We are thrilled to present an incredible lineup of physician subject matter experts who will come together to share their knowledge and insights. This event promises a day of enriching learning experiences in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Dr. Beverley Essue
Associate Professor, Global Health Systems at Dalla Lana School of Public HealthBeverley Essue is an Associate Professor of Global Health Systems in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. She is a Faculty Research Fellow at the Rotman School of Management Institute of Gender and Economy. She holds a Visiting Scientist appointment at the Institute for the Advanced Study of the Americas, University of Miami and an Honorary Senior Fellow at the George Institute for Global Health, India.
She leads transdisciplinary research on the economics of global health systems equity. Her work focuses on strengthening financial risk protection, supporting effective and equitable priority setting and advancing equity, including gender equity, across diverse geographies. Her research tackles some of the most pressing issues facing global health and is conducted with a network of collaborators and partnerships across low-, middle- and high-income countries. She has led work for key global health initiatives including the Disease Control Priorities series and the Lancet Taskforce on Non-Communicable Diseases. She co-chairs the Scientific Advisory committee for the Lancet Commission on Gender Based Violence and Maltreatment of Young People and co-leads the Economics working group for this Commission. She is also a Commissioner on the Lancet Commission on Cancer and Health Systems and the Lancet Commission on Cancer as a Human Crisis. In 2020 she was recognized on the list of Canadian Women in Global Health for her scholarship and contributions to the field.
X handle: @beverleyessue
LinkedIn: beverleyessue
Dr. Marjorie Dixon
Founder/CEO of Anova Fertility and Reproductive Health- Fertility & Unique Challenges Faced Black and Racialized Patients
- Moderated Panel DIscussion: Navigating fertility challenges & high risk obstetrical care for Black and racialized people
Dr. Marjorie Dixon is an Obstetrics and Gynecology specialist with an Accredited Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. In 2016, Dr. Dixon founded Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health, the leading fertility and IVF center in Canada. As Founder, CEO, and Medical Director, she propelled Anova to the forefront of innovative reproductive care. She was honored to receive and be recognized with the Mathias Gysler Award in 2022 for improving access to reproductive care for all Canadians. In 2017, Dr. Dixon was recognized as the YMCA Woman of Distinction. She was also awarded with the Globe & Mail's Quantum Shift Class of 2019, RBC’s Canadian Women of Influence Momentum Award in 2018, the Top 100 Most Powerful Women 2023, the Compass Rose Entrepreneur award in 2024 and recently the Women of Inspiration award for excellence in Entrepreneurship, in 2024.
Dr. Dixon is recognized as an expert in her field and is a coveted speaker at both national and international conferences. She has also been featured in Time Magazine, Vanity Fair, Todays Parent, Flare, Chatelaine, The National Post, CTV News, CityTV News, The Financial Post, Post Magazine, Fertility and Sterility, Human Reproduction and is known for her monthly appearances live on Cityline, elevating the discussion about women's reproductive and fertility health.
Dr. Marjorie Dixon is a McGill University School of Medicine graduate, where she is on the Board of Directors for the Principal’s International Advisory. Dr. Dixon completed Obstetrics and Gynecology training at the University of Toronto and specialized in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Vermont, USA. She is a member of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, in the Division of Reproductive endocrinology and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Dixon’s transformative leadership in reproductive medicine has positioned her as a respected figure and standard of excellence within the industry.
Dr. Noor Ladhani
Obstetrician/Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre- Recognition & management of high risk pregnancies
- Moderated Panel DIscussion: Navigating fertility challenges & high risk obstetrical care for Black and racialized people
Dr. Noor Ladhani is a High Risk Obstetrician/Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She completed medical school at Western University, Ob/Gyn Residency and MFM Fellowship at the University of Toronto, and a Master’s in Public Heatlh at Harvard University. Her clinical and research areas of focus involve management of Medical Disorders of Pregnancy, including neurologic and haematologic conditions, and management of pregnancies delivering at periviability.
Dr. Ashley White
Weight Loss Specialist at The Shift Clinic- PCOS & Metabolic Syndrome
- Moderated Panel Discussion: Management of Menorrhagia, Anaemia & Metabolic Syndrome for Black and racialized people
Dr. Ashley White is a pioneering force in weight loss medicine. Certified in emergency and family medicine in Canada, and a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, Dr. White brings a wealth of diverse clinical experience, courage and creativity to her practice.
Dr. White spent the first five years of her medical practice in very rural Ontario, doing emergency, family, addictions, palliative, aesthetic and hospitalist medicine. For the past two years, she has focused on emergency medicine at Hamilton Health Sciences while refining her cutting-edge yet evidence-based approach to "weight loss the right way". She has coined several key concepts that resonate deeply with patients, including appetite literacy and regulation over restraint.
At Clarity Health Burlington, Dr. White collaborates with naturopathic doctors to offer patients a truly integrative approach to weight management and overall wellness. Her practice stands at the intersection of conventional and complementary medicine, body and mind, innovation and evidence, leveraging diverse medical philosophies to help patients heal, grow and thrive.
Believing that patients are their own best guides, Dr. White developed The Shift Program, a signature system of transformation available worldwide online. The Shift Program is a companion to course takers as they work with their own doctors and NPs to lose weight the right way. This 3-month Program elegantly solves the dual problem of public misinformation about obesity and lack of capacity in family medicine to help patients lose weight without losing their vitality.
Dr. White's unique ability to zoom in and out of cases, coupled with her passion for helping patients make sense of themselves, sets her apart. While she utilizes the common clinical pillars of weight loss, such as behaviour change, medications, surgery and nutrition, she coaches patients to see their own capacity for change in the direction of their values. Her work exemplifies the power of breaking down traditional medical silos, fostering collaboration across disciplines, and continuously evolving practice methods to better serve patients.
Dr. Michelle Sholzberg
Departmental Division Director of Hematology at University of Toronto- Menorrhagia & Anemia
- Moderated Panel Discussion: Management of Menorrhagia, Anaemia & Metabolic Syndrome for Black and racialized people
Dr. Michelle Sholzberg is an Adult Hematologist and Clinician Scientist with a focus on coagulation, iron deficiency and health equity. She is an Associate Professor and the Departmental Division Director of Hematology at the University of Toronto, and the Medical Director of the Coagulation Laboratory at St. Michael’s Hospital. She is also the Director of the Hematology-Oncology Clinical Research Group and Co-director of the Hematology-Immunology Translational Research Theme of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. Currently, she is involved in the study of prediction tools for perioperative and traumatic bleeding, the intersection of women’s health and bleeding disorders, treatments for iron deficiency anemia, and new treatments for immune thrombocytopenia.
Dr. Fahima Osman
Breast Surgical Oncologist at North York General HospitalDr. Fahima Osman is a Breast Surgical Oncologist at North York General Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. She earned her MD from McMaster University, followed by a General Surgery residency and Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship at the University of Toronto. Dr. Osman also holds a Master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, where she focused on health disparities in low- and middle-income countries and improving access to cancer care.
As a highly respected breast surgical oncologist, Dr. Osman has co-led her breast cancer program to numerous milestones, including being the only breast center in Canada accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).
Driven by her passion for digital health technology, she founded MyJourney Health Inc., a digital platform that provides comprehensive support to breast cancer patients and their clinical teams.
Dr. Osman’s inspiring journey as the first Canadian-trained Somali medical doctor has garnered media attention, including her feature in the Dove campaign, "Women Who Should Be Famous." Her life story has been shared in various outlets, serving as an inspiration to her community.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, she is a devoted wife, mother of two wonderful children, and takes great joy in the close-knit bonds of her large extended African family.
Dr. Sajeeka Jeyakumar
Geriatric Psychiatrist at William Osler Health SystemDr. Sajeeka Jeyakumar is a dedicated Geriatric Psychiatrist currently practicing at William Osler Health System in Brampton Civic Hospital. With a strong commitment to enhancing the mental health of older adults, Dr. Jeyakumar has developed a specialized interest in global mental health and refugee trauma, focusing on the unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations.
Being born in Germany to Tamil parents who fled the civil war in Sri Lanka and spent time at a refugee camp upon their arrival has fostered her interest in intergenerational trauma and its impact on older adults. Dr. Jeyakumar is passionate about integrating cultural perspectives into psychiatric care, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions like depression, anxiety, psychosis, and dementia.
Dr. Jeyakumar completed the Geriatric-Track Psychiatry Residency Program, followed by a Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. These rigorous training experiences provided a solid foundation for her expertise in geriatric mental health and equipped her with advanced skills in managing complex cases.
Dr. Jeyakumar has initiated and engaged in various projects abroad, notably in Nepal, where she has focused on capacity building in geriatric mental health. These international experiences have enhanced her practice and provided valuable insights into how mental health problems are perceived and managed in different cultural contexts.
As a leader in Geriatric Psychiatry, Dr. Jeyakumar advocates for culturally sensitive practices. Through her work, she aims to improve mental health outcomes for older adults in both local and global contexts, fostering understanding and support for those navigating the complexities of aging and mental health in a multicultural world.
Dr. Omolayo Famuyide
Medical Director & Founder of The Layo CentreOmolayo Famuyide, BSc (Pharm), MD, CCFP, MSCP (she/her)
Medical Director & Founder, The Layo Centre
Family Physician & Women's Health Specialist
Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, The Menopause Society
Dr. Omolayo Famuyide is the Founder & Medical Director of the Layo Centre, a comprehensive clinic providing women's health services in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As a former practicing pharmacist and family physician, Dr. Famuyide is uniquely positioned to serve patients in her well-established women’s health practice. Her passion for women’s health led to the completion of a twelve-month fellowship at the University of Toronto, a world leading institution in women's health. A Certified Menopause Practitioner through The Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society), Dr. Famuyide’s proficiency in the areas of reproductive health, advanced contraception and menopause is well regarded. Dr. Famuyide is a known expert in the areas of contraception and menopause, having been invited to speak on these topics to various medical trainees, practitioners and other allied health professionals. She is frequently called upon as a health expert to speak in the media with appearances on Global News, CTV News, City News, The Winnipeg Free Press and most recently Chatelaine Magazine.
Beyond her role as a clinician, Dr. Famuyide is an educator, and an advocate for women's health. Most recently, she was honoured to be selected as a recipient of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch of 2024!
Dr. Susan John
Infectious Diseases specialist at Scarborough Health NetworkDr. John is an Infectious Diseases specialist at Scarborough Health Network. She graduated from McMaster Medical School in 2005 and completed her Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases residency at McMaster University in 2011.
Before starting her career as a physician, she was a practicing pharmacist for a number of years at UHN.
She is the Medical Director of Pharmacy at SHN helping lead improvement in care delivery and health outcomes for Scarborough Health Networks (SHN) patients related to medication management.
She is also the physician lead of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at SHN ensuring the appropriate use of antibiotics for patients.
Dr. John is also a clinical adjunct lecturer at the University of Toronto. She has a special interest in HIV and STI management and cares for a large proportion of patients living with HIV, in the Scarborough area.