Councillors

Council Chair

Nicole Cardinal is a First Nation physician currently practising in her community of Saddle Lake Cree Nation and St. Paul. She shares a common goal with CPSA: to provide safe care and protect all Albertans. She hopes her work on Council will improve or advocate for safe health care for Alberta’s Indigenous peoples.

Full biography coming soon.

• Medical degree from the University of Alberta
• Residency in Family Medicine from McGill University
• Has worked in rural, urban and inner-city practices
• Assistant Clinic Professor in the University of Alberta Department of Family Medicine
• Member of the Governance Advisory Committee of the Alberta College of Family Physicians

Dr. Oladele is practising in Edmonton in general family practice and at an opioid dependency treatment site. Away from work, he and his wife (a nurse) chase around their two young children.

• Medical degree from the University of Calgary.
• CCFP/Family Medicine training at the University of Ottawa, plus one extra year of Emergency Medicine training in Calgary.
• Chief of Emergency Medicine at the Foothills Medical Centre since 2018.
• Involved in the Cumming School of Medicine, acting as course chair on a few occasions, and leading the development of an undergraduate procedural skills program.
• Active committee work at the medical school, and was Director of Admissions from 2008-2019.
• Developed and led the Pathways to Medicine Program – a pipeline program for undergraduate students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Dr. Walker currently practises in emergency at the Rockyview General Hospital and Foothills Medical Centre. He also hold degrees in philosophy and religious studies.

• Clinical Professor, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (ORL-HNS), Department of Surgery, University of Alberta.
• Fellowship assessor of the Academy of Medical Educators (FAcadMEd), U.K.
• Senior Fellow in Advanced Higher Education (SFHEA), U.K.
• Current Guest Editor at Frontiers Education and  reviewer for Medical Science Educator and other high impact medical education journals.
• Member of Education, Research & Scholarship, and Annual conference committees; International Team-Based Learning Collaborative (TBLC) Education, U.S.A.
• Surgery representative on the Clinical Promotion and Faculty Development Committees, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta.
• Served on different provincial and international strategic planning committees.
• Served as a grant adjudicator for Alberta Innovates and other granting organizations.
• Former Director of Undergraduate Education and Quality Improvement ORL, Former member of Human Research Ethics Board (HREB) and Competency Committee; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry University of Alberta.
• Member of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), U.S.A.
• Higher Education Teaching Certificate, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA, 2023.
• Certificate of Patient’s Safety Quality Management (PSQM) in health care, University of Calgary, 2019.
• Holds Medical Degree, Masters and MD PhD from Egypt and a Fellowship from the U.S.A.

Dr. Gomaa is an international consultant of QI in Medical Education and was the senior author on a collaborative nation-wide document analysis for quality assurance in Canadian Higher Education.

• International Medical Graduate with a lived perspective to the cultural and professional challenges of healthcare integration. To remain effective in a complex and evolving system, he has pursued advanced training in Strategic Leadership, International Health, Health Economics and Pharmacoeconomics, and AI in Healthcare and Business strategy. He is currently enrolled in the University of Toronto Leadership in Healthcare Program, reflecting his ongoing commitment to continuous learning and system transformation.
• Served in rural, sub-rural, and urban environments in Alberta. As Community Medical Director in Smoky Lake, he expanded services for seniors and improved emergency operations. His Fort Saskatchewan practice earned the 2024 Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association Community Outreach Award, recognizing his commitment to accessible, patient-centered care.
• As Chair and President of the Sherwood Park Primary Care Network, he guided the organization through strategic renewal during and after the COVID-19 pandemic—establishing a Quality and Evaluation Committee and leading initiatives that earned the organization the 2022 Sherwood Park County Excellence Award.
• Fatokun has contributed extensively to governance and reform within the Edmonton Zone Primary Care Network Committee, serving on the Implementation, Governance and HR, and Chair of Finance and Audit Committees, and later as Interim Physician Lead Executive (PLE). In this capacity, he collaborated with peers province-wide to shape the strategic framework for the transition to Regional Health PCNs (RHPCNs), strengthening integrated primary care for Albertans.
• A committed mentor and advocate, Dr. Fatokun continues to support International Medical Graduates pursuing practice or residency in Alberta—advancing inclusion, leadership development, and excellence within the profession.

Dr. Johnson (Olumide) Fatokun, MD, MIH, MMed, MSc, MCFP, is a Family Physician and health systems leader with over 30 years of clinical and administrative experience, spanning Canada and multiple international contexts. His 15 years of service with organizations such as the Red Cross and the U.S. Peace Corps shaped his deep understanding of public and community health, crisis response, and global health systems governance.

• Earned a medical degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
• Completed Family Medicine residency training in the United Kingdom along the English coast.
• Currently practices Family Medicine in inner-city Edmonton.
• Awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of General Practitioners (UK) for significant contributions to general practice and leadership.
• Serves as a reviewer for InnovAiT, the UK Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)’s peer-reviewed educational journal for GP trainees/ Family Medicine Residents and early-career doctors.
• Clinical Lecturer at the University of Alberta.
• Board Member of the Edmonton Youth Orchestra and Chair of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
• Former PLAB Examiner for the UK General Medical Council.
• Served as a GP Trainer and GP Training Programme Director in the United Kingdom.
• Experienced public speaker with a focus on diversity in medical leadership, cultural competence and the intersection of art and medicine.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Anyabolu is passionate about the arts, especially painting, and enjoys reading, spending time in nature and powerlifting. Her art has been exhibited internationally and can be viewed on her online portfolio.

• Specialist in Family Medicine with CCFP Certification
• Associate Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at University of Alberta
• IMG Co-Director for Family Medicine Residency Training Program at University of Alberta
• Medical Director of PrimeCare Clinic of Terwillegar, Edmonton
• Fellow, West African College of Surgeons in Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Worked as an Obstetrician and Gynecologist outside Canada
• Previous Chair, Regional Transfusion Committee, Kelsey Trail Health Region, SK
• Deputy Editor, CANPAD Medical Journal
• International Editor, Tropical Journal of Medical Research
• Past Editor-in-Chief, Afrimedic Journal and Past Associate Editor, Nigerian Journal of Medicine
• Postgraduate Certificate in Health Professions Education.

• Medical degree from McMaster University
• Master of Public Health in Public Health Leadership, University of Alberta
• Combined residency in Public Health and Preventive Medicine and Family Medicine at the University of Alberta
• Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Preventive Medicine
• Practices family medicine in Edmonton and with the Virtual MD team at 811 HealthLink
• Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, with an adjunct appointment in the Division of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Alberta
• Former Edmonton Zone Medical Officer of Health and Medical Informatics Lead for Population and Public Health
• Worked as a Family Physician/Senior Instructor with the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado

Doris is a family physician and a specialist in Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Outside of medicine she enjoys bike rides and playing badminton with her husband and three children.

• Mechanical Engineer with a Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management.
• Presently the General Manager of Operation Services at Sherritt International.
• Responsible for supply chain management, project management, loss prevention (health, safety, environment & security), sustainability and operational excellence.
• Leader of corporate transformation in governance, structural design, mergers & acquisitions, implementing enterprise systems, and developing and enhancing talent.
• Previously held senior-level corporate roles at Enbridge Inc., Suncor Energy, Petro-Canada and Royal Dutch Shell.
• Active community member. Has served as Director on the board of Supply Chain Canada (Alberta) and the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS). He also sits on the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology program committee.
• Awarded Fellow of Supply Chain Canada in 2018, and premier Supply Chain Executive of the Year in Alberta in 2017.

• Finance instructor with NAIT for the past 17 years.
• Past board experience includes serving on Alberta College of Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technologists, Emmanuel Seniors Living, NAIT, Calvin University, World Renew and Creekside Villas Condominium.
• Holds an MBA degree from the University of Alberta and has instructed undergraduate and/or MBA courses at NAIT, Royal Roads University, Cape Breton University and University of Alberta.

• Long history of public service including significant experience with health policy at the local, provincial and federal level.
• Nearly 20 years of service on the Whitecourt-Fox Creek Hospital Board and Aspen Regional Health Authority.
• 2000 – 2014 served as the Federal Representative (Member of Parliament).
• 2000 – 2006 served as Senior Health Critic and chaired the House of Commons Health Standing Committee.
• During time in Parliament, also chaired the Standing Committee of Finance and International Trade.
• Appointed to Cabinet in 2008 as Minister of State Transport and Infrastructure.
• Served on the Treasury Board of Canada and was a member of the Board of Internal Economy (governing Body of the House of Commons).
• 2012 was given a mandate by Prime Minister Harper to engage the United States Congress on issues relevant to the Canadian interests.
• After 14 years in Parliament, was appointed as Alberta’s Representative in Washington, DC.

Merrifield was raised on a dairy farm outside of Whitecourt, Alberta.  After meeting his wife Brenda at College, he took over the family farm and has since passed the farm’s operations on to his son, Chad. However, he still finds time during the harvest season to hop on a combine and lend a hand. The Merrifields enjoy spending time with their two sons, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.

Member-at-Large, Executive

• Rhonda Charlene Laboucan is the Director General within the First Nations Inuit Health Branch Indigenous Services Canada for over 15 years.
• In January 2024, she entered a 1 year leave from the Government of Canada to be the Chief Executive Officer with Fort McKay First Nation in Treaty 8 territory.
• Holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Distinction from the University of Alberta in Native Studies.
• Former Band Administrator for her home community of the Woodland Cree First Nation as well served a term as Councillor and A/Chief for her home Nation.
• Rhonda is a former Police Commissioner Chair from the KeeTasKeeNow Police Service and formerly sat as a public member for the Peace Regional Health Authority.

• Has a CPA designation as well as an MBA
• Currently CFO of StructureCraft Builders Inc.
• Senior financial executive with 30 years of experience as a CFO primarily in mining and construction both domestically and internationally
• Extensive experience in strategic planning, information systems, treasury management and corporate governance
• Presently the board chair for Pilgrims Hospice Society, a non-profit organization in Edmonton that funded, constructed and operates the Roozen Family Hospice Center, the first stand-alone, residential hospice in Edmonton
• Previously served on the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s board of governors for six years including serving five years as chair of the Finance and Audit committee.

• Partner with EY in the Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) – Strategy and Transactions practice.
• 20 years of Corporate Finance and M&A experience.
• Office Managing Partner for EY’s Edmonton office.
• Specializes in sourcing deals and advising companies on transaction strategy, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and valuations.
• Focuses on providing advice to entrepreneurs, private and public companies, private equity groups and C-suite professionals.
• Past Board experience includes The Support Network, Not In My City, and Kids Up Front.
• Holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Concordia University of Edmonton.
• Registered Series 7 and 63 license holder and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member.

Yet to be appointed.

• Medical degree from the University of Calgary.
• Residency in Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology in Calgary.
• Pursued further research training in coronary physiology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School.
• Dean of Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary.
• Professor of Cardiac Sciences at the University of Calgary.
• Former Head of the Department of Cardiac Sciences.
• Former Director of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta.

Dr. Anderson’s current research interests include the treatment of dyslipidemia and generation of lipid guidelines, the evaluation of appropriateness in clinical care delivery and the assessment of vascular function in health and disease, particularly in women with microvascular angina.

• Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta.
• Originally trained as a nurse and went on to earn a PhD in Epidemiology from McGill University, followed by a medical degree from McMaster University and subspecialty training in internal medicine and nephrology from the University of Calgary.
• Practiced as a nephrologist and developed a highly-successful health services research program in chronic kidney disease.
• Has over 500 peer-reviewed publications and has received numerous awards over her career, including Fellowship in the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (2012).
• Held a variety of leadership roles including director and founder of the Alberta Kidney Disease Network and co-lead of the Interdisciplinary Chronic Disease Collaboration.
• Prior vice-chair of the Board of Directors for Alberta Health Services.

Dr. Hemmelgarn previously served as head of the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary and has significant board experience.

• PhD in Pediatrics from the University of Alberta.
• Currently in final year of Pediatrics residency at the University of Calgary.
• Incoming Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellow at the University of Calgary.
• Past President of the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta (PARA), with four years of executive leadership experience.

Tamara is dedicated to providing collaborative, patient-centered care for children and families in her community. She is passionate about medical leadership and has called Alberta home for over a decade. Outside of medicine, Tamara enjoys spending time at the park with her young family and dog—usually with a coffee in hand.

• Medical student at the University of Calgary.
• Elected provincial governance representative for the University of Calgary’s class of 2028.
• Bachelor of Science with Honours in Neuroscience from the University of Alberta.
• Previous experience as Health Policy Advisor in Alberta’s Ministry of Health, focusing on pharmaceutical policy and public drug programs.

Noam is dedicated to health advocacy and is grateful for the opportunity to amplify student voices as part of the CPSA. In his free time, Noam likes to hike, snowboard, see live music, and watch ice hockey.