Council for Services to Children and Adolescents (CSCA)
The Council for Services to Children and Adolescents (CSCA) was created in 1997 to ensure the needs of infants, children and adolescents and families are met within the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). The CSCA reports to the Board of the MUHC. The CSCA’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, monitoring, evaluating and making recommendations concerning orientations, priorities, strategic plan, policies and budgets regarding pediatric and adolescent services.
VOTING MEMBERS
Dr. Tanya Di Genova
Role on the CSCA: MCH Council of Physicians, Dentists, and Pharmacists (CPDP) Chair
Member since: 2020
Tanya Di Genova MDCM, FRCPC, MBA, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and a member of the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine of the Montreal Children Hospital. She completed her training as a Pediatric Critical Care Physician at the Montreal Children’s Hospital and Toronto Sick Kids. She has been working in the Pediatric Critical Care Unit at the Montreal Children’s Hospital since 2017. After her clinical training, she saw an opportunity to marry her medical degree with business administration and therefore completed a master’s in business administration at Desautels, McGill University and a certificate at the Centre of Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the University of Toronto, where she developed expertise in healthcare leadership. She has taken on several leadership positions: such as Interim Chairperson of the Council of Physicians, Dentists and Pharmacists for the MCH site since November 2020. As the first Medical Director of Patient Flow at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, she leads numerous projects to advance work-efficiency, cost-effectiveness, resource utilization, inter-disciplinary collaboration and patient flow within the hospital setting and among the critical care community.
Heather Davies
Role on the CSCA: Council of Nurses
Member since: 2018
Heather Davies has worked at the McGill University Health Centre since 1988. After graduating from McGill University, she began her nursing career at the Montreal General Hospital before moving over to the Montreal Children’s Hospital in 1993. Since then Heather has worked as an Advance Practice Nurse in pediatric neurology. She has a particular interest in the transition from pediatric to adult health care for adolescents who have a cognitive impairment and for adolescents who have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Dr. Annette Majnemer
Role on the CSCA: McGill Representative
Member since: 2018
Dr. Annette Majnemer is an occupational therapist with doctoral training in the neurosciences. She is a professor at the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University, with cross appointments in the Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Pediatrics. She is currently Vice Dean – Education for the Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, and is a member of Pediatrics’ Departmental Educational Leadership Committee. Dr. Majnemer is a member of the Division of Pediatric Neurology at the Montreal Children’s Hospital and is a senior scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (since 1990) where she leads CHILD-BRIGHT, a national patient-oriented research network.
Dr. Beth Foster
Role on the CSCA: Chief Department of Pediatrics
Member since: 2021
Dr. Foster is a clinical epidemiologist and a tenured Professor of Pediatrics at McGill University. She has held numerous leadership positions at the Research Institute of the McGill University health Centre (MUHC) and was recently appointed Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at McGill University and Pediatrician-in-Chief of the MUHC. Her primary research interest is in the long-term outcomes of children and young adults with kidney transplants. Her research program has been funded by the CIHR and the U.S. NIH (two R01s) to study medication adherence and graft outcomes in adolescent and young adult kidney transplant recipients, who she has shown to be at particularly high risk of graft loss. She has also conducted novel work identifying age-dependent differences in solid organ transplant outcomes by recipient and donor sex.
Dr. Foster has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and 9 book chapters. She has served on two international clinical practice guideline committees, on numerous CIHR grant review committees (including as Scientific Officer) and grant review committees for other agencies (Kidney Foundation of Canada, NIH, FRQS), and on several international advisory boards. She is an Associate Editor at the international journal Transplantation, and is on the Editorial boards of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology and Pediatric Transplantation. She served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Society of Transplantation from 2015-2021. Since 2017, Dr. Foster has served in leadership positions in The Transplantation Society’s Women in Transplantation (WIT) group, and is currently the Co-Chair of WIT
Dr. Indra Gupta
Role on the CSCA: MUHC Research Institute
Member since: 2020
Indra Gupta is a Pediatric Nephrologist and Clinician-Scientist whose research focus is to understand how congenital kidney and urinary tract disorders arise in children. Dr. Gupta is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Program Director for Pediatric Nephrology of McGill University, and, the newly appointed Deputy Executive Director/Deputy Chief Scientific Officer, RI-MUHC and Director of Child Health Research at the MCH/MUHC (Interim). Dr. Gupta obtained her MD at the University of Alberta and trained in Pediatrics at McMaster University. She completed a fellowship in Pediatric Nephrology at the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto. She was appointed to the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) in 1998 and has since remained a member of the Division of Nephrology, and of the research institute at the MCH that later merged with the RI-MUHC. In 2000, Dr. Gupta was cross-appointed as an Associate Member in the Department of Human Genetics and the Division of Experimental Medicine at McGill University. Dr. Gupta’s teaching contributions range from clinical bedside teaching of medical students, pediatric residents, and nephrology residents to formal lectures in the classroom and in continuing medical education events training over 27 pediatric nephrologists since joining the division in 1998. In addition to Dr. Gupta’s successful clinical teaching, her outstanding supervision of trainees in her laboratory was acknowledged by the Department of Human Genetics in 2010 with a Teaching Award. Dr. Gupta has been very active in numerous committees, namely, Department of Human Genetics Graduate Training, Animal Care, and Evaluation of Grant Reviews. Her research interests include congenital kidney and urinary tract development, nephrotic syndrome, vesico-ureteric reflux, and epithelial biology. An expert in CAKUT (Congenital Anomalies of the Kidneys and Urinary Tract), Dr. Gupta is a sought-after speaker at numerous international conferences. Dr. Gupta is a founding member of the Kidney Disease Biorepository from Birth to Adulthood at the RI-MUHC that is collecting biological samples from children and adults with a range of kidney diseases and making these samples available to the greater scientific community to advance nephrology research to improve patient care. She has been funded by the CIHR, the FRQS, NSERC, the Kidney Foundation of Canada, and the March of Dimes.
Sylvia Morin
Role on the CSCA: Chairperson and independent member
Member since: 2013
Sylvia Morin is a consultant and former business executive with three decades of experience in areas of corporate affairs, business strategy and transformative restructurings. Whether working for large national public corporations such as Molson Coors and BCE or smaller more local organizations such as BIXI Montréal, her understanding of issues that are strategically critical to organizational sustainability and to reputation management, have helped drive operational excellence and success. Fluently bilingual and a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors, she has a B.A. (Public Relations, Economics and Public Administration) from Laval University and has pursued graduate studies in Public Relations at Boston University.
Hélène Livernois
Role on the CSCA: Vice-Chair and Independent Member
Member since: 2016
Hélène Livernois obtained her law degree from Université Laval in 1985. She has held various positions in the National Assembly of Quebec, within Sûreté du Québec's executive management team, as well as in the private sector. In both the public and private sectors, Ms. Livernois helped attain objectives, managed sensitive and complex files and assisted in preventing and resolving contentious situations. She also has a special attachment to the Children's where her daughter had the privilege of being cared for.
Élyse Léger
Role on the CSCA: Independent Member
Member since: 2021
Élyse Léger joined Fiera Capital in 2012 following its acquisition of Natcan and is currently an Investment Counsellor. Ms. Léger has over 30 years of experience in the investment management industry. She started her career at leading Canadian consulting firms as an actuary and investment consultant. Ms. Léger also held various positions in the investment management industry, namely as Investment Manager at a major Canadian pension fund as well as Vice President at a major investment management firm. Ms. Léger is highly dedicated to her community, namely as the treasurer of the Institut Pacifique and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation. She is also involved with a number of non-profit organizations and has been a guest speaker at numerous events related to alternative investments. Ms. Léger graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Science (BSc), majoring in Actuarial Mathematics. She later became a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA). She also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation from the CFA Institute and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation from the CAIA Association.
François Laurin
Role on the CSCA: Independent Member
Member since: 2007
François Laurin joined the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation in 2011. He has extensive experience as a board member of private and public companies and not-for-profit organizations. François Laurin has been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Laurentian Bank since August 2015. He is responsible for the Bank's activities in the areas of finance, accounting, treasury, taxation, investor relations, mergers and acquisitions, and internal audit. François Laurin is a Fellow of the College of Chartered Accountants (FCPA, FCA) and CFA. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Public Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration from McGill University.
Kim Morris
Role on the CSCA: Independent Member
Member since: 2022
Kim Morris joined the firm in 2022 and is a registered portfolio manager. Her focus is the management of private accounts for high net worth families and individuals. Kim has accumulated over 18 years of experience in wealth management and investment advisor focused sales. Prior to joining Jarislowsky Fraser, Kim was at Gestion privée des Fonds FMOQ where she managed discretionary accounts for doctors and their families in the province of Quebec. She also worked at top tier firms, Connor, Clark and Lunn and BMO Nesbitt Burns.
Kim is the proud mother of an 11-year-old heart transplant hero and is very active in the pediatric heart transplant community. Ms. Morris earned her B.Sc. in Political Communication from Université de Montréal. She is also a Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) and currently working towards obtaining her Fellow of CSI designation.
Monica Flores
Role on the CSCA: Independent Member
Member since: 2021
Monica Flores is a communications and public affairs consultant with expertise in leading communications, public affairs and advocacy initiatives in Canada, Latin America, Europe and the U.S. As an executive with the world’s largest global pharmaceutical companies including Glaxo SmithKline , Bristol-Myers Squibb and Novartis, she led impactful communications for multiple drug launches, major corporate reputation and corporate transformation initiatives. Working across multiple markets and languages (English, French, Spanish and Portuguese), Ms. Flores has been a member of Senior Leadership Teams at the country, regional and global levels.
Ms. Flores holds an MBA in International Business from École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC) and a B.A. in Anthropology from McGill University. She has also completed the Non-For-Profit Governance Program with the Institute of Corporate Directors. Ms. Flores is Corporate Secretary for the International Women’s Forum (IWF) Montreal Chapter, a prestigious organization committed to advancing women’s leadership worldwide. She is also a member of numerous boards including La Dauphinelle, the Women’s Circle of Influence of the Museum of Fine Arts of Montreal, the McGill University Women’s Alumnae Association and Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Advancement Board.
Robert Bloom
Role on the CSCA: Family Advisory Forum Representative
Member since: 2012
Robert Bloom, the current co-chair and long-standing member of the FAF, is an established businessman, patient advocate and patient partner. Father of two children with medical complexities, Robert has been actively involved in patient advocacy for vulnerable populations at the Montreal Children's Hospital, and collaborating on a variety of projects with the adult patient committee of the Royal Victoria-Glenn users committee, including transitional care. His commitment to ensuring access to care for all patients is reflected in his leadership role with Child Healthcare Canada Family Network, his activities with the Montreal Children's Hospital foundation, and other pediatric organizations nationwide.
Katrin Nakashima
Role on the CSCA: MCH Foundation
Member since: 2016
Katrin Nakashima joined the Board of Directors of the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation in 2001. She is currently serving as Vice-Chair and Secretary of the Board, as well as Co-Chair of the Investment Committee. She is also a member of the Executive Committee, the Governance Committee, the Nomination Committee and the Young Leaders’ Circle Advisory Board. From May to October 2017, she acted as Interim President. Ms. Nakashima has been an attorney since 1982 and has extensive experience in governance, business law, and investment administration which provides valuable perspective to Boards. She worked as a senior executive for Imasco Limited from 1991 to 2000.
Albert Caponi
Role on the CSCA: Independent Member
Member since: 2023
Dr. Jean Pierre Farmer
Role on the CSCA: Faculty of Medicine Representative
Member since: 2023
Dr. Jean-Pierre Farmer, Professor in the Departments of Pediatric Surgery, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Surgery and Oncology at McGill University, is recognized as a leader in the field of pediatric neurosurgery. He holds a BSc (Honors Neurophysiology) and MDCM from McGill University, where he also completed neurosurgical residency training, followed by a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at New York University Medical Center completed in July 1990.
Since January 2023, Dr. Farmer is Associate Vice-Principal and Vice-Dean (Health Affairs) in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at McGill University. In this role, he is responsible for managing and enhancing the relationships of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) with its affiliated teaching hospitals, as well as with the government agencies involved in health care.
Dr. Farmer has held numerous leadership positions in the FMHS, the McGill University Health Centre/Montreal Children’s Hospital (MUHC/MCH) and outside organizations. He was inaugural Neurosurgery Program Director at McGill (1999-2003), Associate Dean for Postgraduate Medical Education and Professional Affairs (2004-2007), Surgeon-in-Chief at the MCH (2007-2023) and inaugural Chair of the McGill Department of Pediatric Surgery (2011-2023). He has also held key extramural roles (Director, American Board of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Collège des médecins du Québec, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada).
Despite demanding administrative mandates, Dr. Farmer has performed approximately 5,000 brain and spinal cord surgeries in children, published over 165 surgical innovation manuscripts and has been a visiting professor to learned societies and universities on 85 occasions. He has received several accolades for his academic work during his career.
Dr. Sam Daniel
Role on the CSCA: Chief of Pediatric Surgery
Member since: 2023
NON VOTING MEMBERS
Dr. Lucie Opatrny
Role on the CSCA: MUHC President and Executive Director
Member since: 2023
A specialist in internal medicine who earned her MDCM as well as a Master’s degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from McGill University, Dr. Lucie Opatrny also holds a Master's degree in Health Care Management and a Diploma in Advanced Negotiation from Harvard University. Appointed President and Executive Director of the McGill University Health Centre on December 14, 2022, she assumed her functions on January 30, 2023. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Opatrny served as Assistant Deputy Minister at the Québec Ministry of Health and Social Services, where she managed the Academic, Medical, Nursing and Pharmaceutical Affairs Directorate since 2018. Previously, she was Director of Professional Services at St Mary's Hospital Center and the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de Laval. Her fields of interest are, in particular, access to health services and the quality of care.
Martine Alfonso
Role on the CSCA: Associate President and Executive Director
Member since: 2013
Martine Alfonso worked as a physiotherapist for 14 years before becoming a member of the management team of the Montreal Gingras-Lindsay Rehabilitation Institute in 2003. In 2009, she joined the ranks of the MUHC as Administrative Director of the Neurosciences Mission, which included overseeing clinical activities at the Neuro and the Montreal General Hospital, as well as related ambulatory services. In January 2013, Ms. Alfonso was named Associate Director General of the Montreal Children’s Hospital. In June 2016, she was appointed Associate President and Executive Director of the MUHC, and from October 2016 to June 2018, Ms. Alfonso served the MUHC as Interim President and Executive Director.
Peter Kruyt
Role on the CSCA: Chairman – MUHC Board
Member since: 2018
Mr. Peter Kruyt has been Vice-President of Power Corporation since 1996. He is Chairman of Power Pacific Corporation Limited, a subsidiary of Power Corporation and of Sagard China, one of the Corporation’s equity investment funds. He is Vice-Chairman of Power Energy Corporation and Potentia Renewables Inc. and also serves as a director of Potentia Solar Inc. and Eagle Creek Renewable Energy Inc. He has been Chairman of the Canada China Business Council since 2003 and became a member of the board of directors of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada in 2016. He was appointed Chairman of the Board of the McGill University Health Centre in 2017.
Renée Vézina
Role on the CSCA: President, MCH Foundation
Member since: 2018
Renée Vézina has more than 30 years of legal expertise in the Canadian and Quebec commercial real estate industry in terms of negotiation, leasing, management, acquisitions, dispositions, construction and financing. In 2001, she founded the Montreal Real Estate Foundation for Kids. The organization has had a unifying effect in the real estate community as owners, managers, suppliers, professionals, and brokers have been getting together to help young Montrealers in need. She is the recipient of several awards, including the Pro Bono Award by the Canadian Bar Association, given to an attorney who has made an exceptional contribution to the community.