Speakers

Speakers

CBOM Pre-Conference

Tyler-AmellTyler Amell

Dr. Tyler Amell is a widely known and recognized thought leader on the topic of workplace health and productivity. His energetic and thought provoking speaking style always contributes to a great conference experience. When he is not speaking at events around the world, he is a trusted advisor to organizations, including health technology vendors, insurers and employers on strategic and integrated workplace health and productivity, absence and leave management, STD, LTD, occupational rehabilitation, disability management and disability prevention, workers’ compensation, mental health, musculoskeletal health, chronic disease, wellbeing programs, medical assessment and health and safety.

Dr. Amell is a Partner at the human resources consulting and services firm Morneau Shepell. He also serves on the Executive Board of Directors of the Canadian Association for Research on Work and Health, the Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI) and is the past CEO of a Human Resources Technology Company, and Vice President of Canada’s largest independent Healthcare and Rehabilitation company.

Dr. Amell has recently contributed to events and publications of the Conference Board of Canada, the Integrated Benefits Institute, the Disability Management Employers Coalition (DMEC), Schedule 2 Employers Group, the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP), and the Occupational and Environmental Medical Association of Canada (OEMAC).

Tyler holds a Doctorate in Rehabilitation Medicine from the University of Alberta, a MSc in Rehabilitation Medicine from Queen’s University and a BSc from the University of Ottawa.

Dr. Amell has given seminars and presentations at well over 125 national and international events. He is a former instructor at Queen’s University, the Universities of Alberta, Calgary and Ottawa. He is currently on faculty at the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences.


Aquaeno-EkanemAquaeno Ekanem

Aquaeno Ekanem is an Edmonton, Alberta-based Family and Occupational Physician.
He is licensed to practice medicine in the Province of Alberta, and registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta. He is a Certified Independent Medical Examiner, Certified by Canadian Board of Occupational Medicine and a Canadian Board-Certified Family Physician. He is a Certificant of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and a Director/ Member of Board of Governors of the Canadian Board of Occupational Medicine. He is also a Fellow of The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He is also a currently a Board Member/Director of the Occupational and Environmental Association of Canada.

He practices out of Londondale Medical Clinic in Edmonton, Alberta. He engages in Occupational Medical Practice, consulting for several Lawyers and Insurance Companies, has a thriving Independent Medical Practice, Consult for companies on Part-time basis.


David-EliasDavid Elias

Dr. David Elias holds degrees in Pharmacy and Medicine from Dalhousie University. He is certified in Emergency Medicine by the Canadian College of Family Physicians and has practised in Occupational Medicine and Disability Management for over fifteen years. Dr. Elias is a Certificant in the Canadian Board of Occupational Medicine (CCBOM) and is an ABIME Certified Independent Medical Examiner (CIME). Dr. Elias is an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University.

Dr. Elias’ expertise in disability management developed through clinical assessment, program and policy development, and research in occupational medicine, including identification of best practices in medical management of work absences. Dr. Elias’ research is conducted within his roles as President and CEO of Canadian Health Solutions (CHS) and Moncton MRI (MMRI), founding member and Director of Health & Life Science New Brunswick (HLSNB), founder and Chairman of the Canadian Imaging Research Centre, Inc. (CIRC), and founder and President of Phoenix Recovery Centres Inc.

Through his pharmacy background, Dr. Elias has developed a variety of medication management programs. His current areas of interest include opioids and medical cannabis evaluations.

Dr. Elias is the founder and chairman of the Canadian Concussion Institute (CCI), which is dedicated to improving clinical outcomes of mTBI (concussions) through research leading to evidence-based standards for the assessment and management of mTBI.


Douglas Hamm

Dr. Hamm is a specialist in occupational medicine with a long standing interest in developing occupational medicine expertise among family physicians. He is a director of the Canadian Board of Occupational Medicine. He is a co-director of the Foundation Course in Occupational Medicine for BC Family Physicians, now in its fifth cycle. He serves on the executive committee of the occupational medicine Communities of Practice group of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.


Itua-IriogbeItua Iriogbe

Dr Itua Godson Iriogbe completed his Master’s degree and Fellowship in Family Medicine from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Health (Occupational and Environmental Health) from Tulane University, Louisiana. Itua is Board certified in Family Medicine and Occupational Medicine in Canada. He is also a Certified Independent Medical Examiner through the ABIME. He is a Fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (FACOEM).

Dr. Iriogbe is based in Alberta and works from Smith Clinic, Camrose as a Family Physician and as the Director of the Occupational Injury Services (OIS); he sees clients at the Millard Health Center, Edmonton, where he manages WCB patients. He also conducts IMEs and consultancy services for various third parties. He has made both oral and poster presentations on Occupational Medicine at several conferences.

Dr. Iriogbe is a Director of the Occupational and Environmental Medical Association of Canada; Director of OIS services at the Smith Clinic and a Board Member of the Membership committee of the Alberta College of Family Physicians. He enjoys outdoor activities and watching soccer-particularly his team Manchester City (The Cityzens).


Shane-JourneayShane Journeay

Shane Journeay, PhD, MD, MPH, FRCPC is presently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at University of Toronto.  He is a specialist in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in Canada (FRCPC) and the USA (DABPMR). He is also Board Certified in Occupational Medicine and is a graduate of both the Harvard Occupational & Environmental Residency program and the Harvard School of Public Health.  He is originally from Nova Scotia and obtained his MD from Dalhousie Medical School. Prior to medical school, Shane received B.Sc and Master’s degrees from the University of Ottawa, where he investigated the effects exercise and heat stress on cardiovascular physiology. He subsequently completed a PhD in Toxicology with a focus on nanotechnology at the University of Saskatchewan. He has represented Canada at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France, where he received a Diploma in Space Studies. Shane was also chosen by the Canadian Space Agency to complete an aerospace medicine rotation at the NASA Johnson Space Center. In 2017, he was a selected as a finalist in the Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Recruitment Campaign.  He has over 30 peer reviewed publications and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology.


Adrienne-LindbladAdrienne Lindblad

Dr. Adrienne Lindblad completed her pharmacy degree from the University of Saskatchewan, her hospital pharmacy residency in Halifax, and her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Toronto. In her current role as Knowledge Translation and Evidence Coordinator for the Alberta College of Family Physicians, Adrienne is involved with a variety of educational initiatives for primary care, including the popular Tools for Practice program. She is also an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta and has won numerous awards, including the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists’ “Teaching, Learning and Education Award” and the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s “Continuing Professional Development Program Award”. She is passionate about evidence-based medicine and translating evidence into practice.


Melody-MladineoMelody Mladineo

Melody Mladineo is the Regional Director at WorkSafeNB responsible for directing compensation, rehabilitation and accident prevention programs and operations.

She began her career in 1990 and served in various roles as an internal auditor, senior case manager, regional director and currently on assignment to represent and present WorkSafeNB claim adjudication decisions to the Workers Compensation Appeals Tribunal of New Brunswick. She also represents WorkSafeNB at the Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada as committee member for the Interjurisdictional Agreement.

In her current assignment Melody defends claim adjudication decision rendered under the New Brunswick Workers’ Compensation Act by demonstrating compliance with the legal tests and weighing of evidence, including medical evidence.

Melody holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Mount Allison University, Diploma in Disability Management from Dalhousie University and is completing her Master’s in Public Administration through Dalhousie University. She holds Certificates in Tribunal Administrative Justice™ for Advocate and Tribunal Member through the Foundation of Administrative Justice.

Melody is married with 2 teenage girls, coaches volleyball, enjoys hiking, skiing, cooking and just being outdoors.


Alfredo-TuraAlfredo Tura

Dr. Alfredo Tura is a family physician and the Lead Faculty and Site Director of the UBC IMG St Paul’s Family Residency Program in Vancouver, BC. Dr. Tura is a Clinical Associate Professor at UBC as well as a resident teacher and OSCE trainer/examiner. He acts as a Medical Advisor with WorkSafeBC.

Dr. Tura’s special interests include occupational and environmental medicine in primary care. He is the family physician lead/facilitator for the Foundation Course for occupational medicine in family practice in BC. He is also a member with the Comox Valley Division of Family Practice and chair of the Emergency preparedness committee. In his spare time, Dr. Tura enjoys sailing and playing soccer.


OEMAC Main Conference

Jonathan Davids

Dr. Davids received his MD from McMaster University and is Board certified in Family Medicine and Occupational Medicine with subspecialties in Sport and Exercise Medicine, and Diving & Hyperbaric Medicine.

He has been practicing Occupational Medicine for over 20 years working as a Medical Officer with the Canadian Forces initially, and then as a Corporate Medical Advisor and Medical Director for organizations in policing, healthcare, retail and manufacturing industries, and learning and academia.

Dr. Davids is a certified Medical Review Officer for drug and alcohol testing in the workplace, and an experienced leader in policy development for substance use in the workplace, Workplace Mental Health and Psychological Health & Safety, determination of Fitness-for-duty, and development of Return-to-Work and Stay-at-Work programs for workplace accommodation due to medical reasons.


David-EliasDavid Elias

Dr. David Elias holds degrees in Pharmacy and Medicine from Dalhousie University. He is certified in Emergency Medicine by the Canadian College of Family Physicians and has practised in Occupational Medicine and Disability Management for over fifteen years. Dr. Elias is a Certificant in the Canadian Board of Occupational Medicine (CCBOM) and is an ABIME Certified Independent Medical Examiner (CIME). Dr. Elias is an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University.

Dr. Elias’ expertise in disability management developed through clinical assessment, program and policy development, and research in occupational medicine, including identification of best practices in medical management of work absences. Dr. Elias’ research is conducted within his roles as President and CEO of Canadian Health Solutions (CHS) and Moncton MRI (MMRI), founding member and Director of Health & Life Science New Brunswick (HLSNB), founder and Chairman of the Canadian Imaging Research Centre, Inc. (CIRC), and founder and President of Phoenix Recovery Centres Inc.

Through his pharmacy background, Dr. Elias has developed a variety of medication management programs. His current areas of interest include opioids and medical cannabis evaluations.

Dr. Elias is the founder and chairman of the Canadian Concussion Institute (CCI), which is dedicated to improving clinical outcomes of mTBI (concussions) through research leading to evidence-based standards for the assessment and management of mTBI.


Charl-ElsCharl Els

Dr. Charl Els is a psychiatrist, addiction specialist, and a Medical Review Officer. He completed two fellowships at the University of Toronto and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and he holds a specialized graduate diploma in Insurance Medicine and medico-legal expertise from University of Montreal. Dr. Els co-chairs the Occupational and Environmental Medical Association of Canada’s Guideline Committee. Dr. Els also serves on the University of Alberta’s Health Research Ethics Board and he is a Clinical Professor at the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Els is the author/ co-author of several publications, including in the Lancet and the Cochrane collaboration. He is the first Editor on a Health Canada funded textbook on tobacco control, currently in second edition. Dr. Els regularly conducts assessments on employees in a safety sensitive and decision-critical positions.


Xiangning-FanXiangning Fan

Dr. Xiangning Fan completed her undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Western Ontario, and her internal medicine residency and subspecialty fellowship in occupational medicine at the University of Alberta. Dr. Fan is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada in both internal medicine and occupational medicine. Her occupational medicine practice focuses on regulatory occupational medicine and workers’ compensation. Dr. Fan is currently Director of Medical Services at Alberta Labour, and has previously worked at the Public Service Occupational Health Program at Health Canada. She concurrently has a clinical practice within the workers’ compensation system.


Paul-FarnanPaul Farnan

Dr. Farnan has worked in the field of occupational medicine and addiction medicine for more than twenty-five years. As well as being a member of the Occupational and Environmental Medical Association of Canada, he is Board certified in Addiction Medicine and Family Practice. He is a Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia.

His consulting with employers and unions has involved developing and delivering programs to assist employees whose work is impacted by addiction and other substance use problems. He has assessed and provided treatment recommendations for thousands of individuals with addictive disorders, especially those involved in safety sensitive work. He has a particular interest in the interface between workplace safety and impairment at work as a result of prescription medication use, as well as illicit drug and cannabis use.


Howard-HamerHoward Hamer

Dr. Hamer is a trained and experienced physician in the field of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He achieved his Master of Science in Occupational Medicine from McGill University in 1999. Dr. Hamer closed his Family Practice in 2010 and then continued his Occupational Medicine practice full time. He now works for multiple affiliations throughout the Greater Toronto area. Dr. Hamer is a past president of OEMAC and worked on the OEMAC board for 14 years.


Cherie-Langlois-KlassenCherie Langlois-Klassen

Cherie Langlois-Klassen is a union-side labour lawyer. Having worked in private practice and after almost a decade with the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA), she now acts as counsel for the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) representing the Union and its members in labour disputes, professional misconduct proceedings, and at arbitration. Currently she sits as a Tribunal member of the Alberta Human Rights Commission and was also recently appointed as a Vice-Chair of the Alberta Mental Health Review Panel, both for three-year terms. She holds a five-year appointment as a Clinical Associate (Academic Colleague) in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. She is principal of Cherie Langlois-Klassen Professional Law Corporation, and her driving passion throughout her career has been the belief that we can (and should) create safer, more just, and healthier work environments. She is a frequent speaker in various forums on current issues in labour law, accommodating disability, and other rights related issues. Cherie holds a MSc. (Pharmacology) and an LL.B, both from the University of Alberta, and is currently enrolled in the Business Leadership Program for In-House Counsel at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.


Vern-LappiVernon Lappi

Vernon Lappi was the first graduate of the Occupational Medicine Residency at the University of Alberta. He was certified by the Canadian Board of Occupational Medicine (CBOM) in 1992. He has held occupational medicine positions in potash mining and brewing, and was a Health Services Officer (HSO) for the RCMP and an Occupational Health Medical Officer (OHMO) for Health Canada. He was the Director of Medical Services at WCB Alberta from 1999 to 2015. In 2012 he was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work with injured workers. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Alberta. His most recent publications concern silicosis and long term opioids. He is a Life Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.


Matt-LauzonMatt Lauzon

Dr. Lauzon was raised in Alberta and trained at both the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta. His first degree was in Environmental Science and he worked both overseas and in consulting before completing his medical degree at the University of Calgary. His Internal Medicine residency training was completed at the University of Calgary followed by subspecialty training in Occupational Medicine at the University of Alberta. He is recognized as a Specialist Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in both Internal Medicine and Occupational Medicine.

During training and since graduating he has acquired experience in a variety of settings and areas including engineering consulting, oil and gas, healthcare, occupational hygiene, audiology, ergonomics, construction, and rehabilitation centers. He also has a position in the department of General Internal Medicine at the new South Health Campus hospital in Calgary. When not working, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wonderful family.


Mathew-MilenMathew Milen

Mathew Milen is a registered Social Worker in good standing with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), as well as a qualified Substance Abuse Professional. He is an Adjunct Faculty Member with the Department of Psychiatry Nursing at MacEwan University in Edmonton, and is a Clinical Social Worker candidate with the ACSW. Apart from his psychotherapy practice, Mr. Milen regularly conducts independent as well as clinical assessments for individuals working in safety-sensitive and decision-critical positions. Mr. Milen also works as a Research Assistant in the Division of Preventative Medicine in the University of Alberta’s Department of Medicine.


Sidney-SiuSidney Siu

Dr. Siu is a qualified Medical Doctor and licensed to practice in the Province of Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Alberta and Saskatchewan. He is a Specialist in Occupational Medicine with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada and with the American Board of Preventative Medicine in the United States. He has been certified as an Independent Medical Examiner by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners and as a Certified Toxicologist by the American Board of Toxicology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the Canadian Board of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He is a Civil Aviation Medical Examiner and a Marine Medical Examiner by Transport Canada. He is also a Certified Industrial Hygienist by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, which qualifies him to review and assess occupational exposure including air-sampling results, and a fellow with the American Industrial Hygiene Association.

He provides service to industry, law enforcement agencies, compensation boards, universities, and hospitals. He is the past president of the OEMAC and has been involved with the planning Committee of the OEMAC Conference and the “Day in Occupational Medicine” at the Ontario Medical Association for many years. He is an adjunct professor at Western University and a tutor for the Foundation Course at the University of Alberta. In his free time, he acts as a Coroner for the Province of Ontario.


Chris-Stewart-PattersonChris Stewart-Patterson

Dr. Stewart-Patterson has provided occupational medical services to both employers and unions including the City of Vancouver, BC Government Occupational Health Programs, Health Canada’s Workplace Health, RCMP, BC Rail and Canadian Armed Forces among other organizations.

He specializes in fitness to work evaluations for safety critical/sensitive occupations such as fire, police, correction officers, sheriffs and railway personnel. He has instructed for both the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Occupational and Environmental Medical Association of Canada lecturing on assessment of disability in workers. He has clinical experience in general practice, emergency medicine, psychiatry and multidisciplinary pain programs. Dr. Stewart-Patterson is a CME course director of “Stress Management” for Harvard Medical School.


Sebastian-StraubeSebastian Straube

Sebastian Straube holds degrees in Medicine and Physiological Sciences from the University of Oxford (England) where he also did his DPhil (PhD). After clinical work and research at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals, Dr. Straube joined the Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine at the University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany. Here he completed his Habilitation (German postdoctoral qualification) and his postgraduate medical training in the specialties of Occupational Medicine and Social Medicine. Dr. Straube was an Extraordinary Professor at the University of Göttingen until he took up his current post as Associate Professor in the Division of Preventive Medicine of the University of Alberta’s Department of Medicine in 2014. He was appointed as Division Director for Preventive Medicine in 2016. Dr. Straube’s primary research interest is in evidence-based medicine (systematic reviews and meta-analyses).


Stephen-VaughanStephen Vaughan

Dr. Stephen Vaughan is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine at the University of Calgary based at the South Health Campus. He received his Medical Doctorate degree in 2007 from the Memorial University of Newfoundland followed by completing his Medical Residency in internal Medicine & Fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary. In 2012 completing a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at the University of Cayetano Heredia de Peruana in Lima, Peru resulting in a Certificate in Tropical Medicine from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

OEMAC - Occupational and Environmental Medical Association of Canada