We are rhpap

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.”

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. Sayra Khandekar is the Assistant Registrar for Registration at the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA). She graduated from Stanford University and Tulane University School of Medicine and completed post graduate training at the University of Tennessee and the University of Alberta. She has her MBA in Healthcare Leadership and Management from the University of Texas at Dallas. She is a cardiologist and practiced at the Misericordia Hospital and the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton. She has held previous leadership roles at Covenant Health, the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association and Alberta Health Services before joining CPSA full time in January 2025.

Dr. Baba Awakan completed his medical training in Nigeria and South Africa. He came to Canada and has practised as a rural family physician in Camrose for the past 17 years. He enjoys the challenges of rural medicine and is dedicated to improving access to healthcare in rural communities. Dr. Awakan is also passionate about training new rural physicians. In his leisure time, he loves getting outdoors for a hike or a run.

mber 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 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.

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 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.

Dr. Asad Kashani is a community pharmacist, entrepreneur, and advocate for rural healthcare in Alberta. After immigrating from Iran in 2012, he built his career in Sylvan Lake before establishing four pharmacies in Lloydminster and St. Paul. The first pharmacist to serve on RHPAP’s Board of Directors, Kashani also sits as a councillor with the Alberta College of Pharmacy, where he promotes the profession’s role in improving access to care. He is passionate about mentorship and supporting the next generation of health professionals, while raising his family in Lloydminster.

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.