Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel (CATMAT): Membership list
External advisory bodies
Members are experts and health professionals in the fields of travel medicine, travel health, infectious disease, and epidemiology.
Members of external advisory bodies (EAB) must disclose information about expertise, experience, affiliations and interests relevant to the EAB mandate as declared by members. The Public Health Agency of Canada considers these declarations as part of the appointment/membership process.
Current membership
Members (voting)
Dr. Michael Libman (Chair)
Director, J.D. MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases, McGill University
Dr. Libman has been a CATMAT member since 2012 and chair since 2018. He is the lead for CATMAT’s COVID-19 and Zika working group and a member of the yellow fever, travellers’ diarrhea and Ebola virus disease working groups. He is the director of the J.D. MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases at McGill University and holds specialty certifications in internal medicine, infectious diseases, and medical microbiology from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He also holds the academic rank of professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill University, with his research interests focusing on the effective use and interpretation of diagnostic testing procedures. Additionally, Dr. Libman works as a visiting professor in the Infectious Disease Training Program at the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, and as a co-director of the annual international course in tropical medicine given at the Christian Medical College in Vellore, India which strives to create a collaborative training experience for physicians from India and western countries. He is the principal investigator of the global GeoSentinel Network, a surveillance and research network focused on the importation of infectious diseases across national borders funded largely by the U.S. CDC, and a leader of the Canadian Travel Medicine Network (CanTravNet). He also works as a consultant for infectious disease and microbiology in the Inuit communities of Nunavik in the Canadian eastern arctic region.
Summary of expertise, experience, affiliations and interests
Experience:
- Health professional
- Research/Academia
Expertise:
- Tropical medicine
- Travel medicine
- Travel health
- Infectious diseases
- Epidemiology
- Microbiology
Interests:
- Direct financial interests
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
No
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
- Indirect financial interests
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
Yes:- Honorarium from Emergent for advisory board meeting concerning financial support for education in travel medicine
- Honorarium from Emergent for advisory board meeting concerning financial support for education in travel medicine
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), materials, discounted products, gifts, or other benefits, or attendance at meetings where all or part of the travel and accommodation costs were provided (over $1000) by a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body.
No - Within the last three years, grants or other funding from a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body to any of the organizations where you are currently employed or participate in internal decision making via participating in internal decision making as a board member or executive or non-executive director.
Yes:- Received a salary as a principal investigator of GeoSentinel. The salary is from the International Society for Travel Medicine
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
- Intellectual interests
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Within the last five years, any published or publicly stated point of view or promotion of a product relevant to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Current professional or volunteer affiliations, such as membership of professional societies, lobbying, public interest, or advocacy groups.
Yes:- Site Director, GeoSentinel
- Associate Director, CanTravNet
- Member of the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
- Other
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
Dr. Yen-Giang Bui (Vice-Chair)
Travel Health and Immunization Consultant, Department of Public Health of the Montérégie, Québec
Dr. Bui is a travel health and immunization consultant with the Department of Public Health of the Montérégie, Québec, Canada. Dr. Bui holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Sherbrooke, a Certification in Family Medicine from the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and a Certificate in Travel Health from the International Society of Travel Medicine. She is a graduate from the Gorgas Clinical Course in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and is certified by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Currently, Dr. Bui is a member of the Groupe sur l'Acte vaccinal, Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux (MSSS), the Comité consultatif québécois en santé des voyageurs, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) and serves as liaison member on the Comité d'immunisation du Québec, INSPQ. Outside her work in public health, Dr. Bui maintains a clinical practice in travel health and migrant health. Her publications touch upon various aspects of travel health, such as, regulatory challenges, travellers visiting friends and relatives (VFRs), and dose-sparing immunization strategies.
Summary of expertise, experience, affiliations and interests
Experience:
- Health professional
Expertise:
- Tropical medicine
- Travel medicine
- Travel health
- Infectious disease
- Epidemiology
- Immunization
Interests:
- Direct financial interests
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
No
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
- Indirect financial interests
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
No - Within the past five years (other than from present employer), materials, discounted products, gifts, or other benefits, or attendance at meetings where all or part of the travel and accommodation costs were provided (over $1000) by a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body.
No - Within the last three years, grants or other funding from a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body to any of the organizations where you are currently employed or participate in internal decision making as a board member or executive or non-executive director.
No
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
- Intellectual interests
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Within the last five years, any published or publicly stated point of view or promotion of a product relevant to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Current professional or volunteer affiliations, such as membership of professional societies, lobbying, public interest, or advocacy groups.
No - Other
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
Dr. Katherine Plewes (Malaria Sub-Committee Chair)
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia
Katherine Plewes is a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at University of British Columbia (UBC) since 2017, and a clinician investigator at the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit specializing in clinical severe malaria for last 10 years. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Medicine (University of Oxford), Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (University of Liverpool), specialist training in infectious diseases (UBC), and Doctor of Medicine, Master of Science, and Bachelor of Science (University of Calgary). She is a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, College of Physician and Surgeons of British Columbia, and American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. She fulfills roles as the UBC Tropical and Geographic Medicine Intensive Short Course co-director, Canadian Malaria Network BC designate physician, and GeoSentinel Global Surveillance Network Vancouver site director. She has published 45 articles in peer-reviewed journals focused on the pathophysiology and treatment of severe malaria.
Summary of expertise, experience, affiliations and interests
Experience:
- Health professional
- Research/Academia
Expertise:
- Tropical medicine
- Infectious disease
- Malaria
Interests:
- Direct financial interests
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
Yes:- Medical Director of Caro Analytical Services COVID-19 molecular diagnostic testing lab. Short term position while COVID-19 testing is needed during the pandemic
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
- Indirect financial interests
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
No - Within the past five years (other than from present employer), materials, discounted products, gifts, or other benefits, or attendance at meetings where all or part of the travel and accommodation costs were provided (over $1000) by a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body.
Yes- Geosentinel Annual Site Director meeting (2018); travel and accommodation costs were provided by Geosentinel
- Within the last three years, grants or other funding from a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body to any of the organizations where you are currently employed or participate in internal decision making as a board member or executive or non-executive director.
No
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
- Intellectual interests
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Within the last five years, any published or publicly stated point of view or promotion of a product relevant to the Advisory body's mandate.
Yes:- provided lectures on the topic of malaria management to physicians and medical trainees in British Columbia
- Current professional or volunteer affiliations, such as membership of professional societies, lobbying, public interest, or advocacy groups.
Yes:- Member, Royal College of Physician’s and Surgeons of Canada
- Member, College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
- Member of the Canadian Medical Association
- Member, American Society of Tropical Medicine Hygiene
- Member, Infectious Diseases Society of America
- Co-Director, UBC Tropical and Geographical. Medicine Intensive Short Course
- Vancouver Site Lead, Geosentinel Global Surveillance Network
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
- Other
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
Yes- Clinician Investigator working with the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit and Honorary Visiting Research Fellow in Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford involved in clinical research focused on the pathophysiology and treatment of severe malaria and Southeast Asia and Africa
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
Ms. Anjli Acharya
Pharmacist, Clinician, Immunization and Travel Health, Bowmont Medical and Travel Clinic, Calgary
Ms. Acharya is a pharmacist and independent clinician specializing in immunizations and travel health at the Bowmont Medical and Travel Clinic in Calgary, Alberta. As past-president of the Alberta College of Pharmacists and the Canadian National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA), Ms. Acharya has been engaged in provincial and national discussions on pharmacist’s role in the delivery of public and travel health services. Ms. Acharya has over a decade of patient care experience in the delivery of immunization and travel health education and is a member of the International Society of Travel Medicine.
Summary of expertise, experience, affiliations and interests
Experience:
- Health professional
Expertise:
- Travel health
Interests:
- Direct financial interests
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
No
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
- Indirect financial interests
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
Yes:- Unrestricted education speakers fee from GlaxoSmithKline
- Sanofi Pasteur speaker honoraria
- Pfizer speaker honoraria
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), materials, discounted products, gifts, or other benefits, or attendance at meetings where all or part of the travel and accommodation costs were provided (over $1000) by a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body.
No - Within the last three years, grants or other funding from a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body to any of the organizations where you are currently employed or participate in internal decision making as a board member or executive or non-executive director.
No
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
- Intellectual interests
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Within the last five years, any published or publicly stated point of view or promotion of a product relevant to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Current professional or volunteer affiliations, such as membership of professional societies, lobbying, public interest, or advocacy groups.
Yes:- Alberta Pharmacists Association
- International Society of Travel Medicine
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
- Other
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
Dr. Isaac Bogoch
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Internal medicine and infectious diseases consultant, Toronto General Hospital
Dr. Bogoch is an associate professor of medicine at the University of Toronto and an internal medicine and infectious diseases consultant at the Toronto General Hospital. He is specialized in tropical infectious diseases, HIV, and general infectious diseases. Dr. Bogoch divides his clinical, public health, and research time between Toronto and several countries in Africa and Asia. Dr. Bogoch completed medical school and internal medicine residency training at the University of Toronto, and then specialized in infectious diseases at the Harvard Partners Program. He holds a Masters Degree in Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health, and has completed fellowships in both tropical infectious diseases (Cayetano Heredia University, Peru), and HIV care (Massachusetts General Hospital). Published articles on PubMed.
Summary of expertise, experience, affiliations and interests
Experience:
- Health professional
Expertise:
- Tropical medicine
- Travel medicine
- Travel health
- Infectious disease
- Epidemiology
Interests:
- Direct financial interests
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
Yes:- Consultation to Bluedot, a social benefit corporation that tracks emerging infectious diseases
- Consultation to the NHL Players’ Association for COVID safety protocols
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
- Indirect financial interests
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
No - Within the past five years (other than from present employer), materials, discounted products, gifts, or other benefits, or attendance at meetings where all or part of the travel and accommodation costs were provided (over $1000) by a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body.
No - Within the last three years, grants or other funding from a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body to any of the organizations where you are currently employed or participate in internal decision making as a board member or executive or non-executive director.
No
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
- Intellectual interests
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
Yes:- Former member of Ontario’s Vaccine Distribution Task Force
- Former member of Canada Panel for COVID testing
- Within the last five years, any published or publicly stated point of view or promotion of a product relevant to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Current professional or volunteer affiliations, such as membership of professional societies, lobbying, public interest, or advocacy groups.
No
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
- Other
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
Dr. Christina Greenaway
Infectious Disease Physician, Jewish General Hospital
Principal Investigator, Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Research Institute
Dr. Greenaway is an infectious disease physician at the Jewish General Hospital, principal investigator at the Center for Clinical Epidemiology at the Lady Davis Research Institute and professor of medicine at McGill University. She has expertise in the area of refugee and immigrant health and tropical medicine. Her research program focusses on identifying and addressing infectious disease health disparities among immigrants with a specific focus on tuberculosis, viral hepatitis and vaccine preventable diseases in this population. She has co-authored infectious disease screening guidelines for immigrants for Canada and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). She is a site director for GeoSentinel, a global surveillance and research network aimed at monitoring infectious diseases and other travel related health issues in international travelers and migrants.
Summary of expertise, experience, affiliations and interests
Experience:
- Health professional
- Research/Academia
Expertise:
- Tropical medicine
- Infectious disease
- Epidemiology
- Immigrant and refugee health
Interests:
- Direct financial interests
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
No
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
- Indirect financial interests
-
Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
Yes:- Research grants/contracts with Gilead, Merck, AbbVie
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), materials, discounted products, gifts, or other benefits, or attendance at meetings where all or part of the travel and accommodation costs were provided (over $1000) by a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body.
No - Within the last three years, grants or other funding from a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body to any of the organizations where you are currently employed or participate in internal decision making as a board member or executive or non-executive director.
No - Intellectual interests
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Within the last five years, any published or publicly stated point of view or promotion of a product relevant to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Current professional or volunteer affiliations, such as membership of professional societies, lobbying, public interest, or advocacy groups.
No
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
- Other
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
-
Dr. Aisha Khatib
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto
Dr. Aisha Khatib is an assistant professor with the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. She trained in family and emergency medicine from the University of Toronto and McGill University, and completed an infectious diseases fellowship in clinical tropical medicine at the University of Toronto. She holds a certification in travel medicine from the University of Otago in New Zealand, and a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the Gorgas Course in Peru. She worked as a travel doctor in New Zealand for five years before returning to Canada. She is currently the clinical director of travel medicine at Medcan, president of the Alberta Association of Travel Health Professionals, co-chair of the ASTMH Update Course in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers' Health, and chair of the ISTM Responsible Travel Interest Group. Her recent research focuses on the safety of air travel during the pandemic.
Summary of expertise, experience, affiliations and interests
Experience:
- Health professional
- Research/Academia
Expertise:
- Tropical medicine
- Travel medicine
- Travel health
- Infectious disease
- Epidemiology
- Emergency medicine
- Family and community medicine
- Vulnerable and marginalized populations
Interests:
- Direct financial interests
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
No
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
- Indirect financial interests
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
No - Within the past five years (other than from present employer), materials, discounted products, gifts, or other benefits, or attendance at meetings where all or part of the travel and accommodation costs were provided (over $1000) by a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body.
No - Within the last three years, grants or other funding from a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body to any of the organizations where you are currently employed or participate in internal decision making as a board member or executive or non-executive director.
No
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
- Intellectual interests
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Within the last five years, any published or publicly stated point of view or promotion of a product relevant to the Advisory body's mandate.
Yes:- Khatib AN, Carvalho AM, Primavesi R, To K, Poirier V. Navigating the risks of flying during COVID-19: a review for safe air travel. J Travel Med. 2020 Dec 23;27(8):taaa212. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa212.
- Khatib, Aisha N.; McGuinness, Sarah; Wilder-Smith, Annelies. COVID-19 transmission and the safety of air travel during the pandemic: a scoping review. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases: October 2021 - Volume 34 - Issue 5 - p 415-422 doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000771
- Current professional or volunteer affiliations, such as membership of professional societies, lobbying, public interest, or advocacy groups.
Yes:- ASTMH Clinical Group ACCTMTH – Councilor, 2020-2023
- Co-Chair, ASTMH Update Course in Clinical Tropical Medicine & Travelers’ Health, 2021-2023
- President – Alberta Association of Travel Health Professionals, 2022-2023
- ISTM Chair – Responsible Travel Interest Group
- Other
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
Dr. Philippe Lagacé-Wiens
Medical Microbiologist, Saint-Boniface Hospital, Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba
Dr. Philippe Lagacé-Wiens is the medical microbiologist at the Saint-Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Manitoba and a clinical consultant for the Travel and Tropical Medicine Services and Community Intravenous Programme of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Manitoba in 2003 and completed specialty training in medical microbiology in 2008. He obtained a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the Universidad Cayetano Heredia in Peru in 2007. He has published over 100 manuscripts, abstracts and book chapters on a variety of topics including clinical microbiology and diagnostics, lab acquired infections, antimicrobial resistance, novel antimicrobials and tropical medicine.
Summary of expertise, experience, affiliations and interests
Experience:
- Health professional
- Research/Academia
Expertise:
- Tropical medicine
- Travel medicine
- Travel health
- Infectious disease
Interests:
- Direct financial interests
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
Yes:- Owns Merck shares in a self-managed diverse stock portfolio. Merck is a manufacturer of vaccines and drugs, some of which may be used in travel and tropical medicine (Ivermectin, Ebola vaccine, Hepatitis A and B vaccines and BCG vaccine)
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
- Indirect financial interests
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
Yes:- Honoraria for educational sessions or scientific advice:
- Verity Pharma (ended 2019)
- Avir Pharma (ended 2019)
- bioMerieux (ended 2021)
- Honoraria for educational sessions or scientific advice:
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), materials, discounted products, gifts, or other benefits, or attendance at meetings where all or part of the travel and accommodation costs were provided (over $1000) by a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body.
No - Within the last three years, grants or other funding from a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body to any of the organizations where you are currently employed or participate in internal decision making as a board member or executive or non-executive director.
No
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
- Intellectual interests
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Within the last five years, any published or publicly stated point of view or promotion of a product relevant to the Advisory body's mandate.
Yes:
- Publicly declared support for COVID-19 vaccination on multiple occasions through social media and conventional media
- Strongly discouraged the use of Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 on social and conventional media
- Current professional or volunteer affiliations, such as membership of professional societies, lobbying, public interest, or advocacy groups.
Yes:- Member of the board of the Association for Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases of Canada and the board of the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance
- Member of the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
- Other
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No
Dr. John O. Lee
Lead Physician, Ottawa West Medical Centre, Medical Director, Ottawa West Travel Medicine Clinic
Dr. Lee is the lead physician at the Ottawa West Medical Centre since 2006. Prior to that, he was the lead physician for the Ottawa West Family Health Group (28 doctors in the west end of Ottawa) from 2000-2006. John has been practicing travel medicine as a medical director at the Ottawa West Travel Medicine Clinic since 1996 where he provides post-travel consultations for the returning ill traveller. Dr. Lee has been on staff at Queensway-Carleton hospital since 1996 where he provides emergency, in-patient, perinatal, palliative and surgical assist services. He is also the continuing medical education coordinator for the Department of Family Practice since 2006.
Dr. Lee graduated from Dalhousie University in 1996 with double major of immunology and psychology and also graduated as top student in immunology. He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Alberta in 2000. He completed a Certificate in Family Practice (CCFP) from McGill University in 2002 and was awarded Fellowship in Family Medicine (FCFP) since 2012.
From 2004-2006, Dr. Lee worked as a volunteer physician in Africa: for Médecins Sans Frontières after the Rwandan Genocide in Zaire, Rwanda and Burundi; on projects for UNHCR and Red Cross at Zairean refugee camps; as a volunteer surgeon at Malamulo hospital, Malawi through WUSC; and as a medical consultant for Onchocerciasis Project of Malawi. He also has followed with volunteer medical services in Tanzania in 2014 and 2016.
Summary of expertise, experience, affiliations and interests
Experience:
- Health professional
- Industry
- Research/Academia
- Surgery
Expertise:
- Tropical medicine
- Travel medicine
- Travel health
- Infectious disease
- Epidemiology
- Surgery
Interests:
- Direct financial interests
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
No
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
- Indirect financial interests
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
No - Within the past five years (other than from present employer), materials, discounted products, gifts, or other benefits, or attendance at meetings where all or part of the travel and accommodation costs were provided (over $1000) by a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body.
No - Within the last three years, grants or other funding from a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body to any of the organizations where you are currently employed or participate in internal decision making as a board member or executive or non-executive director.
No
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
- Intellectual interests
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Within the last five years, any published or publicly stated point of view or promotion of a product relevant to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Current professional or volunteer affiliations, such as membership of professional societies, lobbying, public interest, or advocacy groups.
No
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
- Other
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
Liaison representatives (non-voting)
Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada (AMMI)
Dr. Jeffrey Pernica
Head of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, McMaster University, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University
Dr. Jeffrey Pernica is the head of the Division of Infectious Disease and associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree and Fellow of The Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC) in Pediatrics at Dalhousie University, his FRCPC in Infectious Disease at the University of Ottawa, his Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at the Gorgas Memorial Institute, and his Master of Science in Health Research Methodologies at McMaster University. His clinical interests also include immunization; he is the co-chair of the Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee and the medical lead of the Special Immunization Clinic at McMaster Children’s Hospital. His research interests relate to the optimization of the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory infections, enteric infections, and sepsis, both in Canada and in resource-limited settings.
Summary of expertise, experience, affiliations and interests
Experience:
- Research / Academia
Expertise:
- Tropical medicine
- Travel medicine
- Infectious disease
- Epidemiology
- Pediatrics
Interests:
- Direct financial interests
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
No
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
- Indirect financial interests
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
No - Within the past five years (other than from present employer), materials, discounted products, gifts, or other benefits, or attendance at meetings where all or part of the travel and accommodation costs were provided (over $1000) by a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body.
No - Within the last three years, grants or other funding from a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body to any of the organizations where you are currently employed or participate in internal decision making as a board member or executive or non-executive director.
Yes:- McMaster University has received grant funding from MedImmune (for a prospective cohort study seeking to better define the epidemiology of RSV infection in young children hospitalized for bronchiolitis)
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
- Intellectual interests
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
Yes:- Co-Chair of the Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee (makes recommendations to the Ontario Ministry of Health relating to vaccination)
- Within the last five years, any published or publicly stated point of view or promotion of a product relevant to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Current professional or volunteer affiliations, such as membership of professional societies, lobbying, public interest, or advocacy groups.
Yes:- Member of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (AMMI) Canada, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
- Other
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Dr. Kevin O’laughlin
Medical Officer, Traveler's Health Branch, CDC
Summary of expertise, experience, affiliations and interests
Experience:
- Health professional
- Government Public Health employee
Expertise:
- Travel medicine
- Epidemiology
Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS)
Dr. Isabelle Viel-Thériault
Clinical Assistant Professor and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Physician, Centre Hospitalier-Universitaire (CHU)
Dr. Viel-Thériault is a clinical assistant professor and pediatric infectious diseases physician at Centre Hospitalier-Universitaire (CHU) de Québec-Université Laval since 2019. She completed pediatric residency training at Laval University, and then specialized in pediatric infectious diseases at Ottawa University. Dr. Viel-Thériault completed a fellowship in antimicrobial stewardship and clinical pharmacology. She leads the Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and the Special Immunization Clinic at CHU de Québec. She is also member of both the Pharmacology Committee and the Antimicrobial Utilization Surveillance Committee at the same institution. She acts as an expert consultant for the Institut National d'Excellence en Santé et Services Sociaux (INESSS). Dr. Viel-Thériault was recently the co-chair of an educational training module on COVID-19 vaccine in children launched by the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS). She is a member of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada (AMMI) and CPS. Her research focusses on antimicrobial stewardship and neonatal infections and she collaborates with the Pediatric Investigators Collaborative Network on Infections in Canada (PICNIC).
Summary of expertise, experience, affiliations and interests
Experience:
- Health professional
Expertise:
- Infectious disease
Interests:
- Direct financial interests
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
No
- Current employment, investments in companies, partnerships, equity, royalties, joint ventures, trusts, real property, stocks, shares, or bonds that relate to the mandate of the advisory body.
- Indirect financial interests
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
No - Within the past five years (other than from present employer), materials, discounted products, gifts, or other benefits, or attendance at meetings where all or part of the travel and accommodation costs were provided (over $1000) by a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body.
No - Within the last three years, grants or other funding from a party with an interest in the mandate of the advisory body to any of the organizations where you are currently employed or participate in internal decision making as a board member or executive or non-executive director.
No
- Within the past five years (other than from present employer), payment from the regulated industry for work done or being done, including past employment, contracts, or consulting; or financial support, including research support, personal education grants, contributions, fellowships, sponsorships, and honoraria.
- Intellectual interests
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Within the last five years, any published or publicly stated point of view or promotion of a product relevant to the Advisory body's mandate.
No - Current professional or volunteer affiliations, such as membership of professional societies, lobbying, public interest, or advocacy groups.
No
- Within the last five years, any formal advice or opinion to industry, a government organization, or a non-government organization on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
- Other
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
No
- Any other affiliations and interests or potential circumstances that might give a well-informed member of the public reasonable grounds for concern regarding the integrity and objectivity of your participation. For example, prior activity that may create a reasonable apprehension of bias, or access to confidential information on a matter of relevance to the Advisory body's mandate.
Ex-officio representatives (non-voting)
Canadian Forces Health Services Centre
Lt. Col Dennis Marion
Department of National Defence
Edmonton, AB
Directorate Force Health Protection
Dr. Steven Schofield
Department of National Defence
Ottawa, ON
Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate
Dr. Rudolf Zimmer
Health Canada
Calgary, AB
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