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About

Board of Directors

/About/Board of Directors
About

RhPAP Board of Directors

RhPAP Board of Directors

The RhPAP Board of Directors, through an advisory and policy model is responsible for ensuring RhPAP’s mission to support rural Alberta communities in their efforts to keep health care close to home is successfully carried out. Composed to health and rural community leaders from across the province, the board is comprised of appointed directors from the Alberta Medical Association, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta and Alberta Health Services, alongside public members. Their expertise and knowledge of the issues affecting rural communities allows RhPAP to serve as a respected rural voice on issues related to rural health care in Alberta.

 

Board of Directors

RhPAP consists of the following Board of Directors:

  • Dr. Gavin Parker Alberta Medical Association

    Dr. Gavin Parker

    Dr. Gavin Parker

    Dr. Gavin Parker

    Having received many advantages through his involvement with RhPAP over the years, Dr. Gavin Parker joined the Board of Directors in 2013 with the hope of helping others discover the joys of rural medicine. “I’m a city kid born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and I didn’t know anything about working as a country doctor,” Parker explains. “[RhPAP] is singularly responsible for where I find myself today, and so anything I can do to help the organization I’m very happy to do so.”

    Click here to view a video profile of Dr. Parker

  • Dr. Christine Ellis Alberta Health Services

    Dr. Christine Ellis

    Dr. Christine Ellis

    Dr. Christine Ellis

    Christine has been a family doctor in Rimbey for 16 years, where she enjoys the broad breadth of medicine that rural practice allows her to experience and deliver to her patients.

    She grew up in Neerlandia, Alberta, so living in a small town is nothing new and the background gives her a great perspective on the blessings and challenges of rural life.

    RhPAP was closely involved with her medical training, specifically the rural residency program based in Grande Prairie.

    She has held many leadership positions during training and in practice.

    She is delighted to take her rural and leadership experience to the RhPAP board.

     

  • Dr. Nicole Cardinal Alberta Medical Association

    Dr. Nicole Cardinal

    Dr. Nicole Cardinal

    Dr. Nicole Cardinal

    Dr.Nicole Cardinal is an First Nation Physician from the Saddle Lake First Nation.

    Practising in her home community of Saddle Lake as a family physician, she also works in St.Paul Alberta as a rural family physician.

    Her work includes: clinic, emergency room, long term care, preceptor to medical students and residents, clinical lead in Post Graduate Education at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta Wapanachakos Program.

    She is also an Indigenous Medical Lead for the Northeast of Alberta in the Indigenous Wellness Core.

    Nicole volunteers on the following boards: management committee member of the Indigenous Wellness Program Alternative Relationship Plan, physician council member in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and board member for the Lakeland PCN.

  • Dr. Michael Caffaro College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta

    Dr. Michael Caffaro

    Dr. Michael Caffaro

    Dr. Michael Caffaro

    Mike Caffaro was Edmonton born and raised, but introduced to rural medicine by an uncle practicing medicine in rural Alberta.

    A graduate of the University of Alberta, he was that medical school’s first Fellow in Rural Medicine, taking extra surgical training before embarking on a 22 year career in Hinton as a full scope rural family medicine practitioner.

    “Rural Alberta was a great place to start both a career and a family; the larger community both were supportive of and supported by the practitioners who provided a true medical home for our patients.”

    Along the way, Mike represented rural health care and practitioners at the Alberta Medical Association, Canadian Medical Association, and the Rural Physician Action Plan.

    On returning to Edmonton in 2015 he joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta as an Assistant Registrar.

    He currently has oversight of Registration and the Practice Readiness Assessment programs, which reviews and acclimatizes physicians as they begin their new medical practice in Alberta.

  • Elaine Finseth Alberta Health Services

    Elaine Finseth

    Elaine Finseth

    Elaine Finseth

    Elaine Finseth is the Alberta Health Services representative on the RhPAP Board of Directors. Finseth has lived and worked rurally all her life and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She loves animals. To her, there’s nothing better than saddling up her horse Jazz and heading out for an afternoon ride, alongside her husband Keith on his horse Scooter.  

    “Well, I love living in the country, because I love the fresh air, the scenery,” says Finseth.  Click here to view a video profile of Elaine Finseth

  • Amber Link

    Amber Link

    Amber has deep roots in rural Alberta. She grew up on the family farm and ranch, and except for a few years of university to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree, has lived in the Wheatland County area her whole life. She, and her husband, have raised five children.

    Amber is pursuing an MBA – Global. Much of her current work is in governance. She was elected to Wheatland County Council in 2017 and elected to serve as Reeve in 2018.

    In 2020, Amber was elected to the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) Board. Her work as a Director provides crucial insight into issues impacting rural municipalities across Alberta.

  • Scott Boyer Public Member

    Scott Boyer

    Scott Boyer

    Scott Boyer

    Scott Boyer is a public member joining the board in 2023. He graduated from the Schulich School of Business with his Masters of Business Administration, and has over 20 years of executive leadership experience. Scott is currently the President of a privately held Western Canadian company and has spent his entire professional career in Alberta.

    Scott lives in Edmonton with his wife Stacey and two children (Lauren and Cooper). Scott has a passion for healthcare and a strong belief that all Albertans desire equity access to healthcare.

  • Ashley Woytuik Public Member

    Ashley Woytuik

    Ashley Woytuik

    Ashley Woytuik

    Currently, Ashley is the Clinical Coordinator in the Emergency Department at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital. She came to Grande Prairie in 2012 after working as a pediatric nurse at Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife, NWT.

    Ashley began her work in the Emergency Department in 2013. Since then, she has worked as a staff nurse, a quality improvement nurse and as a mentor and peer educator.

    Outside of work, Ashley loves being outdoors. She enjoys running, hiking and gardening. In winter, she volunteers with her children’s ski club and plays recreational league volleyball.

  • Heidi Overguard Public Member

    Heidi Overguard

    Heidi Overguard

    Heidi Overguard

    Heidi Overguard has a notable background in health advocacy and community engagement, particularly in the context of rural healthcare in Alberta. She has been actively involved in local health care initiatives, serving as a founding member of the Sundre Health Professions Attraction and Retention Committee from 2011 until 2019.

    Heidi’s efforts in healthcare advocacy led to her appointment to the Alberta Health Services (AHS) board of directors, where she served from 2019 to 2022. Her role on the board was significant as she brought a rural perspective to healthcare planning, and worked on enhancing community engagement with AHS.

    Heidi lives north of Sundre, Alberta on a beef cattle farm with her husband and three children.

  • Alexandre Grant Public Member

    Alexandre Grant

    Alexandre Grant

    Alexandre Grant

    Alexandre Grant is a medical student at the University of Alberta. Having benefited from RhPAP’s programs during his own time in medical school, he understands the important role that RhPAP continues to play in promoting rural healthcare among Alberta’s healthcare students at all stages of training. As the past Chair of the Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee within the Medical Students’ Association, Alex hopes to bring the perspective of Alberta’s medical students to his role as a Director.
    Alex has a lifelong commitment to community service and extensive experience in the non-profit sector. As a future physician, he is dedicated to ensuring equitable access to high-quality healthcare for all Albertans.

Our Partners

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our friends and partners in health care, government, and post-secondary as we continue to meet the needs of our rural Alberta communities.

Financial contribution for RhPAP has been provided through Alberta Health

© Rural Health Professions Action Plan