PEIP by PEER 2025 features leading voices in evidence-based medicine. Learn from passionate educators, experienced clinicians, and thoughtful leaders across disciplines.
Mohamed Alarakhia
BSc(Hons), MD, CCFP, FCFP, MSc
CEO, Amplify Care Faculty Digital Health and Innovation Lead, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Waterloo Regional Campus Assistant Clinical Professor (Adjunct), McMaster University, Assistant Professor (Adjunct), University of Waterloo
Mohamed Alarakhia is a practicing Family Physician in Waterloo, Ontario at the community-based academic family health team, the Centre for Family Medicine. He is the founder and CEO of the not-for-profit organization Amplify Care (formerly the eHealth Centre of Excellence). Dr Alarakhia is the Faculty Digital Health and Innovation Lead at McMaster University, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (Waterloo Campus) and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Waterloo. He is also a board member of Digital Health Canada and the KW4 Primary Care Network. Dr Alarakhia was awarded the Digital Health Executive of the Year Award in 2019 and the College of Family Physicians of Canada Award of Excellence in 2018 and 2022. In 2024, he was the recipient of the John C. Sibley Award for Excellence in Education for Part Time Faculty at McMaster University.
Mike Allan
MD, CCFP
CEO, College of Family Physicians of Canada, PEER Team Member
Dr G. Michael Allan (Mike) is the CEO of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and Adjunct Professor at U of A. He practiced Family Medicine over 20 years and helped create the PEER (Patients, Experience, Evidence and Research) team and the Simplified Guideline program. His also co-creator of Tools for Practice and the Best Science Medicine podcast. He is married with 2 adult daughters.
Sarah Burton-MacLeod
MD CCFP(PC)
Palliative Care Physician, University of Alberta and AHS
Sarah Burton-MacLeod has practiced in Palliative Medicine for over 19 years in a variety of clinical settings. She enjoys teaching and holds roles in residency education and student support.
Jamie Falk
PharmD
Associate Professor, University of Manitoba, PEER Team Member
Jamie Falk is an Associate Professor and Clinical Stream Lead at the College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba and practices as an Extended Practice Pharmacist in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He focuses his research, teaching, and clinical practice on optimized prescribing practices, approaches to minimizing patient burden, and promoting evidence-based knowledge translation. He is a national PEER (Patients Experience Evidence Research) team member and co-chair of the annual Making Evidence Matter for Everyone (MEME) Conference in Vancouver.
Caitlin Finley
MSc MD, CCFP
Associate Professor, University of Alberta, Physician, Northeast Community Health Centre, PEER Team Member
Caitlin is a family physician at the Northeast Community Health Centre in Edmonton, AB. She is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta, where she works as part of the PEER team. She has a Master’s of Science in Epidemiology, and uses her love of data in her work with knowledge translation and teaching evidence-based medicine, at both the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Outside of work, her daughter, husband, and cat keep her on toes.
Jessica Kirkwood
MD, CCFP (AM)
Physician, Radius Community Health and Healing, PEER Team Member
Jess has been a family physician in Edmonton’s inner city since 2012, providing primary care to patients that are unhoused and experience mental illness and substance use disorders at Radius Community Health and Healing. She joined the PEER team in September 2019 as an Assistant Professor with the University of Alberta. She is very passionate about educating primary care providers and learners to care for marginalized patients in a way that is empathic as well as evidence-based. She attended medical school and residency at the University of Alberta. She has 2 kids, a fluffy dog and a very patient partner.
Mike Kolber
BSc MD, CCFP, MSc
Family Physician, Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta,
PEER Team Member
Mike is a Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta. He practises in Peace River, Alberta using his additional skills training in gastroenterology. He contributes to Tools for Practice, medical podcasts, CPD Roadshows, and academic detailing within Canada and enjoys presenting at local, provincial, national, and international events. Mike also chairs the Practical Evidence for Informed Practice and Endoscopy Skills Day for Practising Endoscopists conferences. He is passionate about sports, coaches or has coached lacrosse, baseball and hockey. He enjoys the outdoors with his wife and three great (most times) teenagers.
Tina Korownyk
MD CCFP
Family Physician and Chair, Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta,
PEER Team Member
Tina is a Family Physician, Professor and Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta. She is the Director of PEER and a frequent speaker at provincial and national conferences. She has published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Tina is happily married with four active kids, and enjoys being in the outdoors.
Adrienne Lindblad
PharmD
Associate Clinical Professor, Dept of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, CFPC,
PEER Team Member
Adrienne has a passion for healthcare innovation, holding a pharmacy degree from the University of Saskatchewan, a hospital pharmacy residency from Halifax, and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Toronto. As the manager of the Tools for Practice and Simplified Guidelines programs, Adrienne leads initiatives that bridge research and clinical application. She is deeply committed to education and mentorship, earning numerous awards for her contributions. Passionate about evidence-based medicine, she excels at translating research into practical, patient-centered care and is known for her engaging presentation skills.
Blair MacDonald
BA, PharmD
PhD student, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Blair is a PhD student at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. His research is focused on ensuring that patients receive evidence-based medication management that aligns with their values and preferences, especially within the context of cardiology. In support of these goals, he has played a leading role in the development of several medication decision aids.
James McCormack
BSC (Pharm), Pharm D
Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences , UBC
James is a Professor in UBC’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences who earned his BSc(Pharm) at UBC in 1982 and completed a PharmD in 1986 at the Medical University of South Carolina. For over 35 years he has been promoting evidence-based medication use through 500+ seminars, more than 150 publications, and co‐hosting 600+ episodes of the Best Science (BS) Medicine podcast.
Wade Mitchell
FCFP, FRRMS, ACRRM Dip.
Primary Skin Cancer Management, ESS Gen Surg/Obs, Procedural Skills Domain Lead, McMaster University DFM/ Associate Professor
Rural trained Family Physician. Completed an extra year of training in Gen Surg/Advanced Obs and worked in Narrandera, NSW, Australia for 6 years as a GP Surgeon. Completed a diploma in Primary Skin Cancer management through ACRRM and have been granted GP Focused Practice in Dermatology in Ontario where I continue to do Family Medicine, Hospitalist work, co-run an outreach skin cancer clinic and teach residents and medical students in a busy procedural practice.
Samantha Moe
PharmD, ACPR
Clinical Evidence Expert, College of Family Physicians of Canada, PEER Team Member
Samantha Moe is a Clinical Evidence Expert with the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Trained as a clinical pharmacist, Samantha worked at the North York Family Health Team for ten years prior to joining the CFPC. She is a member of the PEER team, contributing to Tools for Practice articles and PEER Simplified Clinical Guidelines. Samantha completed her BScPharm and PharmD at the University of Toronto and hospital residency in London, Ontario.
Tony Nickonchuk
BSc. Pharm
Pharmacist, Alberta Health Services, PEER Team Member
Tony Nickonchuk is a pharmacist with Alberta Health Services Drug Utilization and Stewardship. His focus is on researching and evaluating medical literature to ensure medication use for Alberta inpatients and outpatients adheres to the best available evidence. He has spoken at PEIP every year since its inception. He lives in Peace River with his wife and three children.
Danielle Perry
RN, MSc
Clinical Evidence Expert, College of Family Medicine of Canada, PEER Team Member
Danielle is a registered nurse who graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island in 2014. She holds a Master's in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Alberta and works as a Clinical Evidence Expert with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). At CFPC, Danielle helps lead systematic reviews and guideline methodologies, contributes to "Tools for Practice," and shares her passion for evidence-based medicine through workshops and presentations. She has been part of the PEER team since 2017. In her free time, Danielle enjoys staying active, travelling to the east coast with her husband, and watching "The Office."
Richard Rabeeh
MD
Site lead for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry RAH and GRH, Associate Professor, University of Alberta, Child Psychiatry
Dr Rabeeh has been as a child and adolescent psychiatrist for over 20 years. He works in the Glenrose and Royal Alexandra Hospitals as a Site Lead at both. He also works at Rutherford Health Clinic and Child Psychiatry Associates.
Epsita Shome
MD FRCPC
Clinical Lecturer, University of Alberta Nephrology & Internal Medicine, Grey Nuns Community Hospital
Epsita Shome is a community nephrologist practicing Nephrology and General Internal Medicine at the Grey Nuns Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. She completed her medical school and core Internal Medicine residency in Edmonton followed by her Nephrology fellowship in Calgary. Her clinical interests include medical education and home dialysis. She is an active member of the Canadian Society of Nephrology, contributing to both its Quality Improvement & Implementation Science and Community Nephrology Committees. Outside of medicine, she is the mother of a spunky toddler and enjoys being active, reading thriller mysteries, and spending time with her friends and family.
Betsy Thomas
BSc. Pharm
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta,
PEER Team Member
Betsy Thomas is a pharmacist with over two decades of experience in both community and primary care settings in Edmonton. Since 2017, Betsy has been a member of the PEER team, contributing to high-quality clinical tools and resources for primary care providers. She currently serves as a Clinical Evidence Expert with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), where her work includes conducting systematic reviews, developing national guidelines, and producing Tools for Practice. In addition to her evidence-based medicine work, Betsy is passionate about physician health and well-being. She is the project manager for the CFPC’s Physician Wellness Retreat, a national initiative aimed at fostering resilience, connection, and balance among family doctors."
Taisa Trischuk
BSP, PharmD
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan,
RxFiles Academic Detailing Service
Taisa Trischuk is an Academic Detailer, Topic Lead, and Information Support Pharmacist with RxFiles Academic Detailing Service at the University of Saskatchewan. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Saskatchewan in 2011, followed by a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Alberta in 2016. Before joining RxFiles in 2018, Taisa gained diverse experience in community pharmacy, medical oncology at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre, and primary care at the Westside Community Clinic Pharmacy. Taisa values the ongoing professional development her role at RxFiles offers and enjoys delivering educational outreach sessions that foster meaningful connections with healthcare professionals across Saskatchewan. She has a particular interest in women’s health and is pleased to be speaking on the topic of menopause at this conference.
Jennifer Young
MD, CCFP-Emergency Medicine
Physician Advisor, College of Family Physicians of Canada , PEER Team Member
Jennifer Young loves the connection and challenge of being a comprehensive family physician in a small town and she tries to inspire students to do the same! Jennifer and her husband raised their three daughters in Collingwood, Ontario and is pretty sure she maintained a balanced life. She is also a part time physician advisor for the College of Family Physicians of Canada where she is liaison with Choosing Wisely Canada and a proud member of the PEER team.
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