Speakers

Suzan Schneeweiss MD, MEd, FRCPC, CPC(HC)

Associate Dean Continuing Professional Development

Professor, Department of Paediatrics

Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Staff Physician, Division of Paediatric Emergency Medicine

The Hospital for Sick Children

Dr. Schneeweiss is a Professor of Paediatrics and Associate Dean of Continuing Professional Development in the Temerity Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. As Associate Dean of CPD, she promotes the academic mission of the largest CPD office in Canada. She is a staff physician and Director of Education for the Division of Paediatric Emergency Medicine at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

As an academic program director and conference chair for a variety of CPD programs and conferences, she has acquired a broad range of experience in the complexities of program development and has been extensively involved in teaching. Her academic clinical interests include paediatric procedural sedation and pain management.

Shaun morris MD, MPH, FRCPC

Staff Physician, Infectious Diseases

Clinician – Scientist, Division of Infectious Diseases

The Hospital for Sick Children

Associate Professor, University of Toronto

Shaun Morris is a Clinician-Scientist in the Division of Infectious Diseases, a Senior Scientist in Child Health Evaluative Sciences, and is the Co-Director of the Centre for Global Child Health at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). He is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics is cross appointed to the Division of Clinical Public Health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Dr. Morris completed his medical degree at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada, and his Master’s in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA. His clinical training in pediatrics and infectious diseases was at SickKids and his training in tropical medicine was at the Gorgas Memorial Institute in Peru.

Dr. Morris’ research portfolio has several complimentary areas of focus and is conducted in Canada and internationally. Major research pillars include reducing childhood mortality and morbidity from sepsis, COVID-19, and other infectious diseases, establishing burden and risk factors for severe infections in different populations and hosts, immunization, and tropical infections. Internationally, he has led randomized trials and other studies in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Kenya and he collaborates with researchers throughout Asia and Africa. Dr. Morris is Chair of the Paediatric Investigators Collaborative Network on Infections in Canada (PICNIC) and is the SickKids lead investigator for multiple national and international research and surveillance networks including IMPACT (vaccine preventable diseases), GeoSentinel (travel acquired infections) and the Special Immunization Clinic Network (vaccine safety and immunization in special hosts).

Deborah schonfeld MDCM, FRCPC

Staff Physician, Paediatric Emergency Medicine

The Hospital for Sick Children

Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto

Dr. Debbie Schonfeld is a staff physician in the division of pediatric emergency medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children, where she has worked since 2013. She is originally from Montreal and a graduate of McGill University. She completed a residency in General Paediatrics at New York University, followed by her fellowship in Paediatric Emergency Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. She also holds a certificate in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety from the University of Toronto. She is chair of the division’s Morbidity and Mortality committee and has a special interest in the recognition and management of pediatric sepsis. She also loves teaching and is very involved in trainee education from the undergraduate through podstgraduate level.

Jack brzezinski MD, PhD, FRCPC, FAAP 

Staff Physician, Division of Haematology & Oncology

The Hospital for Sick Children

Dr Jack Brzezinski is a staff oncologist at the Hospital for Sick Children and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. His clinical and research interests focus on improving care for children with renal tumors by identifying novel biological and clinical markers that allow for a precision medicine approach to therapy including early detection and mitigation of long term adverse outcomes of treatment. He also investigates the relationship between cancer predisposition syndromes and tumor behaviour particularly as it relates to renal tumors. He is a member of the renal tumor study committee within the Childrens’ Oncology Group and the co-PI on national and international registries for children with renal tumors.  

Dr Brzezinski attended medical school and completed paediatrics and paediatric haematology/oncology residency at the University of Toronto. He obtained his PhD at the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto.  

Krishna anchala MD, faap

Staff Physician, Paediatric Emergency Medicine

The Hospital for Sick Children

Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto

Dr. Krishnapriya (Krishna) Anchala is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and staff emergency physician at the Hospital for Sick Children.  In addition to providing clinical service in the pediatric emergency department, Dr. Anchala has led hospital wide patient safety initiatives and coordinated provincial mental health and trauma planning.  As SickKids’ pediatric emergency physician lead for community partnerships and alliances, Dr. Anchala collaborates with partners to improve pediatric emergency care throughout the Greater Toronto Area region. 

yaron finkelstein MD, FACMT, B.Sc. Med, ABCP Dip.

Staff Physician, Paediatric Emergency Medicine

Senior Scientist, Child Health Evaluative Sciences

The Hospital for Sick Children

Professor, Departments of Paediatrics and Pharmacology and Toxicology

Dr. Yaron Finkelstein is a Professor of Pediatrics, Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Toronto, and a Clinician-Investigator faculty at The Hospital for Sick Children. He is triple-trained in medical toxicology, paediatric clinical pharmacology and emergency medicine, and is an internationally renowned expert in paediatric drug safety and acute overdose. Dr. Finkelstein published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on epidemiology and clinical aspects of drug toxicity in children in acute care settings.

Jonathan Pirie MD, MEd, FRCPC, ABP (PEM)

Staff Physician, Paediatric Emergency Medicine

The Hospital for Sick Children

Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Pirie is a staff physician and medical educator in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Professor, University of Toronto. He is a medical educator and the Director of the PEM Simulation Program. His clinical interests are in the resuscitation of acutely ill or injured children and the management of febrile infants and children at risk for serious or invasive bacterial infection. His simulation interests include developing core curriculam for postgraduate training programs, in-situ team training, and competency-based simulation for trainees and faculty.

Adrienne Davis MD, MSc FRCPC

Staff Physician, Paediatric Emergency Medicine

The Hospital for Sick Children

Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Adrienne Davis is a staff physician and researcher in the division of paediatric emergency medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children. She completed her medical degree at Cornell Medical College followed by paediatrics residency at Mount Sinai in New York and a paediatric emergency medicine fellowship and research fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children. She completed an MSc in clinical epidemiology from McMaster University. She leads research education for SickKids residents and fellows and is Director of the SEARCH program: SickKids Emergency Assistants for Research In Child Health. Areas of research interest include neurologic emergencies, ocular point-of-care-ultrasound and injury prevention. 

Eduardo Gus MD

Staff Physician, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

The Hospital for Sick Children

Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Eduardo Gus is a staff surgeon at the Hospital for Sick Children, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. He completed his medical degree at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, and undertook General Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery specialty training in Brazil. Dr. Gus pursued fellowship training in adult and pediatric burns, pediatric plastic surgery, and breast reconstruction at the University of Toronto, which were followed by an appointment at the Victorian Adult Burns Service, in Melbourne, Australia. He returned to the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery in 2021, to join the Burn Program at the Hospital for Sick Children. 

Dr. Gus’ clinical practice interest encompasses acute and reconstructive burn surgery, complex wounds, scar management, laser therapy, skin lesions, and breast conditions in the pediatric population. His research interest centres on understanding burn epidemiology and delivery of burn care. Dr. Gus has contributed to multiple book chapters and peer-reviewed publications, is an active member of numerous burn associations, and is a peer-reviewer for scientific journals, in the field of pediatric burns”. 

Gabrielle Freire MDCM MHSc FRCPC

Staff Physician, Paediatric Emergency Medicine

The Hospital for Sick Children

Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Gabrielle Freire is a pediatric emergency physician at The Hospital for Sick Children and an Associate-Scientist Track Investigator at the Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning. She holds an assistant-professor position within the Department of Pediatrics and Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Freire completed her medical degree at McGill University, a Masters in Translational Research at the University of Toronto, and a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology from McMaster University. Her CIHR-funded research program is focused on improving Canadian pediatric injury care using principles of implementation science and knowledge translation.  

Katie Gardner MD, FRCPC

Staff Physician, Paediatric Emergency Medicine

IWK Health

Following medical school at Dalhousie University and Pediatrics residency at the University of Calgary, Dr. Katie Gardner joined the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at IWK Health in Halifax, NS, Canada first as a subspecialty resident in 2014 and subsequently as a staff physician in 2016. Dr. Gardner completed the Improvement Fellowship through the Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the University of Toronto in 2023 where she developed an interest in applying QI methods to environmental sustainability in the emergency department, focusing on prescribing practices in pediatric asthma. Her other QI interests include patient flow in the emergency department and resource stewardship. 

Kescha Kazmi MD, MPH, FRCPC, DTM&H

Staff Physician, Infectious Diseases

The Hospital for Sick Children

Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Kescha Kazmi is a Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist at the Hospital for Sick Children and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Kazmi obtained her medical degree at McMaster University in 2014, pediatrics residency training at Memorial University in 2017, infectious diseases fellowship at the University of Toronto in 2019, Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru in 2019, and Master of Public Health degree at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2021. Dr. Kazmi’s clinical and research interests include pediatric HIV and children’s travel medicine.  

miriam weinstein B.Sc., B.Sc.N., MD, FRCPC, FRCPC (Dermatology)

Staff Physician, Dermatology

The Hospital for Sick Children

Associate Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Weinstein received her BSc from the University of British Columbia, a BScN in nursing from the University of Toronto and her MD from Queen’s University.  She trained in Paediatrics and Dermatology at the University of Toronto receiving her FRCPC in both specialties.  She is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and a staff physician at Sick Kids Hospital. Dr. Weinstein’s enjoys the breadth of general paediatric dermatology but has particular clinical interests in atopic dermatitis, laser therapy, sun protection and skin cancer prevention.  She has developed and runs the dermatology laser program at Sick Kids and the co-developed the eczema educational program for patients.    

She is involved in educational administration and current commitments include chairing the Continuing Professional Development Awards Committee for the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.  She is a Section Editor for Pediatric Dermatology Journal. She chairs the Visiting Professorship Subcommittee of the Section of Dermatology for the AAP. She is on the editorial board of Pediatrics in Review. She has a passion for teaching and lectures extensively from the local to international level.  

Maya Harel-Sterling MDCM, FRCPC

Staff Physician, Paediatric Emergency Medicine

The Hospital for Sick Children

Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Maya Harel-Sterling is a Paediatric Emergency Medicine physician and Director of the Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Program at the Hospital for Sick Children. She graduated from McGill University Medical school, completed her Paediatrics residency, Paediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship, and POCUS fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children. She completed a Master’s Program in Health Practitioner Teacher Education through the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. She leads POCUS training initiatives for medical students, PEM residents and fellows, and is involved in medical education research, especially as it relates to competency setting and education in point-of-care ultrasound 

Suzanne Beno MD, FRCPC, DABP

Medical Co-Director, Trauma Program, Paediatric Emergency Medicine

The Hospital for Sick Children

Associate Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Suzanne Beno is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, and a Paediatric Emergency Medicine Specialist and Medical Co-Director for Trauma at The Hospital for Sick Children. She is the Chair of the Injury Prevention Committee for the Canadian Paediatric Society and liaison to the Council on Injury Violence Poison Prevention at the American Academy of Pediatrics.   Dr. Beno’s professional focus is the continuing advancement and improvement of both acute paediatric trauma care and injury prevention/control.   

Natasha collia MD

Board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine

The Hospital for Sick Children

Lead Trauma Educator

Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Collia is a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Doctor and Simulation Educator at the Hospital for Sick Children. When Dr. Collia isn’t working shifts in the ER, she can be found improving Pediatric Trauma management training, Pediatric procedural skills workshops and improving the educational experience of trainees rotating through the ER. Dr. Collia was recently awarded the Sick Kid’s President’s Award for her Parental outreach, advocacy and educational work that has expanded from the institutional level to social media, as a trusted go-to Public Figure for information on common pediatric illnesses. 

Neetika Gupta MBBS, MD

Royal College Sub Specialist Affiliate 

Staff Physician, Emergency Paediatric Radiology

The Hospital for Sick Children

Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Neetika Gupta is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and a Pediatric Emergency Radiologist at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa and a Pediatric Neuroradiologist and Nuclear Medicine physician at CHEO, Ottawa, after completing a pediatric radiology fellowship. She finished her residency at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, India. Dr. Gupta is actively involved in medical education and research, focusing on Emergency Pediatric Imaging, Pediatric Neuroimaging, Pediatric Nuclear Medicine, and Pediatric Postmortem Imaging. She has led various projects, publications, and presentations and received the International Recognition Award from the American Society of Neuroradiology in 2022. 

Yousef Etoom MD

Staff Physician, Paediatric Emergency Medicine

The Hospital for Sick Children

Staff Physician, Department of Paediatrics

Unity Health Center

Associate Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Etoom has a unique profile based on his qualifications, spending half of his time as a Paediatric Emergency Medicine academic clinician at SickKids and the other half as a community-based paediatrician and paediatric cardiologist working at two large community hospitals. Dr. Etoom has made significant contributions to post-graduate and undergraduate trainees, with evidence by his strong teaching skills and the impact of the innovative programs he has developed. In addition, he has excelled in his creative professional activities by developing new models of care and his publications, presentations, and grants.   

Rachel Poley MD

Staff Physician, Emergency Medicine

St. Micheal’s Hospital

Rachel Poley graduated from the FRCP Emergency Medicine program at Queen’s University in 2012. She completed a Resuscitation and Simulation fellowship during residency. For the past 12 years she has been practicing as an Emergency Physician and Trauma Team Leader at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. She is heavily involved in residency education and has been the ED Code Orange Physician Lead at St. Michael’s Hospital since 2018. 

Henry annan MD, MPP, FRCPC

PGY 5 Paediatric Emergency Medicine,

University of Toronto

Henry Annan is a PGY5 resident in paediatric emergency medicine and co-lead fellow at the University of Toronto. He completed his undergraduate medical degree and core paediatric residency training at Dalhousie University in Halifax. His interests include public policy, global health and how medical education may be used to advance these topics 

Sevag Tachejian MD, MPP, FRCPC

Paediatric Emergency Medicine Fellow

Department of Paediatrics

The Hospital for Sick Children

Dr. Tachejian is currently a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellow at the Hospital for Sick Children. After completing his medical school at the University of Montreal, Dr. Tachejian completed his pediatrics training at the CHU Sainte-Justine in Montreal, prior to joining the PEM division in Toronto. His main interest is academic teaching, focused on the integration of immerging technologies in medical curriculums.