VEGA collaborated with representatives from 22 national healthcare and social service professional organizations (see list below). These organizations were invited to VEGA by the Federal Health Minister at project inception. Through iterative consultations with VEGA, the NGIC identified priority topics, provided recommendations, reviewed materials and provided feedback, and engaged in knowledge mobilization and uptake activities.
Dr. Howard Bergman, MD, FCFP, FRCPC
Dr. Bergman is Chair of the Department of Family Medicine, Professor of Family Medicine, Medicine, and Oncology at McGill University. He was the first Dr. Joseph Kaufmann Professor of Geriatric Medicine from 2001-2015. He is Adjunct Professor in the Department of Health Administration, Université de Montréal, Invited Professor Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine the Université de Lausanne in Switzerland (until 2012). He is also adjunct full Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel where he serves on the International Academic Review Committee.
Dr. Bergman is a fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) and of the American Geriatrics Society. In 2014, the College of family Physicians of Canada awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award in Family Medicine Research. He is internationally recognized for his research on integrated care, frailty and chronic disease with over 165 publications as well as numerous reports and book chapters.
Dr. Bergman is Chair of the Board of Directors of AllerGen, the Canadian Allergy, Genes and Environment Network (NCE) and until recently was a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Research on Public Policy. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Quebec Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux. He is co-honorary president of the Société francophone d’oncogériatrie. In 2012, he advised the Ontario Ministry of Health in setting up Health System Research Fund Research competition (a $65 million Program) and chaired the inaugural scientific review panel. He now is advising and chairing the review panel for the Ontario Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) $11 million competition. He serves as consultant to Regional Health Boards and ministries of health in Canada and other countries as well as to industry.
Dr. Karima A. Velji, RN, PhD, CHE
Dr. Velji is a health care executive with progressive leadership experience spanning the full continuum of care. Her expertise encompasses development and implementation of innovative models of care, interprofessional practice, and quality and safety systems to foster patient-centered outcomes. Dr. Velji is currently Vice-President, Clinical Services, for Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. She previously served as Integrated Vice President for Mental Health at London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care in London Ontario, as well as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Executive at Baycrest, and Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Executive at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.
Dr. Velji is a sought-after consultant for system level projects. She has led the development of patient experience projects for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Local Health Integration Networks in Ontario. She has led external reviews of several organizations including Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Bruyere Continuing Care and Schlegel Villages. Her responsibilities extend to provincial and national leadership. She is the President and Chair of the Board of Directors of Canadian Nurses Association and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Accreditation Canada.
Dr. Velji has cross-appointments to the University of Toronto and McMaster University. She has won several outstanding achievement awards including the Sigma Theta Tau Excellence in Administration award, University of Toronto Distinguished Alumni award, Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) Margaret Comack Award of Excellence in Nursing Leadership, and the Award of Excellence in Teaching (student nominated) from the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at University of Toronto. She is profiled in the boundless banner campaign as an outstanding alumnus of University of Toronto.
At the system/global level, Dr. Velji is a consultant to global sites, including East Africa, the Middle East and Asia, for development of quality of care and academic plans.
NGIC organizations:
- Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada
- Canadian Association of Community Health Centres
- Canadian Association of Midwives
- Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
- Canadian Association of Social Workers
- Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
- Canadian Dental Association
- Canadian Dental Hygienists Association
- Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association
- Canadian Medical Association
- Canadian Nurses Association
- Canadian Paediatric Society
- Canadian Psychiatric Association
- Canadian Psychological Association
- Canadian Public Health Association
- Child Welfare League of Canada
- College of Family Physicians of Canada
- Mental Health Commission of Canada
- National Aboriginal Council of Midwives
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
- Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
- Women’s Shelters Canada