Regional Academic Summit Speakers' Profiles
Professor Emma Watson MSc; FRCPath, FRCPEdin
Executive Medical Director NHS Education for Scotland
Emma has previously been the Deputy Medical Director in NHS Highland and also the Chair of the Directors of Medical Education for Scotland. She has extensive experience as a practitioner, academic and educationalist and is a recognised leader in medical education in Scotland, including previous work as a Senior Medical Officer in the Scottish Government Workforce and Strategic Change Directorate.
Emma is a UK Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy and Practice, currently based at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. As part of her health equity work she is studying bright spot rural hospitals as well as examining the education models that work when attracting health and care professionals to underserved communities.
Dr. Lalit Chawla
Dr. Chawla is an international speaker, Illusionist and TEDx speaker. He has a breadth of experience as he’s worked in addiction medicine, with incarcerated individuals, palliative care, and as an ER physician. He continues to work as a family doctor and is an Adjunct Professor in Family Medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine in London, Ontario.
He was awarded the “2014 University of Alberta Augustana Distinguished Alumni Award” for his contributions in the field of Medicine.
His lectures are entertaining, educational and empowering as he’s able to bring his experience as a performer into the teaching arena. His podcast, The Introverted Doctor, shares tools, tips and strategies for professionals to enhance their life at work, home and play.
For more information (and to see his TEDx talk) you can go to www.magicandmedicine.ca or www.theintroverteddoctor.com
Philippe D. Violette MSc, MDCM, FRCSC
Dr. Violette is a community urologist and assistant professor in the Departments of Surgery and Health Research Methods Evidence and Impact (HEI) at McMaster University and Adjunct professor in the Department of Surgery Western University.
Dr Violette completed an MD CM (2007) and residency in Urology (2012) at McGill University, fellowship in endourology and robotics at Western (2014) and an MSc in Health Research Methods form McMaster (2015).
He has served on 14 national and 4 international Guideline panels in urology. He is also on the steering committee for three international clinical trials and the Canadian Urological Association Guidelines office. His research interests include guideline methodology, perioperative medicine and shared decision making in surgery.
To date Dr Violette has published over 100 peer reviewed manuscripts, 5 book chapters and has supervised 1 MSc and 3 PhD students.
Lawrence Jacobs MD, FRCSC
Dr. Larry Jacobs, MD, FRCPC is Associate Dean, Windsor at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University. He completed his BSc and BEd at the University of Windsor, earned his MD from Wayne State University in 2007, and completed Internal Medicine residency at the University of Toronto in 2011.
Since joining Schulich Medicine & Dentistry in 2011, Dr. Jacobs has played a key role in expanding medical education in Windsor, serving in various leadership roles including Undergraduate Internal Medicine Academic Director, Assistant Dean, Windsor Faculty Affairs, and now Associate Dean. A highly recognized educator, Dr. Jacobs has received numerous awards for teaching excellence and clinical leadership.
Cindy M.L. Hutnik, MD, PhD, FRCSC
Dr. Hutnik is Professor and Chair in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, and Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at the Ivey Eye Institute in London, Ontario, Canada.
She holds the inaugural Marcel and Louise Brunette Chair in Ophthalmology at Western. She is the Chair of the Governing Committee of the Academic Medical Association of Southwestern Ontario (AMOSO), the Academic Representative of the Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (EPSO), as well as a Board member of the Glaucoma Research Society of Canada.
Her major research interest is focused on the pathophysiology and management of glaucoma. She continues to have keen interest in the development of novel and/or optimization of existing treatments for patients with glaucoma. Believing strongly in collaborative models of eye care she is proud to be the co-creator of the London and District Interprofessional Model of Care (LDIM) aimed at improving access to care for patients with glaucoma. In 2023 she was elected to the fellowship of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences which is recognized as one of the highest honors granted to scholars in Canada.
Michael Peirce, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Peirce completed his Honours Specialization in Microbiology and Immunology at Western University, followed by a Doctorate at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. He then pursued a five-year subspecialty in General Internal Medicine at Schulich, with a particular focus on stroke and maternal medicine during his fellowship training.
Since 2017, Dr. Peirce has been practicing as a General Internist and Critical Care Physician in Stratford. He currently serves as Co-Medical Director and Physician Lead for Stroke and Telemetry at the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA), where he also represents the region as the Huron Perth Stroke Representative to the Southwestern Ontario Stroke Network (SWOSN). HPHA recently achieved Stroke Distinction status.
Dr. Peirce is a recipient of the Physician Leadership Award at HPHA, recognizing his commitment to excellence in clinical care and leadership.
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.
Jitin Sondhi HBSc, HBSc, MD, FCFP(PC)
Dr. Jitin Sondhi is a palliative care physician who has practiced since 2009. He began his career at Sakura House Hospice, where he continues to provide care today.
He serves as Regional Physician Clinical Co-Lead for Palliative Care with Ontario Health West (formerly South West LHIN/OPCN), working to strengthen integrated models of palliative care across the region. He provides inpatient palliative consultation at Woodstock Hospital, Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital, and Alexandra Hospital, and is also accessible through eConsult services.
In 2021, Dr. Sondhi was invited by the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre to help establish and develop its dedicated pediatric palliative care program. He co-created what is now known as the Quality of Life and Advanced Care (QoLA Care) Team, evolving from the former Pediatric Pain and Symptom Management Team.
While his earlier career included extensive work in family medicine, emergency medicine, and hospitalist medicine (including serving as Chief of Emergency and Chief of Hospitalist at Alexandra Hospital), his clinical practice is now fully dedicated to adult and pediatric palliative care.
Dr. Sondhi is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in Family Medicine and Associate Professor in Pediatrics at Western University, actively involved in clinical teaching and mentorship. He partners with Pallium Canada, contributing to various teaching sessions and Communities of Practice that advance palliative care education across the province and nationally.
Dr. Tamara Van Hooren, BSc, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Tamara Van Hooren, BSc, MD, FRCPC is the Associate Dean, Post Graduate Medical Education (PGME) at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University. A graduate of Western University (BSc Biology) and the University of Ottawa (MD), Dr. Van Hooren completed her pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, where she also serves as Co-Deputy Chair, Education, and outgoing Program Director for Pediatric Postgraduate Education.
Dr. Van Hooren is a recognized leader in program accreditation, committed to using standards as a roadmap to excellence for both learners and institutions. She is a recipient of the Certificate of Merit Award and Schulich Excellence in Education Awards for her dedication to advancing medical education.
Stephanie Lammers, MD FRCSC FACOG
Dr. Stephanie Lammers, MD FRCSC FACOG, is a full-scope community OBGYN who opened her practice in Sarnia in July 2023. Hailing from Wortley Village in London, Ontario, she completed an undergraduate degree in medical sciences at Western University prior to earning her MD at the School of Medicine at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, in 2016. She then moved back to her hometown for her OBGYN residency at London Health Sciences Centre. She has been a consultant OBGYN since July 2021, having spent her first two years in practice covering a variety of OBGYN clinic practices, operating, and delivering babies across many sites in Southwestern Ontario ranging from small rural to urban tertiary center contract work.
Dr. Lammers is particularly interested in minimally invasive gynaecologic surgery (MIGS), especially laparoscopic surgery techniques. She is a member of the American Association of Gynaecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL), with a focused practice designation in MIGS through the American Board of OBGYN (ABOG).
Building on her longstanding passion for teaching medical students and residents, Dr. Lammers functions as the OBGYN Rotation Director for Bluewater Health as an official Clerkship Site for the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, as well as the overall Clerkship Chair for the Sarnia site. She supports her colleagues in their teaching efforts and supervises the clinical learning of clerkship students, family medicine residents, and senior OBGYN residents on surgical selective rotations as well.
Tamara Kuzma MD, MSc, MSCP, FRCSC
Dr. Kuzma is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University. She completed her medical degree and MSc in Global Health at the University of Alberta, her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Saskatchewan, and her fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Calgary. Dr. Kuzma has held leadership roles in national and international professional organizations and currently serves on the Leadership Council of Canadian Women in Medicine. At Western, she is the previous Course Chair for the Professionalism, Career & Wellness program, guiding curriculum development in learner wellness, mentorship, and career planning and the current Chair of the Competence Committee for the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Her primary research focus at present is physician wellness, including a funded study exploring the impact of disability and serious illness on physicians’ careers. Recently trained in Mindful Self-Compassion facilitation, she integrates this expertise into her teaching, scholarship, and advocacy. Her work reflects a strong commitment to advancing both women’s health and the well-being of those who provide it.
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.
