Members

Dr. Azim Gangji is a Professor of Medicine prior Program Director of Nephrology and present Fellowship Director of Solid Organ Transplantation, Glomerulonephritis, Geriatric Nephrology and Home Dialysis at McMaster University and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. He is also the chair of the Postgraduate Medical Specialties Fellowship Directors Committee and Chair of the Undergraduate Medical Specialty’s Clerkship Electives Programs at McMaster University. Dr. Gangji has a strong interest in medical education and has introduced various innovative programs including introducing a case-based learning program for Internal Medicine Residents. He is the recipient of the prestigious Donald R Wilson/RCPSC award for introducing innovative methods of teaching of CanMEDS roles. Dr. Gangji is also a graduate of the Health Research Methodology program at McMaster and is involved in clinical research with his focus being on volume assessment and associated clinical outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease and those on dialysis and renal transplant recipients.

As a nephrologist, Dr. Gangji has provides care for renal transplant patients and has an interest in high risk transplantation.  He has helped establish a Dialysis unit at Doobay Medical and Research Centre in Guyana and is now transforming this organization into a hospital providing full service care to patients in Guyana.  He has also been pivotal and initiated a program whereby medical learners from Guyana can come down to train in nephrology and other medical specialties.  He has been directly involved in providing advanced specialty education in renal care and dialysis for our international physicians training in Hamilton, for many years.

Dr. Gangji is the inaugural VP, Education at  St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and leads all educational activities in the hospital.  Dr. Gangji has been acknowledged at McMaster being the recipient of the 2021 Health Professions Educator Award from McMaster University.  He has also been acknowledged nationally as the recipient of the Canadian Association of Medical Education Merit Award, the Canadian Society of Nephrology Excellence in Education award, the Canadian Society of Transplantation Excellence in Teaching and Education Award and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Program Director of the Year award.

Rebecca supports and guides our learners through the process of applying for a work permit, CPSO licensure and other mandatory requirements. Rebecca provides the employment paperwork and facilitates the registration and onboarding of our learners.

Karen Belaire is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Shared Services West, a shared service organization specializing in supply chain optimization in the not-for-profit sector. Karen has held such roles as the Chief Operating Officer at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Chief Operating Officer at the London Health Sciences Centre and at St. Joseph's Health Care London, Vice President Administration for McMaster University and Vice President of Finance and Administration for St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton and for Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga.

Karen holds a CPA/CGA designation and an MBA, and she is a Chartered Director (C. Dir.). Her board experience includes: Current: Vineland Research & Innovation Centre (Chair), GS1 Canada, Centre for Surgical Invention & Innovation (CSii), St. Joseph’s Health System (International Outreach Program), and Past: Horizon Utilities, Theatre Aquarius, St. Peter’s Hospital, CIMTEC, Trillium Gift of Life Network, McMaster Innovation Park, Gore District Land Trust, McMaster Museum of Art, HSCN, Kids Health Links Foundation and CAA Southwestern Ontario.

Dr. Khalid is an internal medicine specialist at St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton. She visits Guyana at least four times per year, providing advanced medical education to our colleagues in Georgetown, Guyana. Dr. Khalid identifies and meets with potential physician trainees while in Guyana, and remotely when in Canada and assists with the trainee/learner selection and approval process.

Dr Khalid has worked in various international sites including Peru,Namibia, Cambodia , Uganda and Guyana advancing postgraduate medical education. In Guyana., she was program director for the internal medicine program and helped establish the program to graduate the first locally trained internists in the country . She has also established telemedicine for continuing medical education for physicians working in the remote regions of Guyana. In her role as mentor to the graduates of the program. we are working on sustainable models of care in resource limited settings

Associate Professor, Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University 

General Internal Medicine Residency Program Director 

Finn Nielson connects with approved learners prior to arrival in Canada to develop a communication plan; meets with learners immediately upon arrival to Canada; provides instruction regarding mandatory paperwork; facilitates University and Governmental Office visits and provides local orientation to the City of Hamilton after arrival

Dr. Kruiselbrink is a critical care specialist in Kitchener and Cambridge Ontario. She spends at least one month per year in Uganda, providing advanced medical education to our colleagues in Kampala and Mbarara, Uganda. Dr. Kruisselbrink identifies and meets with potential physician trainees while in Uganda, and remotely when in Canada and assists with the trainee/learner selection and approval process.

Internal Medicine and Adult Critical Care Specialist, St. Marys Hospital and Grand River Hospital;

Chief of Academic Affairs, St. Mary’s Hospital and Grand River Hospital

Director of the Clinical Teaching Unit, Grand River Hospital;

Waterloo Regional Education Lead Critical Care,

Assistant Clinical Professor, Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton

Dr. Joel Hamstra is an Anesthesiologist and associate clinical professor in the Department of Anesthesia at McMaster. Dr. Hamstra is a member of MacGLOBAS having worked in Guyana with CASIEF (Canadian Anesthesia Society International Education Foundation,) in developing Guyana’s first Anesthesia Residency program. Dr Hamstra currently leads the McMaster Anesthesia Department’s initiative in Guyana. He has travelled to Guyana multiple times to provide on- site education and is personally involved in the training of the anesthesia Residents and Fellows that come to Hamilton for specialty training

He is a past recipient of the Canadian Anesthesiologist’s Society John Bradley Young Educator Award (2016)

Anesthesiologist, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton

Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesia at McMaster University

Director, Anesthesia Simulation Program, McMaster University

Ms. Munga provides support for the Department of Medicine Specialties Program and Dr. Azim Gangi.

VP Education, SJHH
Professor, Dept of Medicine, McMaster
Physician Lead, SJIOP Academic Advisory Ctte
Chair, AFC Accreditation Ctte, RCPSC
Chair, Global Health/International Relations, Canadian Society of Transplantation
Chair, Medical Specialties Fellowship Directors, McMaster University

Dr. Petrisor is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in orthopedic trauma. He possesses extensive experience in international surgery activity spanning clinical service, education and research. This includes disaster relief and care and capacity building around the world. He has provided advanced education training on site in various countries and for our learners enrolled in the IOP training program. He has also organized shipments of medical equipment and supplies to countries in need

Dr. Petrisor has received multiple awards, including:

• 2014 PARO (Professional Association of Residents of Ontario) Residency Program Excellence Award, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Training Program, McMaster University
• 2006 Howard Rosen Teaching Award presented by peer faculty, AO/ASIF Principles of fracture management course.
• 2003 Outstanding Resident Award: From the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, McMaster University Medical Staff Association
• 2002 Outstanding Preceptor Award: From the Undergraduate MD Program based on student nominations

Departments:

• Orthopedic Surgeon, Hamilton Health Sciences, (Hamilton General Hospital)
• Associate Professor, Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University
• Associate Chair, Education, Department of Surgery
• Director, International Surgery Desk, McMaster University