Scientific Advisory Committee on Mental Health Disorders: Summary of affiliations and interests
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Purpose
The following summarizes the expertise, experience, affiliations and interests declared by members of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Mental Health Disorders (SAC-MHD) that are relevant to its mandate.
Members of SAC-MHD are recruited through open and targeted nomination processes. Potential members are identified in consultation with various sources, including:
- academia
- Health Canada employees
- health professional and scientific societies
- the committee chair and current members
- government and non-government agencies
Equity, diversity and inclusion are key considerations in member selection. Members are appointed based on their expertise, knowledge and perspectives in psychiatry. Members include clinicians and scientists both in and outside of academia and may also include members of the public. Additional considerations for selection include:
- availability
- personal suitability
- professional standing
- affiliations and interests
Members are selected and appointed by Health Canada after reviewing the considerations outlined above.
SAC-MHD may include both core and ad hoc members, chosen for their scientific, medical and technical expertise and knowledge.
Members are asked prior to appointment, and on an ongoing basis, to declare the following affiliations and interests:
1. Direct financial interests
- Do you, your spouse or common-law partner, or dependent family member have any direct financial interests that are of relevance to the mandate of the advisory body, including current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds?
2. Indirect financial interests
- Within the past five years, have you, your spouse or common-law partner, or dependent family member received payment for work done or being done, or financial support, from a party that has an interest in the mandate of the advisory body? Include past employment, contracts or consulting, research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria for teaching, speaking, or writing engagements.
- Within the past five years, have you, your spouse or common-law partner, or dependent family member received materials, discounted products, gifts, or other benefits, or attended conferences or meetings where all or part of the travel and accommodation costs were provided by a party that has an interest in the mandate of the advisory body?
- Within the past five years, have any of the organizations where you, your spouse or common-law partner, or dependent family member are currently employed or participate in internal decision making (for example: as a board member or as an executive or non-executive director) received grants or other funding from a party that has an interest in the mandate of the advisory body?
3. Intellectual interests
- Within the past five years, have you provided any formal advice or opinion to industry; a Canadian federal, provincial, or municipal government; a foreign government; or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the mandate of the advisory body? Include, for example, expert testimony or acting as witness (full or part-time), participation on an advisory body etc.
- Have you ever made public a statement (e.g. speeches, lobbying) or publicly stated a point of view (including in scientific papers, articles, journals, or other publications, or on other websites) on issues of relevance to the advisory body’s mandate?
- Do you currently have any professional or volunteer affiliations (such as membership in professional/scientific societies, trade associations, or in public interest, or advocacy groups) that may have an interest in the mandate and work of this advisory body?
4. Other affiliations and interests
- Do you, your spouse or common-law partner, or dependent family member have any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable apprehension or grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation in this advisory body?
- Are you active on social media on issues relevant to this advisory body?
Summary of expertise, experience, affiliations and interests
The table below provides a summary of the responses to each corresponding question from committee members as of December 3, 2025.
| Name | Expertise and experience | Conflict of interest | Summary of responses | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dr. Jess Fiedorowicz |
Research, clinical, hospital, academia; Psychiatrist; US FDA advisory |
No |
1 (a) |
2 (a) |
2 (b) |
2 (c) |
3 (a) |
3 (b) |
3 (c) |
4 (a) |
4 (b) |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|||
Comments |
|||||||||||
Currently serves on the U.S. FDA Psychopharmacological Drugs Advisory Committee (June 2016–June 2026). Has no other consulting, research or other engagements with the pharmaceutical industry. |
|||||||||||
Dr. Abraham Rudnick |
Research, clinical, hospital, academia; Psychiatrist; Veteran’s Affairs Canada |
No |
1 (a) |
2 (a) |
2 (b) |
2 (c) |
3 (a) |
3 (b) |
3 (c) |
4 (a) |
4 (b) |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
|||
Comments |
|||||||||||
Holds equity in Ligand Pharmaceuticals & Medtronic. Has received financial support from the regulated industry through one-off consultations to Third Bridge regarding the pharmaceutical market for CNS drugs. Currently serves as a member of the CMA’s ethics committee. No other consulting, research, or financial engagements with the pharmaceutical industry. |
|||||||||||
Dr. Jacques Bradwejn |
Research, clinical, hospital, academia; Psychiatrist; Senior Medical Administration |
No |
1 (a) |
2 (a) |
2 (b) |
2 (c) |
3 (a) |
3 (b) |
3 (c) |
4 (a) |
4 (b) |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|||
Comments |
|||||||||||
The candidate did not disclose any of the following: financial interests, consulting, research, or other engagements with the regulated industry; equity, investments, or other relevant financial relationships; or professional or volunteer affiliations that may be of relevance to the mandate of the advisory body. |
|||||||||||
Dr. Omar Ghaffar |
Research, clinical, hospital, academia; Psychiatrist; Geriatric Psychiatry |
No |
1 (a) |
2 (a) |
2 (b) |
2 (c) |
3 (a) |
3 (b) |
3 (c) |
4 (a) |
4 (b) |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
|||
Comments |
|||||||||||
Serves as Independent Physician and Physician Lead of Mental Health at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital, Sinai Health, and Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Holds volunteer roles with the American Neuropsychiatric Association, Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, and United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties. Provides ad hoc compensated expert consultation and testimony to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and/or law firms. No other financial interests, consulting, research, or other engagements with the regulated industry. |
|||||||||||
Dr. Dennis Wardman |
Research, clinical, hospital, academia; Physician; Addiction medicine, Indigenous health |
No |
1 (a) |
2 (a) |
2 (b) |
2 (c) |
3 (a) |
3 (b) |
3 (c) |
4 (a) |
4 (b) |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|||
Comments |
|||||||||||
Previously served as a Board Member for Fraser Health Authorities, resigned in 2024. No other financial interests, consulting, research, or other engagements with the regulated industry. |
|||||||||||
Dr. Rose Geist |
Research, clinical, hospital, academia; Psychiatrist; Child psychiatry |
No |
1 (a) |
2 (a) |
2 (b) |
2 (c) |
3 (a) |
3 (b) |
3 (c) |
4 (a) |
4 (b) |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
|||
Comments |
|||||||||||
The candidate did not disclose any of the following: financial interests, consulting, research, or other engagements with the regulated industry; equity, investments, or other relevant financial relationships; or professional or volunteer affiliations that may be of relevance to the mandate of the advisory body. |
|||||||||||
Dr. Amina Othmani |
Research, clinical, academia; Doctor of Pharmacy, Psychiatry resident |
No |
1 (a) |
2 (a) |
2 (b) |
2 (c) |
3 (a) |
3 (b) |
3 (c) |
4 (a) |
4 (b) |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
|||
Comments |
|||||||||||
The candidate disclosed being a member in training of the Canadian Psychiatric Association. The candidate did not disclose any of the following: financial interests, consulting, research, or other engagements with the regulated industry; equity, investments, or other relevant financial relationships. |
|||||||||||
Dr. Matthew Haaland |
Research, clinical, academia; Psychiatrist; Canadian Forces, Marginalized populations |
No |
1 (a) |
2 (a) |
2 (b) |
2 (c) |
3 (a) |
3 (b) |
3 (c) |
4 (a) |
4 (b) |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
|||
Comments |
|||||||||||
Currently serves as a uniformed psychiatrist for the Canadian Armed Forces since March 2024, providing advice on evidence-based treatments and mental health service planning. No other financial interests, consulting, research, or other engagements with the regulated industry. |
|||||||||||
Dr. Gail Beck |
Research, clinical, hospital, academia; Psychiatrist; Governance |
No |
1 (a) |
2 (a) |
2 (b) |
2 (c) |
3 (a) |
3 (b) |
3 (c) |
4 (a) |
4 (b) |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|||
Comments |
|||||||||||
The candidate has provided formal advice as a volunteer member of the Expert Panel on MAiD, Mature Minors Subcommittee (2017–2019). No other financial interests, consulting, research, or professional engagements with the regulated industry were disclosed. |
|||||||||||
Dr. Timothy Moran |
Research, clinical, hospital, academia; |
No |
1 (a) |
2 (a) |
2 (b) |
2 (c) |
3 (a) |
3 (b) |
3 (c) |
4 (a) |
4 (b) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|||
Comments |
|||||||||||
The candidate disclosed consulting/teaching affiliations and interests with Eisai Limited Canada. In addition, the candidate’s spouse is employed by Health Canada's Health Policy Branch. No further relevant interests were identified. |
|||||||||||
Dr. Thomas Raedler |
Research, clinical, hospital, academia; Psychiatrist; Site-Chief of Department of Psychiatry |
No |
1 (a) |
2 (a) |
2 (b) |
2 (c) |
3 (a) |
3 (b) |
3 (c) |
4 (a) |
4 (b) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
|||
Comments |
|||||||||||
Has received honoraria for presentations, advisory boards, and consultations with AbbVie, Allergan, Bausch Health, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, HLS, Lundbeck, Newron, Otsuka, Sunovion and Teva. Serves as medical director of the Mental Health Clinical Trials Unit at the Cumming School of Medicine and Site-Chief of Department of Psychiatry at Foothills Medical Centre. Local PI and local co-investigator for industry sponsored clinical trials (no remuneration-earnings go to University of Calgary). Provides annual psychopharmacology updates for the Alberta Psychiatric Association and the Cummings School of Medicine. Previous Chair of the Board of the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta and member of multiple organizations. |
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