Members

Dr. Buchel is currently the Provincial Surgery Specialty Lead for Shared Health Manitoba and Professor and Head of the Department of Surgery in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. He also serves as the Surgery Site Director for the Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre.

Dr. Buchel completed his medical training at the University of Manitoba and his residency in General Surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in Manhattan, New York. In 2001, he joined the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, before returning to Winnipeg in 2004.

Upon his return to Winnipeg, Dr. Buchel joined the Department of Surgery as an Associate Professor and Section Head of Plastic Surgery. Until 2009, he served as the Program Director of the Plastic Surgery Residency. In 2006, Dr. Buchel developed and became the Director of the Microvascular and Reconstruction Fellowship at the University of Manitoba. From 2011 to 2021, he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Plastic Surgery (now called Plastic Surgery).

Dr. Buchel currently focuses his clinical practice on reconstructive microsurgery for cancer and trauma patients, as well as general reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery.

Dr. Michael Kelly, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS, is the Provincial Department Head and Fred H. Wigmore Professor of Surgery, as well as the Knight Family Enhancement Chair in Neurological Surgery at the University of Saskatchewan.

He completed his undergraduate studies, medical school, neurosurgery residency, and PhD at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Kelly further advanced his expertise with a fellowship in open cerebrovascular neurosurgery at Stanford University and an endovascular neurosurgery fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic.

Currently based in Saskatoon, he specializes in cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery, alongside leading an active research program. His research focuses on stroke and neurosurgery clinical trials, and he also oversees a stroke research laboratory.

Dr. Kelly has held significant leadership roles, including serving as the Neurosurgery Residency Program Director and Division Head of Neurosurgery at the University of Saskatchewan. He was the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan’s Clinical Stroke Research Chair for a decade before taking on his current role as the Knight Family Enhancement Chair in Neurological Surgery.

In 2022, Dr. Kelly was appointed as the Provincial Department Head and Fred H. Wigmore Professor of Surgery at both the University of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

Dr. Ahmer Karimuddin is a colorectal and general surgeon based at St. Paul’s and Mt. St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Vancouver, and currently serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Surgery at the University of British Columbia, where he also holds the CN Woodward Chair in Surgery.

A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Dr. Karimuddin completed his General Surgery residency and a Surgical Education Research Fellowship at the University of Saskatchewan, followed by a Colorectal Surgery fellowship at the University of Toronto. Since joining UBC’s Faculty of Medicine in 2008, he has become a nationally recognized leader in surgical education, clinical practice, and health system redesign.

As Co-Director of the UBC General Surgery Residency Program from 2018 to 2024, Dr. Karimuddin led transformative initiatives including the RISE Leadership Program, the Cultural Dexterity and Competence Program, and the Colorectal Academic Symposium. He is deeply committed to joyful, intentional learning and to building a culture of psychological safety and equity within surgical training.

His research interest span colorectal surgery, surgical education, and health-services innovation. With over 100 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Karimuddin has supervised numerous student and resident-led projects, many of which have been nationally recognized.

Beyond the academic realm, he has served as President of Doctors of BC (2023–2024), President of General Surgeons of BC, Chair of the Canadian Surgery Forum, and Co-Chair of the Specialist Services Committee. His work has been recognized with multiple awards, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025), the UBC Program Director of the Year Award (2022), and the PGME Faculty Wellness Award.

Dr. Karimuddin’s work reflects a commitment to advancing surgical care through collaboration, compassion, and excellence.

Dr. Carol Swallow is the RS McLaughlin Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto.

She is a surgical oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital and a member of the Division of General Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. She graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School and trained in the General Surgery residency program at the University of Toronto as a member of the Surgical Scientist Training Program, completing a PhD in cell biology and surgical sepsis in 1993. After this, she completed clinical fellowship training in Surgical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is currently a Professor in the Department of Surgery and Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto.

Her areas of clinical expertise include retroperitoneal sarcoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumour, gastric cancer, and rectal cancer. Her laboratory research is focused on mechanisms of tumour invasion and metastasis.

Dr. Swallow was the Director of the University of Toronto General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program from 1997-2009, Head of the Division of General Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital from 2008 to 2020, Chair of the Division of General Surgery at the University of Toronto since 2014, and Chair of the Department of Surgery at UofT since July 1, 2022. 

She is currently the President of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society. She is the author of 150 peer-reviewed papers.

Dr. Williams is a proud Edmontonian and Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry alumnus. During his residency, he obtained a MSc in Experimental Surgery, with the work completed at the University of Alberta and the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He was also a clinical fellow in Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology at McMaster University.

Since his return to the University of Alberta in 1999, Dr. Williams has served with distinction within the University of Alberta and Alberta Health Services as Residency Program Director for General Surgery, Zone General Surgery Section Chief, General Surgery Division Director and Associate Chair, Department of Surgery. Currently, he holds the prestigious position of Governor for the American College of Surgeons, and he is the Gold College Learning Steward for the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, one of the most successful and sought-after programs to date.

Dr. Emil Schemitsch is an Orthopaedic surgeon at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and professor of surgery at Western University. He is cross-appointed as Professor in the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto and has been celebrated internationally for his impactful research.

With numerous grants and publications in top journals, Dr. Schemitsch is heavily involved in clinical trials, which he uses to measure, inform and apply to patient care. As someone possessing extensive knowledge of clinical practice and health policy, Dr. Schemitsch is looking forward to ushering in more meaningful changes to LHSC as part of London Health Sciences Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Dr. Balaa completed his medical school degree at the University of Western Ontario, followed by a general surgery residency at the University of Ottawa and a hepatobiliary surgery fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He holds a Master’s degree in Medical Education from the University of Dundee. Dr. Balaa has served as Residency Program Director and as Division Head of General Surgery at the University of Ottawa. In addition, he has contributed nationally as a member of the General Surgery Examination Committee at The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and as a Physician Advisor with the Canadian Medical Protective Association. His professional interests include health system design and surgical leadership. 

Dr. Fady Saleh majored in Applied Math at York University and entered medical school at the University of Toronto at the age of 19. He then went on to complete his General Surgery training at McMaster University. He has subspecialty training in Minimally Invasive Surgery and is the current Division Head of General Surgery at Etobicoke General Hospital.

Dr. Saleh carries a Masters Degree in Quantitative Methods from the prestigious School of Public Health at Harvard University, and is an avid researcher who has published extensively in Outcomes Research and Population-based studies.

Dr. Saleh’s interests include Laparoscopic Upper GI surgery, primarily gastric cancer, Laparoscopic Transanal Rectal Cancer surgery, and is a national leader in e-TEP ventral hernia surgery.

Fred Saad is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the Université de Montréal and holds the Raymond Garneau Chair in Prostate Cancer Research. He is Director of GU Oncology and the Molecular Oncology Research Laboratory in Prostate Cancer. His research interests include novel therapeutics in prostate cancer, molecular prognostic markers, and mechanisms of progression. He has over 40 clinical and basic research projects ongoing and has received over 50 million in research grants. Prof. Saad currently sits on over 15 steering committees of international clinical trials and serves on several guideline committees. 

He has played a leadership role in most of the practice-changing clinical trials and publications in advanced prostate cancer over the last 25 years. He is a member of several editorial boards, including Lancet Oncology, JAMA Oncology and Nature Urology. He has over 1100 peer-reviewed publications, a h-index of 160 and over 150,000 citations and is listed as one of the world’s most-cited scientists. Dr Saad has held several leadership positions including President of the Canadian Urologic Association (CUA), the Quebec Urological Association (QUA), the NCI of Canada GU-group and the Canadian Uro-Oncology Group. He is the recipient of numerous awards including Lifetime Achievement Awards from the CUA and QUA and the Distinguished Contribution Award from the AUA. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the American Association of GU Surgeons and was named a Knight of The National Order of Quebec, the highest honour given by the Government of Quebec. 

Dr Darling is the Dr D. Alec Gillis Professor and Head of the Department of Surgery Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health Central Zone. She was previously President of the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons and Editor in Chief for Pearson Textbook of Thoracic Surgery. Dr Darling currently is member of the executive for the Esophageal Disease Oriented Group for the Canadian Clinical Trials Group. Dr Darling was previously a member of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at University Health Network and Professor in Surgery at the University of Toronto and held the Kress Family Endowed Chair in Esophageal Cancer. She worked with Ontario Health Cancer Care Ontario in the Program in Evidence Based Care, and as the Thoracic Lead for Cancer Care Ontario Disease Site Groups. Dr Darling led the Pilot for Lung Cancer Screening at Cancer Care Ontario Prevention and Screening Ontario Health and was instrumental in taking the Pilot to a full program. Dr Darling left Toronto to take the position as Head of the Department of Surgery at Dalhousie University in January 2022.

Dr. Hildebrand is a professor in the Department of Surgery at the CSM and the previous chief of Orthopaedic Surgery for AHS, Calgary Zone. He has been part of the AHS and CSM community for many years, having earned his medical degree at UCalgary in 1989 followed by orthopaedic surgery residency in Calgary, which he completed in 1994. He completed fellowship training in sports medicine in 1995 in Calgary, with further postdoctoral research in ligament healing at the University of Pittsburgh in 1997 and upper extremity surgery at the Hand and Upper Limb Centre, University of Western Ontario the following year.

Dr. Hildebrand’s research interest is primarily in post-traumatic elbow contractures and to a lesser extent in hip fracture care. He’s earned numerous awards, including the J. Edouard Samson Award from the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation (COF) for excellence in orthopaedic research in 2009 and the COF’s Robert B. Salter Award recognizing excellence in basic science research. He also received a Physician of Merit Award in 2014 while working at the Peter Lougheed Centre.

Dr. Hildebrand was the co-chair of AHS’s Fragility and Stability Working Group of the Bone Joint Strategic Clinical Network from 2010 to 2015. He was the chief of Orthopaedic Surgery for AHS, Calgary Zone, from 2008 to 2018 and deputy director and executive committee member of the CSM’s McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health from 2016 to 2021.

Dr Liane Feldman is the Edward W. Archibald Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at McGill University and Surgeon-in-chief at the McGill University Health Centre. 

Dr Feldman’s clinical focus is minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery. Her patient-centered research program focuses on improving quality and outcomes of abdominal surgery. Dr Feldman established a multidisciplinary group implementing evidence-based Enhanced Recovery perioperative care plans at the McGill University Health Centre which was recognized as a leading practice by Accreditation Canada and has been contracted by Quebec’s Ministry of Health to support ERAS implementation across the province.   She has served in international leadership roles including the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), where she served as President; the American College of Surgeons, where she serves on the Board of Regents; and the Fellowship Council, where she led the implementation of Entrustable Professional Activities. Dr Feldman received the Medal of Honour of the National Assembly of Quebec in 2025.  

Dr Feldman has received >4.5M$ in research support, has authored over 375 articles and book chapters and is co-editor of three books.

Dr. Mohit Bhandari is a Distinguished University Professor (a title no more than two per cent of all full-time faculty can hold) and the Chair of the Department of Surgery at McMaster University, where he also holds the prestigious Senior Tier Canada Research Chair in Surgical Innovation. A leader in both academia and global surgical practice, Dr. Bhandari earned his Master’s degree in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics from McMaster University and completed his PhD at Göteborg University in Sweden.

As Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Dr. Bhandari stands at the forefront of shaping the future of orthopaedic scholarship. Internationally recognized for pioneering large-scale global surgical trials and championing evidence-based surgery, he has authored more than 1,100 peer-reviewed publications and secured over $70 million in research funding.

His dedication to advancing high-quality, globally relevant research—and ensuring that evidence truly translates into patient care—has earned him some of the nation’s most distinguished honors, including induction into the Order of Canada, the McMaster Distinguished Alumni Award, the Order of Ontario, and the King Charles III Medal for Impact in Canada.

Dr. Bhandari’s connection to McMaster began in 1988, and after returning in 1994 to complete his Orthopaedic Residency, he went on to serve seven years as academic Division Head of Orthopaedics and six years as Associate Chair of Research in the Department of Surgery. In 2021, he became the seventh Chair of the Department, continuing to shape surgical innovation and leadership on a global scale.

Dr. Ross Walker was appointed as Head of the Department of Surgery in September 2020 and is an Associate Professor at Queen's University. He also holds an interim role as Associate Dean for Postgraduate Medical Education.  Dr. Walker earned his medical degree from Western University and then went on to complete his residency in General Surgery at Queen's University. He became a clinical fellow in Surgical Oncology at Roswell Park Memorial Institute in Buffalo, New York. Dr. Walker's clinical interests include Endocrine surgery, head/neck surgery (excluding oral- pharyngeal) and breast surgery.  Dr. Walker likes to focus his research on postgraduate education.

Dr. Kirkpatrick is a graduate of Queen’s University (MD) and the University of Ottawa Residency Program in General Surgery. Having spent the majority of his surgical career in Huntsville, Ontario he has also had extensive experience working in Low and Middle Income Countries with organizations including Canadian Red Cross and Medicine Sans Frontiers and in remote areas in Northern Canada.

He is a member of Council of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and chairs the Royal College National Advisory Committee on Rural and Remote Healthcare. He represents the Royal College on the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Stéphane Bolduc is a Clinician-Scientist and Professor and Head of the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University. He completed his residency in urology at Laval University in 2000, followed by a fellowship in pediatric urology at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (2002). He has since been the head of pediatric urology at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval. He is a member of the Regenerative Medicine Division of CHU de Québec Research Center and was the Division Director (2014-2017). He was Deputy Director of Clinical Research at the CHU de Quebec. His fundamental research is in the field of Genitourinary Tissue Engineering at LOEX.