Biographies

Barry Armstrong, BSc, MD, FRCSC, is a surgeon with a major interest in bioethics, especially in the ethics of military medicine and disaster medicine. He obtained his BSc and MD at the University of Calgary and trained there also in family medicine.  After serving for two years as a medical officer in the Canadian army, he received further training in general surgery and trauma in Calgary and Toronto and became the Fellow of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1982.  For the next 20 years he served in the Canadian Forces Medical Services as a trauma surgeon, chief surgeon, and head of surgical sections in various locations, including Germany, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Somalia.  It was at this last posting when he recognized and reported human rights abuses by Canadian Airborne Regiment.  He participated in investigation and gave testimony before the Commission of Enquiry examining the Somalia affair.  This activity earned him medals of distinction from the United Nations and Armed Forces and a position on the Canadian Honor Roll of Macleans Magazine for 1997. After retirement from the military he served for six years as a chief surgeon of Dryden Regional Health Centre.  Dr. Armstrong has taken advanced bioethics courses at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC.  Currently on the surgical staff of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, he is a member of the Research Ethics Board of this institution and writes and lectures about bioethics, emergency and trauma medicine.

Jerome Harvey, MD, CCFP, is a graduate of the University of Toronto and a retired family practice physician. Jerome was actively engaged in family practice for 43 years. Although most of this time was spent in Northwestern Ontario, he was responsible for the establishment of the Galmi Village Health program in the Republic of Niger, from 1976 to 1980. Dr. Harvey is a life member of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and Ontario, and of the Ontario Medical Association and the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award of Rotary International. Jerome was a member of the Thunder Bay Medical Society Research Ethics Board for many years.  He continues his interest in international health as the CEO of Medical Equipment Modernization Opportunity (MEMO), a humanitarian organization that places redundant hospital equipment in third world countries, notably Cuba www.memocuba.org .

William K Hettenhausen, DDS, FACD, FICD, FPFA, a founding member of CHCE, is a general practitioner and community lecturer in preventive dentistry with a private practice limited to consultation, diagnosis, primary prevention, diet pattern analysis and nutrition by referral only.  He is Executive Director and a Founding Officer of the "Your Teeth For a Lifetime Foundation" since 1978.  William works with Health Canada’s Children’s Oral Health program in more than 50 Northern Ontario First Nations communities. He is Chief of the Dentistry at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and a member of both interdisciplinary Head & Neck Clinical Oncology Teams at the Thunder Bay Regional Cancer Centre.  William is also an Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences, and Tutor/Facilitator at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.  In 2000, he received the Canadian Public Health Association's Weiler Award for his dedication to the oral health of Canadians and for aiding those with little access to dental care.  In 2001, he received the Ontario Dental Association's Barnabus Day Award for outstanding service to the profession of dentistry.  In April of 2002, he was given Honorary Life Membership in the Thunder Bay Dental Association.  He was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Dentists in October of 2008, and as an Honorary Fellow of the International College of Dentists in March of 2009.  In 2010, he was appointed Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy.  At the NOSM's Northern Health Research Conference in May 2009, he gave an oral presentation entitled, "Oral/Medical Health Evaluation and Clinical Diagnostic System Research". 

Jaro F. Kotalik, MD, MA (Kings College University of London in Medical Ethics and Law), FRCPC, physician-bioethicist and the founding Director of CHCE is Adjunct Professor, Department of Philosophy, Lakehead University and Professor in the Division of Clinical Sciences of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.  He is a co-chair of the Ethics Team of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and a member of the Research Ethics Board of St. Joseph's Care Group.  In the past, he served as a Radiation Oncologist and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Cancer Centre and as a Vice President of Cancer Care Ontario.  He was a member of the Biomedical Ethics Committee of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons and of the executive of the National Council for Ethics in Human Research.  He served as a bioethics consultant to Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, Swiss National Bioethics Commission and to a number of health care organizations in Canada and US.   He taught bioethics at undergraduate level, organized and provided continuing professional education and supervised students in Master of Public Health Program. Presently, he is a board member of Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Consortium Aurora Borealis in Thunder Bay and member of Ethics Advisory Committee of Ontario Health Study.  He published papers and book chapters, and gave workshops on ethics of patient-caregiver relationship, end of life care, ethics of Aboriginal health care, ethics of human research and ethics of pandemic planning and response.  Currently, his primary interests are in the ethics of public health and public policy.

Dennis McPherson, BA, HBSW, HBA-Phil, LL.B, LL.M, is an Ojibwa and a band member of the Couchiching First Nation at Fort Frances, Ontario.  He was the co-ordinator and co-director of the Native Philosophy Project at Lakehead University and co-authored, with Dr. Douglas Rabb (retired), Indian From the Inside: A Study in Ethno-Metaphysics for use as a textbook in the delivery of Philosophy 2805, Native Canadian Worldviews, the first course in Native philosophy to be offered in a Canadian university.  After close to thirty years of research, a second edition of this book, revised and extended, Indian From the Inside: Native American Philosophy and Cultural Renewal, was published by McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers in 2011.  At the annual conference of the Ontario Philosophical Association, held in Ottawa, Ontario, October 18-19, 1991, he presented a paper on "Heteronomy and Autonomy in Canadian Native Policy" written by Dr. Douglas Rabb and Dennis McPherson.  His presentation in Ottawa marked the first time that a Native Canadian has presented a paper on Native philosophy at the Ontario Philosophical Association Conference and possibly at any philosophical conference in Canada.  As the first full-time Chair of the Department, Dennis was instrumental in the development of the Department of Indigenous Learning within Lakehead University and a Masters Program in Native Philosophy.  He is currently an Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of Indigenous Learning.  Other recent publications are Dennis H. McPherson and J. Douglas Rabb, "The Native Philosophy Project:  An Update," American Philosophical Association Newsletter on American Indians in Philosophy, Vol. 7, No. 2, Spring, 2008 and Dennis McPherson, “Indigeneity in Education: A By-product of Assimilation,” Indigenous Philosophies and Critical Education: A Reader, New York: Peter Lang. 2011.

Janet Morgan, MRT (T), B.Sc., a founding member of CHCE, has taken on the responsibilities of Treasurer since 2003.  Director of Radiation Therapy Services at the Northwestern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre (NWORCC) until her retirement in 2002, she brings to CHCE her educational and management experiences from NWORCC, including contributing to the transformation of Radiation Therapy education from a Cancer Centre-based program to the present combined degree/diploma program at the University of Toronto.  Other valued experiences include her term as Chair of the Conjoint Accreditation Committee for the Canadian Medical Association, and six years as a member of the Board of Governors of the Michener Institute. She is a past President of the Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Technologists and a past Chair of the Board of Radiological Technicians of Ontario (predecessor to the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario).  Her awards have included the Mary F. Cameron Lecture, the Ken Turnbull Award, and Life Membership for contributions to the Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Technologists.

M. Louisa Pedri, BA, BEd, MA (Kings College University of London in Christian Ethics), a founding member of CHCE, took on the responsibility of program coordinator and office manager of the Centre until 2001.  She continues to assist in educational development and facilitates workshops.  She is past president of Via Vitae Palliative Care Association of Thunder Bay.  She brings with her thirty years teaching experience including curriculum planning, counselling, public relations, video production and editing, community television host, painting, graphic design, organizing and facilitating workshops and retreats, editing newsletters, and public speaking.  A video which she produced placed first in a national competition.  She has been editor of several organizations’ newsletters.  Involvement in volunteer work has included being a member of an REB committee, serving as member or chair of executive boards, pastoral and palliative care volunteer, doing graphic design related work for charitable organizations and being a founding member of several organizations and working at a local food-bank.  Her ethical interests remain in "end of life" issues in health care and the relationship between ethics and spirituality in caring for the sick.  Her most recent paper, written in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Rijeka is entitled "Current Views on Ethics and Genetics:  The Importance of Progressive Evolution of Medical Genetics and Genetic Counseling" was published in 2009 by Formosan Journal of Medical Humanities.

J. Douglas Rabb, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, founding member of CHCE and former chair of the Philosophy Department of Lakehead University.  He has published research articles on Nursing Ethics, Dental Ethics, Environmental Ethics and the History of Philosophy including Native American Philosophy.  His major research interest in health care ethics is related to cross-cultural values.  He is the author and editor of a number of books, most notably with co-author Ojibwa philosopher Dennis H. McPherson, for Indian From The Inside, 1993; and 2011.   His most recent publications in medical ethics include with Dennis H. McPherson and Connie H. Nelson (2004) Applied Research Ethics with Aboriginal Peoples: A Canadian Dilemma, and with J. Michael Richardson, (2008) Medical Ethics, Clinical Judgment and Cognitive Science: A Critique of Wright’s Means, Ends, and Medical Care.  Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics; published on line January 22, 2009.  He has also published a book on ethics in popular culture with Dr. Richardson (2007) entitled The Existential Joss Whedon: Evil and Human Freedom in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “Firefly,” and “Serenity”.  Doug is also a certified Tai Chi instructor and teaches in the Tai Chi for Arthritis program of the Peng You Taiji Quan Association.

Jane Taylor, Hon.BA, MSc, PhD, founding member of CHCE is Professor Emerita, School of Kinesiology and current Director of CHCE. She was educated at the University of Western Ontario, Althouse College of Education, and the University of Alberta where she received the Andrew Stewart Graduate prize for doctoral research. Jane received the Lakehead University Distinguished Instructor award in 1996. She has written extensively on the philosophy and process of inclusion of people with disabilities and offered a clinical program for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder for over 25 years. She is the secretary of the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity. Jane is a research affiliate and founding member of the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health and was its Director for three years. She initiated the Collaborative Graduate program in Gerontology and was the coordinator of both undergraduate and graduate gerontology programs for a number of years. Jane is still actively involved with graduate students who are studying Baby Boomers and healthy aging, the influence of dog walking on physical activity of older adults, postural adaptation and the effect of Wii Fit on sway patterns. Dr. Taylor was chair of the Ethics Committee for the School of Kinesiology at its inception.

Gilbert Adams, F.C.I.,  retired businessman and previous owner of Great Lakes Steel Ltd., founding member of CHCE brought with him valuable experience and support.  He saw service as a Royal Air Force pilot. For 33 years he served as a volunteer of Canadian Cancer Society, including terms as a district president for the Northwestern Ontario. He is past director and chairman of the board of Port Arthur General Hospital (12 years) and past board member and chair of the finance committee of the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation (10 years). He also served as a chair of March of Dimes, Thunder Bay and a member of the National Parole Board. He is past president of the Rotary Club of Thunder Bay and received the Silver Award of Achievement from the city of Thunder Bay.  He now devotes much of his time to his family.

Julija Kelečević, MD, PhD(c), a graduate from the University of Belgrade and a doctoral candidate from the University of Alberta, was Director of CHCE from 2010 to 2012, and is the newest appointee to the Research Affiliates program. In 2008 Julija was hired as the first bioethicist for the Collaborative Bioethics Program of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), Lakehead University, North West Community Care Access Centre, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and St. Joseph's Care Group. Julija was Chair of the Research Ethics Board (TBRHSC) and lecturer in Lakehead University’s Gerontology program from 2009 to 2011, and Adjunct Professor to the Masters of Public Health program from 2010 to 2012. Her research interests include cross-cultural healthcare ethics, interprofessional ethics, evaluation of clinical ethics consultations and teaching ethics to healthcare students and professionals. Julija’s recent publications include works on the organ shortage dilemma; the ethics of forensic psychiatry and moral distress in paediatric intensive care teams. She is currently Assistant Professor (Bioethics) at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Chair of the Theme 2 Course Committee: Professional and Personal Aspects of Practice at NOSM and clinical bioethicist for Alberta Health Services, Calgary. Even though her tenure at CHCE was short we are very lucky to have had Julija put her stamp on bioethics in Thunder Bay.
 
Marcus Powlowski, MD, LLB, MPH, has received education from prominent institutions such as Harvard School of Public Health and Georgetown University Law Centeramong others.  He has extensive work experience from all over the world.  Some of his experience includes being a Medical Officer for hospitals such as Grenfell Regional Health Services in Nain, Labrador; Baffin Regional Hospital in Iqaluit, Nunavut; and Good Shepherd Hospital in Siteki, Swaziland.  He has also worked for the World Health Organization as a Health Legislation Consultant and on a contract to revise the Public Health Act.  Dr. Powlowski has also had publications in journals regarding Health and Law.  He is currently working at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as an Emergency Room.

David Shannon, LL.M., the first quadriplegic to reach the North Pole, is a graduate of Lakehead, Dalhousie and the London School of Economics and Political Science. Although he has many talents the common theme in anything that David does involves advocacy and empowerment for disenfranchised communities. He is the author of Six Degrees of Dignity: Disability in an Age of Freedom, was a member of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, special advisor to the Canadian Paraplegic Association of Ontario, and has a private law practice in Thunder Bay. As Chair of the Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario and lecturer at the Aboriginal Law and Advocacy program at Negahnewin College and Lakehead University, he has influenced many. As contributor to the Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio, Department of Justice Canada he has advised on the Administration of Justice components of Self-Government negotiations and many community based justice contribution agreements and treaties. For his tireless efforts on behalf of others David has received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada. In his spare time David is pursuing his Ph.D. He is a former member of the Executive of CHCE and has just been appointed to our Research Affiliates program.

Research Affiliate:
Kristen Jones, BScN, RN, MPH(N), PhD(candidate) has been a faithful member of CHCE since its early days and became a research affiliate in September of 2011. She is also a research affiliate with the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health (CERAH) at Lakehead University.  She was born and raised in Thunder Bay and educated at Lakehead University for all of her undergraduate and graduate degrees. Currently she holds a full time, tenure-track faculty position at the School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences at Lakehead University. With a background in nursing, Kristen has professional experience in acute care, correctional nursing, clinical instructing, simulation technologies, and undergraduate nursing education. Her areas of interest include ethics (everyday ethical issues, ethics in the community care setting, and moral distress), community nursing practice, palliative care, mental health nursing, cultural competency, interprofessional education, and high-fidelity simulation. Kristen has presented at local, provincial, national, and international academic conferences.