travel medicine in Lethbridge, Alberta. Rick championed the expanded role of pharmacists through his work as the President of the Alberta College of Pharmacists in 2009 and he celebrated being among the first 15pharmacists in Canada to be granted additional prescribing authorization in 2007. Rick was awarded the Southern Alberta Health Professional of the Year by the CDA in 2007. He is the first pharmacist appointed to the Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines Steering committee and co-
authored chapter 9, Monitoring Glycemic Control, in the 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines.
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Sharon Parmar RNBN
Registered Nurse with special interest in diabetes, Calgary, Alberta
Sharon Parmar is a Registered Nurse working with Mosaic Primary Care Network as a chronic disease management nurse. Sharon’s background in nursing consists of a strong focus on primary health care, geriatrics, as well as mental health. Her biggest strength lies with educating and empowering the patients to take control of their health.
She is a member of the organizing committee for the annual 2020 Diabetes Canada Professional Conference.
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Dr Arjun Rash BSc, MD, MS, FRCP
Clinical Allergist and Immunologist, Calgary, Alberta
Dr Arjun Rash is a clinical allergist and immunologist in Calgary, Alberta. He received his medical degree from the University of Calgary, being a co-chief resident in Internal Medicine, and received his further fellowship training in Allergy& Immunology at McGill University. He has also received a Master’s degree from Georgetown University, Washington DC. Currently, he is working in an extremely busy practice and has been very active in medical educations for the primary care providers.