Council

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• Irene Pfeiffer (2010 President)

  

  Irene Pfeiffer is President of Moorgate Holdings, and was a Partner and Co-founder of PWR Search (formerly Russell Reynolds Associates). She joined Russell Reynolds after six years as Vice President, Executive Search for PricewaterhouseCoopers. Prior to that, she had been involved in all facets of human resources, as well as internal communications, with companies such as Mobil Oil Canada Limited, Suncor Resources Inc., and Shell Canada Limited. Areas of specialization include organizational reviews, senior staff planning, change management and workplace diversity/employment equity. For 10 years Irene also served Mount Royal College as an administrator and sessional instructor in Business Education.

  Irene is a Past President of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and The Alberta Chamber. She is a Vice Chair of the Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta and a Board Member of the Rural Physicians Action Plan. She is on the Social Sciences Advisory Committee of The University of Calgary and a Board member of The Ranchmen’s Club.

  Irene is Co-founder of the Pearls of Wisdom Scholarship Fund for Mount Royal College and is on the Advisory Council for Teen Challenge and The Banff Centre. She was also instrumental in the creation of the Women’s Loan Program for Alberta.

  Irene was awarded the Order of Canada in December 2007. She was awarded the YWCA’s Women of Distinction Award for Business and the Professionals in 1997, Woman of Vision Award in 1999, The Paul Harris Rotary Award in 2000, the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Volunteerism and the Business and Professional Women’s Woman of the Year Award in 2002. She is also included in “Who’s Who of Canadian Women”. In 2003, Irene was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for community service; In 2004 the Kay Pringle Memorial Award for Community Service; a Life Membership in recognition of her contribution to the Chamber movement. Irene’s most recent awards are the Alberta Centennial Medal for Community Service – 2005, the Leading Woman Award – Business and Professions – 2006 and the Unicef Canada Volunteer Appreciation Award – 2007.

  Irene is also a Licensed Lay Minister with the Anglican Church and is active with the Mustard Seed Street Ministry.

• Dr. Cheri Nijssen-Jordan (2010 Vice President)

  

  Dr. Cheri Nijssen-Jordan received her MD from the University of Saskatchewan in 1981. In addition to obtaining her MBA in Business Management and a diploma in Tropical Medicine, Dr. Nijssen-Jordan is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada.

  She has held administration and teaching positions across Canada and in Africa, including: Lecturer, Assistant Professor and Medical Director. Her current responsibilities include a Paediatric Emergency Medicine practice in Calgary and Fort McMurray, and role as interim VP of Medical Affairs for the Northern Lights Health Region. She is also an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary.

  Dr. Nijssen-Jordan’s interest in serving on Council relates to her focus on continuous quality improvement and in her ability to help shape the profession by developing appropriate policies and guidelines. 

  Her hobbies include marathons and triathlons, scuba diving, cross country skiing, reading and traveling. She is very active in international health and travel medicine and continues to be involved with several charity boards. She is married to Peter Nijssen and they have four children, ranging in age from seven to 21 years.

   

• Dr. Randall Sargent (2010 Member at Large)

  Dr. Randall Sargent has practised family medicine in Calgary since 1990 with an interest in the health of middle aged men, and seniors with complex health issues.

  Dr. Sargent received his medical degree from the University of Calgary in 1988, and his CCFP in 1990. He holds a Master of Science in zoology, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. He has an interest in the analysis of moral dilemmas, and served as a member of the Provincial Health Ethics Board of Directors (2000-2007).

  As an Associate Clinical Teaching Faculty Member with the University of Calgary Department of Family Medicine, Dr. Sargent has taught communication and integrated medical skills. He has teaching experience within the community college system, and has worked as a field biologist. Dr. Sargent also does contract work the AHS Calgary zone in various positions where long-term care is the primary focus.

  His interest in the College stems from a general interest in the health care of Alberta, and in particular, the complex issues that society must resolve. He enjoys analyzing situations and sorting basic principles. Having served one term as Councillor (2005-2006) he brings experience to the role.

  While loyal to the medical profession, Dr. Sargent feels an obligation to see both sides of a situation and is sympathetic to the needs of Alberta’s health care consumers, and to the health care providers who ensure a fair system of access and care. Dr. Sargent looks forward once again to the challenges and pleasures of being a College Councillor.

• Dr. Louis Francescutti

  Dr. Louis Francescutti received his combined MD / PhD from the University of Alberta. He then went on to complete post-graduate studies including a Master of Public Health and a residency in preventative medicine at Johns Hopkins University. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Community Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine. He is also a member of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
  
  Dr. Francescutti has chaired numerous committees and task forces that deal with public health and injury prevention and has given thousands of interviews and presentations on this topic. He currently works as an emergency physician at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and as a professor at the University of Alberta.
  
  His interest in serving on Council is to help ensure all Albertans have access to quality, timely care when they need it. He strongly believes the health care system needs realistic standards of care and far greater accountability of service providers.

• Dr. Selby Frank

  Dr. Selby Frank has an interest in interpersonal interaction, enjoys medicine and feels that patients and physicians of rural Alberta deserve fair representation at Council.

  Dr. Frank qualified Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Stellenbosch University, South Africa in 1971. He did his internship at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town then moved to Windhoek, South West Africa (now Namibia) to work initially in the Department of Internal Medicine, and then as the hospital anesthetist and Acting Medical Superintendent. He also acted as Medical Director of South West Africa Blood Transfusion Service.

  After leaving Windhoek during a time of political turmoil, he turned to private practice in a Cape Town suburb before joining a clinic in Caledon, a small farming community 120km East of Cape Town. He was appointed District Surgeon responsible for “government patients” in the district, including surrounding villages, as well as Caledon (total about 30 000 population).  
  Dr. Frank returned to University between 1990 and 1992 as part-time student, achieving Master of Family Medicine and later earned Certificate in Medicine and Law from the University of South Africa.

  With the termination of District Surgeon services in South Africa, Dr. Frank was appointed Senior Specialist (Family Medicine) at the local Hospital which included mentorship of the Community Service doctors assigned yearly to the Hospital, and to groups of medical students doing their “Rural Rotation”.  

  Dr. Frank emigrated to Canada with his family, including four daughters (one of whom is a GP) and three medical sons-in-law. One daughter remains in South Africa waiting for her husband to qualify as Orthopedic Surgeon next year.

  Currently living in Vegreville, Dr. Frank is Chief-of-Staff at the hospital and practises with two of his sons-in-law and daughter in a local clinic. His hobbies and interests include photography, technology and history.

• Dr. Stan Houston

  No profile or photo available.

• Dr. Marlene Lidkea

  

  Dr. Marlene Lidkea graduated from the University of Alberta in 1979, before completing a two-year family medicine residency at Edmonton’s Misericordia Hospital.

  In 1981, she started her family practice in St. Albert, eventually expanding to a group practice with three other physicians. Dr. Lidkea has a special interest in child abuse, and was instrumental in developing the Child and Adolescent Protection Centre at the Stollery Children’s Hospital. Her other interests include maternity and natural childbirth care. She is married to family physician Dr. Michael Poitras, and they have two sons – Andre and Evan.

  In addition to her love of historical fiction and Canadian authors, Dr. Lidkea also loves to swim, sled, hike and travel. Dr. Lidkea’s interest in serving on Council stems from suggestions by colleagues who felt she would not only enjoy the experience but also have a positive influence.

• Dr. Karen Lundgard

  

  Dr. Karen Lundgard is a family physician who has been practising in Peace River for the past 25 years. Her practice includes family medicine, emergency medicine, obstetrics and anesthesia.

  She is an instructor for Advanced Cardiac and Pediatric Life Support courses and a Core Team member for the MOREOB program. She grew up in northern Alberta and attended the University of Alberta, graduating from the Faculty of Medicine in 1977.

  After completing a family medicine residency at the Misericordia Hospital in Edmonton, Dr. Lundgard trained there in general practice anesthesia. She was previously the Regional Medical Director of the Peace Health Region and is currently Chief of Medical Staff at the Peace River Hospital.

  She has been married to her husband, Jerrold, for 32 years and they have three sons, the youngest still in high school. She loves to cook, do needlecrafts and stained glass, garden in summer, ski in winter, and is an avid reader. Her interest in serving on Council is to help maintain and build high quality medical services in Alberta, especially in the rural areas.

• Dr. Carl Nohr

  No profile or photo available.

• Dr. Carol Rowntree

  Dr. Carol Rowntree is a Family Physician who has been practising in Sundre for the past 18 years.  She obtained a BSc and MSc from the University of Calgary, before completing her MD in 1987.

  After completing her residency and locums in Edmonton over a three-year period, Dr. Rowntree established her practice in Sundre, including low-risk obstetrics, emergency care, acute and long-term in-patient care and teaching.

  Dr. Rowntree’s interest in serving on Council stems from previous committee experience including the Alberta Perinatal Health Program  Advisory Committee and the CPSA’s Research Ethics Review Committee.

  She enjoys being outdoors, and spends as much time as possible hiking,  biking and skiing. She also finds time to accompany her husband Steve  on a motorcycle tour each year.

• Blair Maxston

  

  After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (in Political Science) and Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Alberta, Blair Maxston began practising as a lawyer 20 years ago and is currently with the McCuaig Desrocher firm in Edmonton.

  Approximately one third of Mr. Maxston’s practice involves advising associations and regulatory bodies on governance, risk management and related issues. The balance of his practice involves acting for owner operated businesses in the areas of sales and acquisitions as well as corporate law generally.

  Mr. Maxston has also volunteered with the Law Society of Alberta, most recently sitting as a member of that organization’s Professional Responsibility Committee.

  In addition to teaching Jurisprudence and Ethics in the NAIT Dental Technology Program as a sessional lecturer, Mr. Maxston is also a guest lecturer for the University of Alberta Faculty of Dentistry Practice Management course.

  In his spare time Mr. Maxston enjoys spending time with his wife, Donna, and their two children.

• Linda Spencer

  

  Linda Spencer obtained her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Calgary. Her areas of specialization in her studies and in her practice are Community Organization, Management and Policy. She began her career in Lethbridge, but she has lived and worked in Calgary since 1989.

  Linda has focused a large part of her career on community-level practice issues related to health and social policy. She spent many years employed in the charitable sector and she particularly cherishes the work that she accomplished with The Kidney Foundation of Canada. During her time with the Kidney Foundation, one area of focus was working towards improved local and provincial hospital systems to support organ donation. Another significant accomplishment was the development and implementation of an employment support model for people with kidney disease and other chronic illnesses. In her current employment with The City of Calgary, Linda manages the overall governance function for a variety of civic partner (non-profit organizations) relationships.

  Linda continues to be active in public service initiatives. For several years, Ms. Spencer served as the public member of the Alberta Health/Alberta Medical Association’s Physician Resource Planning Committee. Most recently, Linda was the public member of the College’s Physician Performance Committee. She is also involved with committee work at the United Way of Calgary.

  Linda enjoys life and all that it brings with her husband and 21 year old daughter.

• Dr. Tom Feasby

  No profile or photo available.

• Dr. Philip Baker

  No profile or photo available.