Philip Hassen
President
Phil Hassen became president of CNIS in 2010. He recently left the position of Chief Executive Officer for the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, after a distinguished career in health service management and policy. Phil was board member for CNIS for a decade, and volunteer vice president for two years. During his years on the board, he guided CNIS through very difficult financial and organizational issues, ultimately seeing CNIS become a stable and successful NGO. Phil has assisted the Injury Control Centre – Uganda with improving their administration and management and has taught courses on leadership and management to senior physicians in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ronald Lett
International Director
Founder of the Canadian Network for International Surgery (CNIS), Dr. Ronald Lett did his undergraduate medical training and post-graduate surgical training at the University of Alberta. He completed his Masters in Injury Epidemiology at McGill University. In 1996, Dr. Lett co-founded the Injury Control Centre – Uganda, the first lead-agency for injury control in sub-Saharan Africa and the Injury Prevention Initiative for Africa (IPIFA), a 10-country network. He is currently the International Director of the CNIS, residing in Ethiopia. Dr. Lett is co-chair of the African Canadian Committee for Essential Surgical Skills (ACC-ESS), Scientific Associate of the Injury Control Centre-Uganda (ICC-U) and ICC-Tanzania, honorary member of the IPIFA steering Committee and Adjunct Professor of Surgery at McGill University and at the University of British Columbia.
Elizabeth Schaefer
Office Manager
Elizabeth is the Office Manager at CNIS and has been working for us since September 2001. She enjoys contributing to the life-saving work of the organization and working with staff, volunteers or donors. Elizabeth plays an essential role in CNIS and whether it involves making telephone calls, providing information, or setting up a room for an event, she is the one who ensures that everything runs smoothly in the office. Elizabeth finds that contributing positively to the lives of others in Africa is a very rewarding experience!
Robert Taylor
Surgical Associate
Dr. Taylor is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia. He has been involved in surgical service and training in a dozen countries and helped CNIS establish the Essential Surgical Skills (ESS) course at two centres in Malawi. He is currently developing new surgical curriculum material for CNIS. Dr. Taylor was appointed to the Order of Canada in December 2010 for his contribution to improving medical services and surgical care in the world’s underserved populations.
Lorraine Woolford
Obstetrical Associate
Dr. Woolford received her Master of Science from McMaster University in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1981. She has taught CNIS Structured Operative Obstetrics courses in Uganda and Rwanda on several occasions and brought the courses to Ethiopia in April, 2011. Lorraine is currently developing and editing the obstetrical material for CNIS.
Barry Elkin
Chartered Accountant
Barry is the accountant at CNIS. He is a Chartered Accountant with experience in both the public and private sectors. Barry was a Special Advisor, Canada Revenue Agency; Principal, Office of the Auditor General of Canada, and a Senior Partner in a National Accounting Firm. He was a member of the Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia’s Audit Advisory Committee.
Lorne Braun
Program Associate
Lorne is an International Development Consultant, currently working on contract with CNIS as a Program Associate. His responsibilities include drafting documents and proposals, fulfilling reporting requirements for agreements that CNIS has with the Canadian International Development Agency, the Donner Canadian Foundation and the Wild Rose Foundation, among others.
Karethe Linaae
Public Engagement Coordinator
Karethe joined CNIS in 2008, after a career as production designer for film and television (snobb). She was also the co-founder of Art for Aids Orphans, holding international art auctions to raise funds for South African aids orphans through the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. Karethe has a double Masters in Creative Writing and Film Production from UBC and a Graduate Diploma in Communication Studies from Concordia University. She is in charge of organizing CNIS events, creating information material and web content, recruiting and coordinating volunteers and implementing the Canada Ethiopia Twinning program. Karethe also sits on the board of Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce.
Contact Karethe on LinkedIn
