Board of Directors

Allow us to introduce our current Board of Directors.

President

Tim Ralph, CCPA

Tim Ralph was born and raised in North Bay, Ontario. Tim joined the Canadian Forces as a Medical Technician in 1988 right after graduating from high school. After several postings and deployments as a Medical Technician, he was selected for the inaugural CMA accredited Physician Assistant (PA) Program. Tim graduated the PA program in 2004. From 2006 to 2007 he deployed as the Senior PA to Afghanistan where he was responsible for 82 medics and four other PAs. In 2008, Tim retired from the Canadian Forces to take a position at Brockville General Hospital in the Emergency Department. He continues to work in Brockville and recently completed his Masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies  (Emergency Medicine) through the University of Nebraska. Tim should be commended on his work with provincial governments and his dedication to the advancement of the PA profession.

Vice-President

Zlata Janicijevic, PA-C

Zlata has been a practicing PA for over 9 years. Zlata graduated with honors in 2002 from Barry University located in Miami Florida where she received the Presidents’ Award for outstanding service in academic and clinical achievement. In addition she made the Deans’ List for her grade
point average. Zlata began her PA career in the US were she took her first job in cardiovascular surgery. She then went on to work for a number of different medical centres and hospitals in the US where she focused on emergency medicine. Since then Zlata has returned to Canada, where she
is Lead PA for the Emergency Department at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre in Toronto. She is also the Director of Longitudinal Clinical Experience and a Clinical Lecturer in Physical Diagnosis and Lab Skills for the Consortium of PA Education. Zlata has been very active in promoting the PA profession in Ontario. She has been featured in a number of publications for her work as a PA and she is also a key informant for the PA Implementation Steering Committee in Ontario. Zlata since returning to Canada has shown a tremendous amount of dedication to progression of the PA profession.

Treasurer

Paul Haskins, CCPA

Bio to follow.
 

Secretary

Nicole Nordine, MMS, PA-C

Nicole began her education with an undergraduate degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry from the University of Victoria. Being interested in a medical career, she explored several options and was introduced to the concept of Physician Assistants (PA). It seemed ideal. At almost the same time, a job relocated her family to Arizona, giving her the opportunity to study to become a PA. In 2001, Nicole completed a Master of Medical Science degree in PA studies. She then worked for over 5 years in urgent care medicine. Nicole enjoyed working as a PA and was pleased to see how well the PA role fit within an interdisciplinary approach to medicine. Since moving to Kelowna, BC in 2007, she has been working in the field of education and is also eagerly promoting the PA profession as part of CAPA and a member of the Board of Directors.
 

Communications Director

Maureen Taylor, CCPA

Maureen Taylor is a graduate of the inaugural class of Physician Assistants at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She is presently a PA in one of Canada’s busiest Emergency Departments at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. Prior to her studies as a PA, Maureen was the
National Medical/Health Reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. A journalist for more than 25 years, Maureen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in 1983. She has worked as a reporter, producer, radio and television host at both the CBC and TVOntario, where she helped launch a half-hour weekly program devoted to medical and health issues. At The National, Maureen was the lead reporter on many important medical news stories, including SARS, the controversy over HRT, and the listeria contamination of Maple Leaf Foods. Maureen is a two-time Gemini award nominee, and a 3-time winner of CMA/CNA awards for excellence in health reporting.

Past President

Ian W Jones, MPAS, CCPA, PA-C

Born in Winnipeg and raised in Edmonton, Ian’s roots are Canadian Prairie. He had the opportunity to serve three years in the Reserves and 17 years as a Firefighter-Paramedic before he became a Physician Assistant at the University of Washington MEDEX-NW PA program graduating in 1998. He has worked in Family and Emergency Medicine in the states of Washington and Alaska, in small villages, towns, and cities, before his current jobs in Neurosurgery and as Program Director at the University of Manitoba PA Education Program. Ian has earned a Paramedic Diploma, Public Administration Certificate, Bachelors of Clinical Health Services degree, and a Masters in PA Studies. In 2008 he was recruited as Vice-President of CAPA and in May of 2009 took on the role of National President.

Atlantic Chapter President

Mark McLennan, CCPA

Born in Peterborough, Ontario, Mark spent the bulk of his formative years in Hamilton, Ontario. Mark studied history and political science prior to joining the Canadian Forces in 1995 as a Medical Technician and was subsequently posted to 2 Fd Amb in Petawawa, Ontario.  After various postings and several deployments to the Balkans and Afghanistan, Mark was selected in 2007 for the CMA accredited Canadian Forces Physician Assistant Program.  Graduating in 2009, Mark was part of the inaugural degree granting programs in Canada receiving his Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska.  Currently Mark resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia providing clinical care to the personnel on the Canadian Forces Frigate HMCS Montreal. Mark is proud to be a PA and feels that recognizing the trust and responsibility placed on our profession by our patients and collaborative care-givers alike continuously emphasizes why there is no better profession.
 

Quebec Chapter President

Louis-François Robichaud, CCPA

Louis-François was born and raised in Quebec City, Quebec. Upon completing secondary school, he enrolled in the Canadian Forces. Louis-François began his military career in 1987 studying at the Canadian Forces Language School. There he had the opportunity to finesse his English language skills and was fluently bilingual by the completion of his program. Louis-François then embarked on his training to become a medical technician and served at Canadian Forces Base St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Valcartier and Montréal. After having served almost 20 years as a medical technician, he was selected to enroll in the Canadian Forces Physician Assistant Education program at the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre in Borden, Ontario. In 2007, Louis-François graduated and was posted to CFB Esquimalt, British Columbia and then subsequently to CFB Borden, Ontario and CFB Bagotville, Quebec.
 

Over the past 24 years Louis-François has served on United Nations and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) missions in Croatia, Bosnia and Sierra-Leone. He is currently working at CFB Bagotville, Quebec where he is the clinic Warrant Officer and practices as a Physician Assistant. He is also enrolled in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program with the University of Nebraska.

 

Louis-François is the Quebec Chapter President for the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants. He is extremely dedicated to advancing the Physician Assistant profession in Quebec and throughout the rest of Canada. He is a strong advocate for improving patient care and has been instrumental in educating the Quebec population on the potential benefits that the Physician Assistant profession can have on Canadians.

Ontario Chapter President

Ron Andersen, CCPA

Originally from Red Deer, Alberta Ron joined the Canadian Forces in 1990 as a Medical Assistant, then renamed Medical Technician. He has spent the majority of his career in CFB Petawawa where he was deployed on a variety of missions.  From Petawawa Ron went onto the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre Physician Assistant (PA) program in 2007 and graduated in 2009. Ron has also been awarded a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska.  Since that time, he has been working in the Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Ottawa) and greatly enjoys the variety of patients that the National Capital Region offers.
 

Prairie Chapter President

Allen Szabon, MPAS, CCPA

Allen was born in Belleville Ontario. His father was employed by the Canadian military so Allen and his family had the opportunity to live in various parts of the country.  After much time travelling, Allen’s family finally settled in Chilliwack, British Columbia (BC) where he graduated high school. Following his father’s footsteps, Allen joined the Canadian Forces (CF) in 1986. He spent the first eight years of his career with the CF as a Combat Engineer stationed in Chilliwack, BC and Lahr, Germany. In 1994, he completed his training as a Medical Technician. Allen has spent the majority of his career in CFB Petawawa and CFB Edmonton and has been deployed on a variety of missions including: Cyprus, Yugoslavia, Rwanda and the Golan Heights.  In 2005, Allen enrolled in the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre’s Physician Assistant (PA) program. He graduated in 2007 and then moved to his current location in Edmonton, Alberta. Since 2007, Allen has been deployed three times to Afghanistan. He has recently completed his master’s degree in Physician’s Assistant studies from the University of Nebraska.  Allen is happily married and has three children. Allen is devoted to the Physician Assistant profession and is committed to advancing the PA agenda in Canada.

Pacific Chapter President

John McDougall, CCPA

John McDougall was born in Beaverton, Ontario in 1966 and joined the military in 1989 as a Medical Assistant, later renamed Medical Technician. He has been posted to Wainwright, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Borden and is currently posted to Victoria. Throughout his career he has been deployed to Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone as well as being involved domestically in the ice storms in Quebec and numerous G8 summits. While posted to bases in Alberta he worked with local EMS services, the longest stint being 8 years with Edmonton’s EMS. In 2008 he graduated from the Canadian Forces Medical Services School’s Physician Assistant (PA) program and was posted to HMCS Algonquin for 2 years. He is currently employed as a PA in the urgent care clinic at the base clinic in Esquimalt. He has taken specialty courses in Medical Air Evacuation and Advanced Dive Medicine. John is currently completing his Masters in PA studies (trauma and emergency medicine) through the University of Nebraska.

Surgeon General Representative

Steve Goupil

Chief Warrant Officer Stephan Goupil was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1963. At the age of 4, he moved to a dairy farm in the Eastern Townships, where he spent the rest of his youth. In 1981, after graduating secondary school in Drummondville, he joined the Canadian Forces (CF). He completed his basic training at Cornwallis in Nova Scotia. From there, he was transferred to the Medical Services School at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) located in Borden, Ontario where he completed his training to be a military medic.

Through the course of his career Stephen has been posted in Petawawa, Ontario, St-Hubert, Quebec,Valcartier, Quebec and Winnipeg. Stephen has served on deployed to Cyprus, Somalia, and Germany where he worked as a military medic providing medical care to both civilian and CF’s personnel.

In March 2000 Stephen completed is Physician Assistant course with the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Center located in Borden, Ontario. Upon the successful completion of his Physician Assistant Training, Stephen was deployed to Bosnia, Kabul as a Physician Assistant.

In 2008, he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from UQAM. Stephen is currently serving as RSM as Canadian Forces Medical Branch Chief Warrant Officer and is the Canadian Forces CAPA representative.

Canadian Forces Representative

Kirsten Luomala, CCPA

Kirsten was born and raised Vancouver, British Columbia. Kirsten joined the Canadian Forces in 1987 as a Medical Assistant. Through the course of her career, she has worked in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, Edmonton, Alberta, Gagetown, New Brunswick and is currently stationed at the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) in Borden, Ontario. Kirsten has served in Haiti with the United Nations in 1995, Afghanistan in 2002 and in Canada’s Arctic in 2011 and 2012. In 2007 she was selected to attend the Physician Assistant program at the Canadian Forces Health Service Training Centre located in CFB Borden and graduated in 2009 among the inaugural Canadian class to receive the Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant studies from the University of Nebraska. Currently Kirsten is an instructor for the Canadian Forces Physician Assistant Program.

Student Representative

Erin Sephton

Erin was born and raised in the Maritimes, where she attended St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. After completing her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology in 2008, Erin then worked as a Primary Care Paramedic in Halifax and Bridgewater Nova Scotia for three years. In 2011, she began her studies at McMaster University where she is currently in the process of completing her Bachelor of Health Science degree specializing in Physician Assistant Studies. Erin is very passionate about improving access to health care for Canadians and feels that she can make a positive contribution by becoming a physician assistant.
 

For more information on their roles and responsibilities, we encourage you to consult our bylaws.