Welcome to the 2025 EDI Conference!
The Intersectionality of EDI and Physician Wellbeing
The Saskatchewan Medical Association (“SMA”) is dedicated to dismantling biases and discrimination experienced by medical students, residents, and physicians and providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone. We value the participation of each member of this community and want all attendees at the The Intersectionality of EDI and Physician Wellbeing (“conference”) to have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Accordingly, all attendees, speakers, sponsors, and volunteers (“attendees”) are expected to show respect and courtesy to other attendees throughout the conference.
All attendees, by attending the conference, agree with this code of conduct. Organisers will enforce this code throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all attendees to help ensure a safe environment for everybody. We do not tolerate harassment of conference attendees in any form.
- Harassment includes offensive communication related to a prohibited ground*, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
- All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of many different backgrounds. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate for any conference venue, including talks.
- Be kind to others. Do not insult or put down other attendees. Behave professionally. Remember that harassment and sexist, racist, or exclusionary jokes are not appropriate for this event.
- Be careful in the words that you choose. Remember that sexist, racist, and other exclusionary jokes can be offensive to those around you. Swearing and offensive jokes are not appropriate for the conference.
- Attendees asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
- If an attendee engages in behavior that violates this code of conduct, the conference organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference.
- If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please advise the volunteers/staff at the registration/information desk.
- The volunteers/staff at the registration/information desk will assist you in recording your concerns in writing. Important information to record includes:
- Identifying information (name) of the attendee doing the harassing.
- The behavior that was in violation.
- The approximate time of the behavior (if different than the time the report was made).
- The circumstances surrounding the incident.
- Other people involved in the incident.
- After collecting the important information, the volunteers/staff will be prepared to handle the incident. All staff/volunteers are informed of the code of conduct policy and how to deal with incidents.
- If everyone is presently physically safe, SMA staff will involve law enforcement or security only at a victim’s request. If you feel your safety in jeopardy, contact local law enforcement by dialing 911. If you do not have a cell phone, you can use any hotel phone or simply ask a staff member.
Thank you for helping make this a welcoming, friendly event for all.
*Under The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, 2018, “prohibited ground” means religion, creed, marital status, family status, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, colour, ancestry, nationality, place of origin, race or perceived race, receipt of public assistance, gender identity.
Day 1 - Keynote Speakers & Presenters
Welcome Message from the SMA
Bonnie Brossart, CEO of the Saskatchewan Medical Association since 2015, has been a passionate leader within Saskatchewan’s health care system. She has an unwavering commitment to large-scale health system improvement and enhancing the role of both physicians and their patients in these transformations.
Previous to her current position, Bonnie was the CEO of Saskatchewan’s Health Quality Council (HQC) for over seven years. At HQC, she played a pivotal role in building quality improvement capability throughout the province’s health care system as well as leading a number of large-scale quality improvement initiatives.
Bonnie received her BA in Economics from the University of Calgary and her MA in Economics from McMaster University. Her career as a health services researcher has exposed her to a considerable range of health care issues. Prior to her time at HQC, Bonnie worked with the Health Services Utilization Research Commission (HSURC) of Saskatchewan, a large tertiary hospital in Calgary, and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health.
Originally from Alberta, Bonnie is proud to have put down roots in Saskatchewan, where she has lived for over 30 years.
Keynote: Building a Long-term Relationship with Truth and Reconciliation
Cadmus Delorme, a Cree and Saulteaux, is a citizen of the Cowessess First Nation. Mr. Delorme was Chief from 2016 to 2023. In 2023 Mr. Delorme received an honorary degree from the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Institution. In 2021 Cadmus achieved an Institute of Corporate Director designation, In 2016 he received a Master of Public Administration from the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and in 2013 a Bachelor of Business Administration along with a Certificate in Hospitality, Tourism and Gaming Entertainment Management from the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv).
Mr. Delorme served in several capacities while a student in high school and university, including vice-president and president. In 2012, Cadmus was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his student leadership and the hospitality he showed to King Charles III and his Queen Consulate Camilla when they visited FNUniv in 2012. In 2022 Mr. Delorme was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee. In 2015 Cadmus was named one of CBC Saskatchewan’s Future 40, which celebrates the province’s new generation of leaders, builders, and change-makers under the age of 40. During Mr. Delorme’s time as Chief, his focus was on political sovereignty, economic self-sustainability, and cultural rejuvenation. In April 2023 Mr. Delorme decided to not run for a third term and now is Partner to OneHoop Consulting Group and Partner to Flowing River Capital Group which focuses on enhancing Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action #92, Business and Reconciliation. Mr. Delorme lives with his wife Kimberly, brother-in-law, daughter and two sons on the Cowessess First Nation.
SMA President’s Address
Dr. Pamela Arnold is the President of the Saskatchewan Medical Association. She joined the SMA’s Board of Directors in 2019 and represents the Regina Medical Staff Association as a Delegate to the SMA’s Representative Assembly.
Dr. Arnold was raised in small-town Saskatchewan. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Regina and her medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2007. She was among the first students to complete a rotating clerkship at the U of S Regina campus. Dr. Arnold began her residency in psychiatry but changed to family medicine.
She obtained certification with the College of Family Physicians of Canada in 2010 and her fellowship in 2024.
Since 2011, Dr. Arnold has worked in Regina as a Critical Care Associate, for short periods as a locum in family medicine, and a Critical Care Associate in cardiology at Royal University Hospital.
Dr. Arnold is married to her husband, Jayson. When not practising or active in leadership roles, she can be found at the hockey arena watching her 16-year-old son Logan play or is creating art through a variety of media.
Opening Remarks from the SMA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Dr. Carla Holinaty is a Family Physician based in Saskatoon. She earned her medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2010 and completed her Family Medicine residency in Saskatoon.
She practices in the Department of Academic Family Medicine at the West Winds Primary Health Centre in Saskatoon.
Dr. Holinaty is the Vice-President of the Saskatchewan Medical Association and Chair of its EDI Committee. She has also served as the SMA’s Section of Family Medicine Board Chair, Saskatoon Medical Staff Association President (currently Past-President), and is a Delegate to the SMA’s Representative Assembly.
Outside of her practice, Dr. Holinaty enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and travelling. She has recently discovered a love for Pilates and is happy to talk about how much harder it is than it looks!
Keynote: Kimâmawi-pimohtânaw: Walking Together, in a Good Way
Dr. Veronica McKinney is the Director of Northern Medical Services, College of Medicine, Univ. of Saskatchewan. Veronica is of Cree/Métis descent and provides leadership in health development, working with rural and remote northern Saskatchewan Indigenous communities; the Saskatchewan Health Authority; and various health organizations, tribal councils and bands to support and promote the continued evolution and advancement of healthy communities, families and people.
Keynote: Racism in Medicine Physician Survey Findings
Session: Microaggression, Gaslighting and Allyship
Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka serves as the Physician Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Saskatchewan Medical Association and is also a medical health officer with the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He holds the position of Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology at the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, where he is actively engaged in medical education, research, and academic leadership.
Dr. Ndubuka has a strong interest in addressing social determinants of health, anti-racism, quality improvement, and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusivity. His commitment to effective leadership and good governance has led him to take on several key roles, including serving as President of the Black Physicians of Canada and as a past president of the Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists.
In 2018, he was honored with the Rotary International Presidential Citation Award for his outstanding leadership and service. Additionally, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to community service, education, sports, and volunteerism, Dr. Ndubuka was awarded the Late Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal twice in 2023.
At the upcoming conference, Dr. Ndubuka will present the insightful findings from the CPSS and SMA’s Racism in Medicine Physician survey and facilitate a breakout session on Microaggressions, Gaslighting, and Allyship. His expertise and dedication make him a vital voice in the ongoing dialogue about EDI in healthcare.
Keynote: Joy in Medicine
Panel Moderator: Intersectionality and Physician Wellbeing
Dr. Gbenga Adebayo is a family physician practicing in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and serves as the Physician Advocate for Workplace Wellbeing with the Saskatchewan Medical Association. In this leadership role, he leads system-wide initiatives to support physician wellness, promote work-life balance, and foster meaningful, sustainable careers in medicine.
Originally from Nigeria, Dr. Adebayo earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and practiced as a general practitioner before relocating to Canada. He completed a Master of Public Health at the University of Saskatchewan in 2014 and has since built over a decade of diverse experience across Saskatchewan’s healthcare system, including roles in public health, infection control, clinical practice, and physician leadership.
Dr. Adebayo is a passionate advocate for holistic, community-focused care—not only for patients, but also for the physicians who serve them. He believes that physician wellbeing is not a luxury, but a foundation for high-quality, sustainable healthcare. Through mentoring early-career physicians and international medical graduates, he helps shape a healthcare workforce that is resilient, supported, and empowered to thrive both personally and professionally.
Known for his inclusive leadership style and facilitation skills, Dr. Adebayo brings empathy, clarity, and practical insight to every conversation. He is a skilled panellist and moderator who creates space for meaningful dialogue and drives system-level solutions for improving workplace culture in medicine.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from Dr. Gbenga Adebayo as he shares powerful strategies for helping physicians rediscover joy in their work and build lasting, fulfilling careers in medicine, and facilitates a panel discussion on how intersectionality relates to work relationships and physician wellbeing.
Breakout Session: A Collective, Human Centered Approach to Healing Ourselves, Others and Our System
Dr. Alana Holt is an Associate Professor with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan with 18 years experience. She completed a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Saskatchewan where she also completed her psychiatry residency. She serves as the Clinical Practice Lead of Psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan’s Student Wellness Centre where she works with a diverse, interdisciplinary team treating post-secondary students including international students. She is actively engaged in teaching medical students and psychiatry residents.
Dr. Holt is a long-time member of the Saskatchewan Medical Association’s Physician Health Program, both clinically treating physicians and physician-learners and with a strong commitment to the promotion of well-being from an individual to systemic level. She also serves as the Physician Wellness Lead for Continuing Medical Education and Director of Resident Wellness Resources in Postgraduate Medical Education at the College of Medicine, USask. Dr. Holt represents Saskatchewan on the National Steering Committee for Health Canada’s Plan for Health Workforce Wellbeing. She is married with four children ages 16-23.
Breakout Session: Intersecting Identities, Internalized Doubt: Countering Imposterism in Structurally Marginalized Physicians
Panelist: Intersectionality and Physician Wellbeing
Dr. Tito Daodu is a Pediatric Surgeon at Alberta Children’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Surgery and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. In 2020, she became the first Black female pediatric surgeon in Canada.
Born in Nigeria and raised in Winnipeg, Dr. Daodu earned her medical degree from the University of Manitoba, completed her surgical training in Calgary, and holds a Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She also completed a Graduate Certificate in Global Surgical Care from the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Daodu is an award-winning researcher and educator whose work focuses on health equity, anti-racism, and improving access to surgical care for underserved populations. She has secured over $1 million in research funding and published extensively on how race, geography, and systemic barriers affect surgical outcomes, particularly for Indigenous, rural, and racialized patients.
In addition to her clinical and academic roles, she serves on several national committees and is a recognized voice on racism in medicine, inclusive leadership, and equity-driven health policy.
Day 2 - Keynote Speakers & Presenters
Day 2 Welcome Message
Dr. Tracy Danylyshen-Laycock, Ph.D. is the Director of Physician Wellbeing and Support Programs at the SMA. She brings with her a wealth of information and experience in mental health, system transformation, leadership, and program sustainability. She has a Ph.D in Health Sciences through the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan where her research focused on the relationship between leadership, facilitation, and the sustainability of innovations in a health care setting. She has an advanced Honors Degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Saskatchewan (BSPE), a Social Work (BSW) from the University of Regina, and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS. In her portfolio of Physician Wellbeing and Support Programs at the SMA, Tracy is responsible for the Physician Health Program (PHP), the Workplace Wellbeing Team, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). Prior to joining SMA, Tracy was a Director within the Saskatchewan Health Authority and worked in various programs across her 22-year health care career.
Keynote: White Coats, Glass Ceilings: Past Lessons, Present Barriers & Future Solutions for Gender Equity in Medicine
Panelist: Intersectionality and Physician Wellbeing
Dr. Joss Reimer served as chief medical officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Before this, she worked as medical lead and official spokesperson for Manitoba’s COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Taskforce and as the medical director of public health for Winnipeg. She has expertise in health equity, immunizations, sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections and harm reduction. Dr. Reimer spent nine years as director of population health for undergraduate medical education at the University of Manitoba, where she developed and directed the four-year population health course still used today. She also maintains a clinical practice in maternity care, labour and delivery at Women’s Hospital. Voted Humanitarian of the Year by Doctors Manitoba, Dr. Reimer is passionate about physician wellness and public health. Dr. Reimer grew up in rural Manitoba. She completed medical training at the University of Manitoba and McMaster University, training several years in obstetrics and gynecology before finishing a public health specialty. She completed a master’s in public health degree with a project focused on health communication in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Reimer speaks three languages and has received several additional awards including the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, the Government of Manitoba’s Pandemic Medical Hero Award and the St. John Ambulance Pandemic Medallion.
Keynote: Psychological Safety as a Clinical Competency: Advancing Equity and Inclusion Through Safer Work
Panelist: Intersectionality and Physician Wellbeing
Linda Crockett, MSW, BSW, RSW, SEP, is Canada’s leading authority on workplace psychological safety and trauma-informed leadership. She is the founder of the 15-year, award-winning for-profit service, the Canadian Institute of Workplace Bullying Resources (CIWBR), and the 4-year-old not-for-profit—soon to be charity—the Canadian Institute of Workplace Harassment and Violence (CIWHV). With over 38 years of experience in social work, including 14 years as a national and international specialist in workplace psychological hazards and injuries, Linda has reshaped how we understand and respond to bullying, racism, and systemic harm across professions. In this session, she brings her deep expertise to the medical field, offering practical tools, compelling case studies, and system-level solutions to protect physicians and drive cultural and policy reform.
Keynote: Rethinking Physician Well-Being: Addressing Ableism and Improving Accessibility in Medicine
Panelist: Intersectionality and Physician Wellbeing
Dr. Michael Quon is a General Internist at the Ottawa Hospital and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. After re-entering the workforce following a traumatic brain injury, he became a dedicated advocate to improve support and inclusion of physicians with disabilities and chronic conditions. He co-led the accessibility and accommodations policy for physicians with disabilities at the Ottawa Hospital, the first of its kind in Canada. He then collaborated with the Ontario Medical Association to raise awareness of physicians’ right to work with accommodations in the hospital environment. His perspective that well-being planning should address ableism was published in JAMA. He in the invited co-chair of an Inclusive Workforce working group for the Royal College National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being. He is the physician lead of the national community of practice, Physician Health Inclusion, for physicians and medical trainees with disabilities and chronic conditions.
Panelist: Intersectionality and Physician Wellbeing
Olivia Mensah is the Executive Director of Billi Corp., a consultancy specializing in strategy, equity, diversity, inclusion, and workplace culture. A Certified Human Resources Professional since 2007, she brings over two decades of leadership experience across human resources, corporate performance, and project management. Her work focuses on cultivating organizational environments that enable strategy execution while engaging and uplifting the people who bring the work to life.
Currently consulting with the Saskatchewan Medical Association on the development and implementation of its EDI strategy, Olivia also serves on the Board of the Saskatchewan Soccer Association and is a former Vice President of the Board of International Women of Saskatoon. Her approach blends strategic insight with compassion, humor, and clarity – supporting leaders in recognizing and addressing racialized harms such as microaggressions, gaslighting, and mobbing.
Through her work, Olivia equips individuals and organizations to move from awareness to action – advancing justice, safety, connection, and meaningful change in professional spaces.