Regional Academic Summit Speakers' Profiles
Will Bynum, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
Duke University School of Medicine
Will Bynum, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and a Veteran of the United States Air Force. He received his M.D. at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 2010, completed his residency with the US Air Force and received his Ph.D. in Health Professions Education at Maastricht University in the Netherlands in 2023, where defended his thesis entitled “Out of the shadows: a qualitative exploration of shame in medical learners”, which was awarded best Doctoral Dissertation by the Association for Medical Education in Europe. He has published and spoken widely on the topic of shame and is Co-Founder and Co-Director of The Shame Lab, which conducts research, develops training, and delivers consultancy to advance constructive engagement with shame in professional practice.
Highlighted Publications:
Bynum WE, Artino AR, Uijtdehaage S, Webb AM, Varpio LK. Sentinel emotional events: the nature, triggers, and effects of shame experiences in medical residents. Academic Medicine 2019;94(1):85-9
Bynum WE, Varpio L, Teunissen PW. ‘In the shadow of shame’: a phenomenological exploration of the nature of shame in medical students. Academic Medicine – RIME Supplement 2021;96(11S):S23-S30
Kulawiec A, Dolezal L, Bynum WE. Seeking stabilization: How medical learners engage with shame during training. Academic Medicine 2026;101(1):59-70
Dolezal L, Bynum WE. Shame competence: Addressing the effects of shame in healthcare. The Lancet 2024;404(10462), 1514-1515
Dr. Sheila Peters CCFP-EM FCFP
Bimaashi Migizi Mashkiki Gikinoo' Amaagewinan
Soaring Eagle Medical Teachings (SEMT)
Dr. Sheila Peters is a Métis woman. Her mother, Shirley Fiddler, was a Treaty woman from Cowessess Nation Treaty 4 with ties to York Factory Treaty 5. Her father, Peter Nychuk, is a Ukrainian settler. She is a niece to eighteen, aunty to sixteen, great aunty to eight, a sister to five, and a mother of three. She was born and raised in the small farming community of Shoal Lake, Manitoba.
Dr. Peters is a proud graduate of the ACCESS Program through the University of Manitoba. She graduated from the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Medicine in 1993 and completed her Family Medicine Residency with a specialty in Emergency Medicine in 1997. She was awarded CFPC Fellowship Designation (FCFP) in 2024.
Dr. Peters finished a 25-year career at the Health Sciences Centre Emergency in April 2022, where she was an Attending Trauma and Academic Emergency Room physician, involved in all levels of teaching.
Dr. Peters practiced Family Medicine at Access Centre Downtown, 2016-2024 with a focus on maternal-fetal health and pediatric care. There, she serves her community, many of whom are unhoused, experiencing poverty, mental health issues, and addictions. June 2024, she transitioned her practice to Northern Connections Medical Clinic. She has provided emergency care at the Thompson General Emergency intermittently, for the past 25 years and more recently, Concordia Urgent Care, The Pas, Kenora, and with VECTRs. She has started her own cosmetic practice – Luminology.
In June 2022-October 2023, Dr. Peters’ leadership skills flourished at Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin (KIM) as a Primary Care Advisor. Her main areas of focus included Jordan’s Principle, reinventing current EMS systems, providing care for Thompson’s unhoused, Cancer Care, SIBBI, maternal-fetal health, and mentorship. Bimaashi Migizi Mashkiki Gikinoo’ Amaagewinan: Soaring Eagle Medical Teachings (SEMT) is a consultation business Dr. Peters established in 2023 with work in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), wellness, mentorship and Indigenous Health Curriculum (IHC). Dr. Peters assumes the role of Medical Director of Stoney Mountain Institution in October 2024.
Dr. Peters is a gifted teacher, involved in many levels of academia throughout her career. In June 2024, she accepted the role of Assistant Director of Admissions at the Max Rady College of Medicine at University of Manitoba.
Dr. Peters’ love for both her personal and her work families, as well the many communities she serves, is made evident by her tireless passion, energy, innovative creativity, and her ability to connect.
Dr. Michael Quon
Dr. Michael Quon is a General Internal Medicine specialist at The Ottawa Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. After a traumatic brain injury early in his career, Dr. Quon became a passionate advocate for improving accessibility and inclusion for physicians and trainees with disabilities and chronic conditions, informed by his own lived experience. He co-led the development of the first Canadian hospital policy addressing accommodations and barrier-free practice for physicians with disabilities and has collaborated with the Ontario Medical Association to advance inclusive workforce initiatives. Dr. Quon’s work — including exploring ableism in physician well-being planning — has been published in JAMA and recognized with national leadership awards. He also serves in leadership roles on inclusive workforce working groups and supports communities of practice focused on physician health inclusion across Canada.
Dr. Andrew Deweyert
Dr. Andrew Deweyert is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and a medical science educator with scholarly and leadership interests in competency-based assessment in medical science education. He serves as Faculty Lead for Assessment in UME and is a member of the Schulich Academy of Educators. His work focuses on advancing evidence-informed approaches to assessment design, learner evaluation, and curriculum development within medical science education. He has received several teaching honours, most recently the Schulich Award of Excellence in Teaching. Alongside his educational leadership, he is developing a growing program of research in assessment, with multiple peer-reviewed publications emerging over the past three years.
Dr. Andrea Cervi
Dr. Andrea Cervi is an adult Hematologist and Division Head of Thrombosis at the Windsor Regional Hospital. She serves as the regional physician lead for sickle cell disease and is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University.
Clinical and research interests focus on thrombotic disorders, with particular emphasis on the treatment and prevention of cancer-associated thrombosis, as well as quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing care for individuals living with sickle cell disease.
Dr. Jenny Thain
Dr. Jenny Thain is Geriatrician and Associate Professor in the Division of Geriatric Medicine, Western University. Her areas of expertise include osteoporosis and bone health, with a particular interest in orthogeriatric hip fracture care. She is the Ontario Health Clinical Lead for Hip Fracture and the founder of the ECHO Orthogeriatrics community of practice. Dr. Thain is also the co-chair of the Fragility Fracture Network Canada and a member of the Osteoporosis Canada Scientific Advisory Council. Her recent work has focused on education and implementation of evidence-based care through the Ontario Health Hip Fracture Quality Standards.
Dr. Adaora Obi
Dr. Adaora Brenda Irene Obi is a Consultant Psychiatrist with extensive international training and experience in the United Kingdom and Canada. She holds the FRCPSC (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada) and MRCPsych (Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK), and completed her primary medical training in Ghana. Dr. Obi specializes in General Adult Psychiatry, with expertise in the assessment and management of complex mental health conditions. She currently practices at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, providing both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care. She brings both international experience and a deep commitment to compassionate, patient-centred mental health care. Her career highlights include achieving an endorsement in Rehabilitation Psychiatry and contributing to published research on health behaviour change initiatives in Africa. She is passionate about meaningfully improving the well-being of individuals and families across Chatham-Kent. Her thoughtful, collaborative approach reflects her dedication to strengthening mental health services and supporting the communities she serves.
Dr. Ian Johnston
Dr. Ian Johnston is a pediatrician based in Chatham with a special clinical focus on supporting transgender and gender-diverse youth. His work includes the assessment and management of gender dysphoria, as well as providing compassionate, evidence-informed care to children, adolescents, and their families. Dr. Johnston is committed to creating inclusive, affirming clinical environments and helping young people navigate their healthcare journeys with confidence and support. Through his practice, he works closely with families and interdisciplinary teams to ensure thoughtful, patient-centred care.
Dr. Tom Appleton
Dr. Tom Appleton is a Rheumatologist, Clinician-Scientist, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Western University, with a cross-appointment in Physiology & Pharmacology. He is Chief of Rheumatology at St. Joseph’s Health Care London and Director of the Western Rheumatology Multidisciplinary Specialty Centre for Osteoarthritis. Dr. Appleton’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of early osteoarthritis and synovial inflammation and identifying novel therapeutic targets through translational biology and clinical studies. He leads the Western Ontario Registry for Early Osteoarthritis (WOREO) Knee Cohort and collaborates widely with national and international research initiatives aimed at improving patient outcomes in musculoskeletal disease. Dr. Appleton is internationally recognized for his contributions to osteoarthritis research and clinical rheumatology.
Dr. Jessica Smith
Dr. Jessica Smith is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist with the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, where she brings specialized expertise and a deep commitment to women’s health in the community. A Windsor-Essex native, she completed her medical degree at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in 2016, followed by residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Toronto and a Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. At CKHA, Dr. Smith offers a wide range of services, including pre-pregnancy counselling, comprehensive pregnancy and postpartum care, and gynecologic care for conditions such as pelvic pain and abnormal uterine bleeding. She is passionate about prioritizing women’s health and creating supportive, evidence-based care environments.
Dr. Bill McCauley
Dr. William (Bill) McCauley graduated from the Western University’s Doctor of Medicine program in 1987. He obtained specialty certification in Emergency Medicine from the Royal College in 1991 and obtained a Master of Health Professions Education degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1999.
Bill has held several administrative positions over his career and currently serves as the Associate Dean, Continuing Professional Development and Faculty Development at Schulich. He continues to practice Emergency Medicine in London.
George P. Kim MD, MClSc(FM), CCFP, FCFP
Dr. George Kim is a family physician at the Byron Family Medical Centre in London, Ontario. In addition to his family practice, he is part of the local Palliative Care Community, and contributes to palliative care support of patients and families at home, at the residential Hospice and LHSC/SJHC. He is also a part of the local Medical Aid in Dying Community.
He also holds a number of administrative roles at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.
When not working, you can find him enjoying time with his family, baking, coaching summer baseball and improving his Pickleball skills.
Victor Ng, MD CCFP(EM) MHPE FCFP ICD.D
Dr. Victor Ng is a practicing family and emergency medicine physician and Assistant Dean of Distributed Education at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, where he also serves as an Associate Professor. He is the current President of the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) North America Region and Chair of WONCA’s Working Party on Education. Dr. Ng also holds senior leadership as Director of Programs and Practice Support at the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). His academic interests focus on medical education, health systems innovation, and quality improvement. Beyond academia, he serves as Board Chair of Casey House Hospital and Foundation, a board member of William Osler Health System, and a member of the Education for Primary Care Editorial Board.
