Leadership
Our Leadership
The OCFP Leadership Team is made up of our board and committees with guiding support from the president and CEO.
Showing biography of Dr. Mekalai Kumanan .
Dr. Mekalai Kumanan has served the community of Cambridge, Ontario as a family physician with the Two Rivers Family Health Team since 2008.
She is the current Deputy Chief of Family and Community Medicine at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital. She has been an active leader with the Cambridge North Dumfries OHT, first as a Governance Co-Design Group Member and as a member of both the Primary Care Collaborative and the Steering Committee. Dr. Kumanan continues to serve in both her primary care and hospital capacities.
Dr. Kumanan grew up in Nova Scotia after immigrating to Canada at a young age. She completed her undergraduate degree, Masters of Health Administration, and her medical degree at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. She then completed her Family Medicine Residency at the University of Western Ontario in 2008.
A member of the OCFP Board since 2017, Dr. Kumanan is the first person of colour to serve as OCFP Presidents in the organization’s 68-year history. In this role, Dr. Kumanan will support the organization’s efforts to advocate for family physicians to ensure they thrive in the communities in which they serve. She brings an equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) lens to the position, in part informed by her experiences as a woman of colour — an underrepresented perspective in health leadership.
Showing biography of Leslie Greenberg .
Leslie has been a vital member of the OCFP team since 2017 – first, leading member engagement and public affairs initiatives and, more recently, focusing her efforts on policy development and advocacy. Throughout this time, she has worked tirelessly to ensure family doctors are better able to excel and thrive in their practices. From the early days of the pandemic, where she helped keep members apprised of evolving guidance and news, to her recent work with CPSO to ensure greater clarity around care transitions, Leslie is passionate about advancing solutions that will improve the professional lives of family doctors and the health of their patients.
Among her prior roles, Leslie was Director of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Strategy Implementation at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and a Vice-President of Health at a global communications company.
Showing biography of Dr. Jobin Varughese .
Dr. Jobin Varughese completed a Bachelor of Arts, Pre-Medicine program at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico, followed by medical school in the West Indies at Medical University of the Americas. He later completed a residency program and geriatric fellowship at William Beaumont Hospital in Michigan. Following his education, Dr. Varughese made his way to the Greater Toronto Area to begin working in complex care, rehabilitation, long-term care and family health team environments. Since 2011, he has offered his expertise to students, first through his affiliation with the University of Toronto and later at McMaster University. Dr. Varughese has been an OCFP Board Director since 2019. He has acted as a committee member with the College of Family Physicians of Canada, taking on Chair-Elect of the Section of Teachers. He has also offered his time to Pallium Canada as a scientific consultant, along with serving as an ambassador to the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care and as Chief Medical Officer of Currant Care. He also continues to work as a Comprehensive Family Physician at Queen Square Family Health Team in Brampton.
Members of the Board
Dr. Jennifer Bondy attended Queen’s University for her undergraduate studies, followed by Western University, where she received a master’s degree in epidemiology and biostatistics and completed medical school. Dr. Bondy received her Postgraduate Medical Training from McMaster University. Her clinical roles and experience include nearly a decade in family medicine as well as a dedication to providing medical services to people experiencing homelessness. Aside from clinical practice, Dr. Bondy dedicates time to teaching and research through her roles as an Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor at University of Windsor and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Western University, where she is the Academic Director of Undergraduate Family Medicine for the Windsor Campus. Finally, in addition to her role as a board member with the OCFP, Dr. Bondy lends her time and expertise to the eHealth Centre of Excellence in Kitchener as a physician advisor, and the Windsor shelter health initiative as the physician lead. Her former leadership positions include work with the Windsor-Essex OHT, Erie-St. Clair Primary Care Action Table of the COVID-19 Non-Hospital Pandemic Planning Committee, and the Amherstburg Family Health Team board of directors, among others. Currently, Dr. Bondy practices at CMHA Health Centre in Windsor and dedicates a half-day per week to both the Homelessness and Housing Help Hub and the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families in Windsor.
Dr. Jocelyn Charles graduated from the University of Western Ontario, completing both her undergraduate studies and medical school there. She completed her residency and an academic fellowship focused on health care for the elderly through the University of Toronto. More recently, she completed her master’s degree in health practitioner teacher education, also at the University of Toronto. Since 1990, Dr. Charles has been a dedicated, full-time family physician at the Sunnybrook Academic Family Health Team. Over the course of her impressive career, she has been tapped to take on several interim and permanent leadership roles at Sunnybrook, including Chief of the Department of Family & Community Medicine from 2011 to 2017 and Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee from 2017 to 2019. From 2011 to 2021, Dr. Charles was an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. As a sought-after leader, Dr. Charles has held numerous roles locally, provincially and nationally, including as Advisor for Primary Care for the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network, the Primary Care Co-Lead for the North Toronto Ontario Health Team, the Clinical Lead for North Toronto Health Link, and the Chair of the Ontario Primary Care Council. Currently, Dr. Charles is a Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto, holds a cross-appointment with the university’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and serves as the Medical Director and Program Chief at Sunnybrook’s Veterans Program. She also continues her comprehensive family practice work with an added focus on care of the elderly.
Mr. David Courtemanche brings 25 years of senior administrative experience in the health and municipal sectors. He is the founding Director of the City of Lakes Family Health Team – an organization of 18 family physicians and interprofessional healthcare professionals providing primary care services to over 22,000 patients. He served in public office for almost a decade and, at 39 years old, became the youngest elected Mayor in the history of Sudbury. During that period, he served on the local Board of Health and led multiple community health initiatives including the Healthy Communities Strategy and the adoption of a 100% Smoke-free Bylaw.
A graduate of the University of Guelph, he majored in Political Studies and holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership. He has completed executive training at the York University Schulich School of Executive Development and Royal Roads University in Victoria, B.C. He is LEADS Canada certified as well as a certified LEADS Canada Coach and has achieved the Canadian Health Executive (CHE) designation under the Canadian College of Health Leaders. As President of Leading Minds – a management consultant firm specializing in leadership development for individuals, organizations and communities- he has served numerous clients including Health Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University’s Continuing Education and Professional Development office.
Dr. Patricia Froese is in her first five years of practice providing comprehensive family medicine in Kitchener-Waterloo. She is currently in a Family Health Organization and will be moving to an academic Family Health Team. Beyond working in an office-based setting, she is a newborn hospitalist and works in long-term care facilities. Dr. Froese has had many opportunities to be involved in committees, including in leadership roles. She was a committee member of the Professional Association of Residents of Ontario (PARO) and successfully completed the PARO Leadership Program. She is a current member of the KW4 Ontario Health Team’s Primary Care Communications Group and editor of the team’s newsletter. As well, Dr. Froese is an Assistant Clinical Professor with McMaster University and enjoys teaching and mentoring medical students and residents.
Dr. Michael Gagnon completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto before attending medical school at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, followed by residency at Abington Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania. Dr. Gagnon has practised family medicine at Bolton Family Health Organization since 2007.In addition to his clinical responsibilities, he is an active preceptor for rural family medicine residents. Since 2012, Dr. Gagnon has offered his leadership to Bethell Hospice as the Medical Director, with responsibility for policy and procedure program development. Further to his passion for caring for those at the end of life, Dr. Gagnon has been a LEAP Facilitator, teaching Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative and End of Life Care. His teaching responsibilities also include his position as a Lecturer in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and he has published both practice guides and research on specific clinical areas. Dr. Gagnon has been a dedicated board member with OCFP since 2020, was the Medical Lead for the Central West Palliative Care Network from 2014 to 2018 and has participated extensively in the leadership of the Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario Health Team, along with the completion of multiple international medical missions over the course of his career. Today, Dr Gagnon continues in his family practice while also holding responsibilities as a family medicine staff member at Headwaters Health Care Centre.
Dr. Allen Greenwood attended the University of Western Ontario for his undergraduate studies in physiology and philosophy, followed by Simon Fraser University, where he completed a Master of Business Administration, and Queen’s University for medical school. Dr. Greenwood completed his family medicine residency through the University of Toronto along with a fellowship at the university in emergency medicine for rural Ontario family doctors. His clinical roles and experience include: urgent care and emergency room medicine, comprehensive family medicine in rural Ontario, surgical assist. More recently, he helped combat the pandemic as a staff member in the COVID outpatient programs of both Trillium Health Partners and Women’s College Hospital. Dr. Greenwood has been a dedicated member of the OCFP board since 2020 and joined the board of Mississauga Health Primary Care Network in the spring of 2022.
Dr. Doug Gruner completed both his undergraduate studies and medical school at McMaster University in Hamilton and selected McGill University for his residency program. Additionally, in 2008, he became a fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. With more than 25 years of clinical work to his credit, Dr. Gruner began his career as an emergency room physician and lent his services to several communities in Northern Ontario, prior to permanently setting roots in the Ottawa area. In Eastern Ontario, he has continued to work in emergency medicine and has split his time with family medicine and teaching at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Gruner has published nearly a dozen research papers, contributed to a number of textbooks, made regular conference presentations and been the recipient of tens of thousands of dollars in grants while dedicating significant time to important international health work. Over the course of his career, Dr. Gruner has given back to his community through leadership and advocacy efforts, largely dedicated to ensuring the health of newcomers and refugees, including his three-year term as Director of Global Health at the University of Ottawa. Today, Dr. Gruner continues in his academic post as an Associate Professor in the University of Ottawa’s Department of Family Medicine while seeing patients at his practice at Bruyère Family Medicine Centre in Ottawa.
Mr. Steven Lewis completed his undergraduate degree at University of Ottawa and went on to attain his Juris Doctor at University of Windsor before being called to the bar of Ontario in 2013. Following his education and articling, Steven began his career as a judicial clerk at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice before taking his first health-focused role at Cancer Care Ontario as Legal Counsel and Accessibility Advisor. Outside of his legal work, Steven has lent his talents to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. as their Online Education Manager. In addition to his work with OCFP, Steven volunteers with several organizations including, Rugby Canada, International Association of Accessibility Professionals, and Human Resources Professionals Association. Currently, Steven is Senior Legal Counsel and Accessibility Lead at Capital One Bank (Canada).
Dr. Taylor Lougheed completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph before moving on to Queen’s University to complete both his medical degree and a Master of Science in Healthcare Quality. He completed his family medicine residency at the University of Toronto and additional training in emergency medicine at the University of Ottawa. Over the course of his career, Dr. Lougheed has practiced emergency medicine, sports medicine, family medicine and has previously served on the Ontario Consent and Capacity Board. He currently holds academic appointments at the University of Ottawa, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and Queen’s University, and has been a clinical supervisor at The Ottawa Hospital, CHEO, and the North Bay Regional Health Centre. Dr. Lougheed has been asked to make dozens of presentations and has published several manuscripts, many of which focus on the use of cannabis in medical practice. In addition to his board responsibilities with the OCFP, Dr. Lougheed also serves with the Children’s Aid Society of the District of North Bay and Parry Sound, North Bay Physicians Local Education Group, CAEP Antiracism and Anticolonialism Committee and many others. Dr. Lougheed lives and works in North Bay where he practices sports medicine at SportMed+, emergency medicine at North Bay Regional Health Centre, is a locum for family practice in North Bay, acts as a Director of Global Health at University of Ottawa Department of Family Medicine, and a Co-Director at uOttawa-Guyana Family Medicine Training Program.
Dr. Kim McIntosh completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Western Ontario and medical school at McMaster University, followed by the Rural Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Toronto and in Orillia. Since completing her formal education, Dr. McIntosh has provided comprehensive primary care in a community practice including 10 years in emergency medicine, 20 years of obstetrical care, ongoing in-patient and community comprehensive care and teaching through several universities’ Faculty of Medicine appointments. Dr. McIntosh was formerly the OCFP’s successful nominee to the Provincial Primary Care Advisory Table, the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN Couchiching Sub-Region Lead and the Chief of Family Medicine at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH). Presently, Dr. McIntosh serves her community as a comprehensive care family physician, as the Physician Lead for the Couchiching Ontario Health Team (COHT), as OSMH Program Medical Director – Medicine, Flow, Integrated Care, Covid Response, and as a board member of the Couchiching Family Health Team.
Mr. Abhi Mukherjee CPA, CA is a Bachelor of Commerce undergraduate from the University of Calcutta. He is a Chartered Accountant from India and has also received a CPA designation in Colorado and a CPA, CA designation in Ontario. Mr. Mukherjee offers more than 25 years’ of senior leadership experience in the private sector and health sector with organizations including The Ottawa Hospital, Northumberland Hills Hospital and the University Health Network. Currently Mr. Mukherjee serves as the Corporate Services Executive and CFO of the London Health Sciences Centre . In addition to his service as a board member with the OCFP, Mr. Mukherjee has experience in several governance roles with many organizations, including the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust, UHN Digital & eHealth Ontario Governance Council and the Central East Ontario Hospital Cluster for the implementation of an advanced electronic health record system. He also serves on the President’s Advisory Council of the Oak Valley Health System (previously Markham Stouffville Hospital).
Dr. Ilan Shahin completed his undergraduate degree at McGill University, remaining at the institution to complete a concurrent medical degree and Master of Business Administration. Following his studies at McGill, he made his way to the University of Toronto for his residency. After the completion of his formal education, Dr. Shahin accepted a position as a Health Innovation Fellow at Women’s College Hospital, forming part of an internal incubator for projects within the hospital system. Continuing along the path of innovation, Dr. Shahin co-founded ConsultLoop, an e-referral platform and wait time directory. From a research perspective, Dr. Shahin was a founding member of Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute’s Toronto Health Organization Performance Evaluation, where he co-authored several academic publications as well as a book. Dr. Shahin has been a committed board member with OCFP since 2021 and is currently an emergency department staff physician at William Osler Health System.
The Board of Directors governs the OCFP on behalf of its more than 15,000 members and provides strategic leadership and direction to the OCFP's staff to help realize the organization’s vision, mission and strategic plan.
Officers of the Board
Dr. Mekalai Kumanan attended Dalhousie University for her undergraduate studies, Master of Health Administration degree and medical school before completing her residency at the University of Western Ontario. Since 2008, Dr. Kumanan has served the community of Cambridge, Ontario as a family physician with Two Rivers Family Health Team. In addition to her dedication to the OCFP as a board member since 2016, including the last two years as President-Elect, Dr. Kumanan is the current Deputy Chief of Family and Community Medicine at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital. She has been an active leader with the Cambridge North Dumfries Ontario Health Team, first as a Governance Co-Design Group Member and as a member of both the Primary Care Collaborative and the Steering Committee. Dr. Kumanan continues to serve in both her primary care and hospital capacities. On September 29, 2022, Dr. Kumanan became the 64th President of the Ontario College of Family Physicians. She and is also the first person of colour to hold this role.
Dr. Jobin Varughese completed a Bachelor of Arts, Pre-Medicine program at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico, followed by medical school in the West Indies at Medical University of the Americas. He later completed a residency program and geriatric fellowship at William Beaumont Hospital in Michigan. Following his education, Dr. Varughese made his way to the Greater Toronto Area to begin working in complex care, rehabilitation, long-term care and family health team environments. Since 2011, he has offered his expertise to students, first through his affiliation with the University of Toronto and later at McMaster University. Dr. Varughese has been an OCFP Board Director since 2019. He has acted as a committee member with the College of Family Physicians of Canada, taking on Chair-Elect of the Section of Teachers. He has also offered his time to Pallium Canada as a scientific consultant, along with serving as an ambassador to the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care and as Chief Medical Officer of Currant Care. He also continues to work as a Comprehensive Family Physician at Queen Square Family Health Team in Brampton.
Dr. Eric Wong studied at the University of Toronto, completing a Bachelor of Science before attending medical school and completing his residency at the University of Western Ontario. He later completed a Master of Clinical Science (Family Medicine). Dr. Wong has practiced family medicine for more than 17 years in both fee- for- service and Family Health Group environments. He has held various academic appointments over the course of his career, including his current role as Faculty Development Director at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University. Dr. Wong brings strong leadership and governance skills to the board. His involvement in various care settings, such as offices, hospitals, patients’ homes and long-term care, along with his role as a Medical Director of the Thames Valley Family Health Team, provides him with a broad perspective of how local conditions influence health care provision. He has served in several leadership capacities with the College of Family Physicians of Canada including Director, Certification and Examinations and Regional Representative, Residency Accreditation Committee. He was also a board member of the OCFP from 2013-2015. He currently practises comprehensive family medicine in London and works with vulnerable populations, primarily those who are home-bound or institutionalized, and serves as the medical director of four local retirement and long-term care homes.