Our Team

ROLE AT SANTIS

Shannon plays a key role in streamlining office procedures and overseeing administrative functions to ensure seamless daily operations of the office. She takes the lead on office projects, managing resources and timelines to ensure that all initiatives are completed on schedule and align with company goals. With a keen eye for detail and a proactive approach, Shannon is instrumental in supporting staff needs and implementing new processes that enhance productivity and collaboration. Shannon is dedicated to fostering a welcoming and efficient environment at Santis where everyone feels supported and motivated to do their best work.

EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining Santis, Shannon worked at public relations agency Hill & Knowlton where she provided executive support to the CEO & CCO, coordinated events, conferences and managed a multitude of internal projects. She also worked their Health & Public Affairs teams providing support on several client accounts for the execution of client communications, media monitoring, events and more.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Shannon completed an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications, with a minor in Women & Gender Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. She has also obtained a certificate with the Project Management Institute in Project Management Foundations.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Vrinda provides essential project management support to the Federal Government Affairs Team to deliver successful client outcomes and ensure clients are informed of up-to-date insights into the federal political environment. She helps clients strategically foster relations with key stakeholders and engage in grassroots initiatives to advance their advocacy goals. Her day-to-day work in client relations includes building key messaging, identifying opportunities for federal engagement, and closely monitoring legislative and political updates. Vrinda is driven by her passion for making a positive change in the health policy world and addressing system gaps by dedicating her efforts to national-level advocacy.

EXPERIENCE

Vrinda previously worked at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) as a junior policy analyst in the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Branch, where she supported the strategic coordination of Branch activities, including policy planning and reviewing budget processes. She has also spent time working with Heritage Canada, Health Canada, and as a Teaching Assistant for the Psychology Department at Carleton University.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Vrinda graduated from Carleton University with an Honours degree in Public Affairs and Policy Management, with a specialization in Social Policy and a minor in Psychology. She aspires to continue learning about her combined passions in public policy and public health to drive positive impacts.

Role at Santis

Shay is a strategic communications expert at Santis Health, where he leads digital and creative services for clients in the health and life sciences sector. With deep experience in multimedia design and production, Shay specializes in creating diverse content for clients, including websites, video production, social media content and graphic design. Shay takes pride in his design acumen and branding expertise, which have played a pivotal role in shaping the visual identities of several national health care organizations and campaigns. By working closely with Santis’ cross-functional teams, Shay implements innovative communication and design strategies, blending creativity with strategic thinking to drive results.

Experience

Before joining Santis, Shay amassed a wealth of experience in digital marketing and communication, holding roles across various organizations in Ontario and British Columbia. His career is marked by a consistent ability to bridge the gap between business objectives and creative execution, driving measurable success through innovative strategies and content.

Most recently, Shay served as the Manager, Creative & Digital Marketing for a start-up tech company, where he was instrumental in shaping the company’s voice and led all digital marketing activities. Prior to this, Shay worked for the Canadian Tire Corporation, where he played a critical role in transforming the company’s digital experience through a new online ad format. By developing and implementing cutting-edge digital marketing strategies, Shay pushed the boundaries of traditional marketing, integrating emerging technologies and creative content to deliver a seamless and compelling customer journey.

Volunteerism and Education

Shay holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Production with a minor in Marketing from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University). He is also certified in Front End Web Development from Lighthouse Labs.

Role at Santis

Melissa provides administrative and coordination support, ensuring the Santis office operates effectively and productively.

Experience

Prior to joining Santis, Melissa worked on the administrative team at Xstrata Nickel, where she provided secretarial and logistical support to executives and staff, as well as contributed to the development of human resources hiring processes. Following this role, Melissa accepted an opportunity at Richmond Architects Ltd., where she assumed the role of Office Manager. Melissa provided clerical and bookkeeping support, event coordination, as well as assisted in the development of the company’s human resources policies.

Volunteerism and Education

Melissa obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from York University, where she completed her thesis on the effects of music and learning processes.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Sean brings deep public policy expertise to Santis Health where he provides guidance and support on government relations, communications, and stakeholder engagement. He draws on his strong academic and professional background in health policy as well as his extensive political and campaign experience to provide expert counsel to clients.

EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining Santis, Sean worked in the British Columbia government as a political advisor to the Minister of Health. In this role, Sean provided strategic advice to the Minister by helping to analyze complex health policy through a political lens. He also helped prepare and staff the Minister for significant health announcements, engaged stakeholders on behalf of government, and was the key liaison for MLAs engaging with the Minister’s office.

Sean previously worked with the New Democratic Party in Ontario in the lead-up to the 2022 provincial election. He also ran several outreach campaigns for organizations in the United States, including Doctors Without Borders and the American Civil Liberties Union. Sean worked on a successful campaign to get Medicaid expansion on the 2020 state ballot in Missouri and held key campaign roles with the Democratic Party in Nevada and South Carolina.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Sean holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from York University, a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from York University and a Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie University. Areas of academic focus included Canadian health policy, Indigenous mental health care, and behavioural neuroscience. Sean was highly decorated as a student, graduating Summa Cum Laude and earning multiple academic awards during his education.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Hana is known for her expertise in client relations, strategic planning, and content creation. She plays a key role in crafting proposals and drafting communication materials such as news releases and reports. Hana is deeply committed to supporting advocacy campaigns, where she collaborates with clients to develop impactful strategies and key messages. She also takes the lead on project management, ensuring that timelines are met, resources are efficiently allocated, and all stakeholders are informed and aligned. Hana’s passion for science and her creative energy make her efforts the glue that keeps moving the team forward. She enjoys working on unique opportunities in biotechnology and not-for-profit spaces.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining Santis, Hana worked at an advertising agency specializing in healthcare, where she built strong relationships with pharmaceutical clients across various therapeutic areas. Her experience includes developing campaigns for products in the Rare Diseases, Respiratory, Inflammation, Immunology, and Dermatology spaces. Hana is skilled in navigating regulatory bodies such as PAAB and ASC, to create campaigns that resonate with both patients and healthcare professionals.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Hana holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology and Environmental Health from the University of Toronto. Her background provides her with a strong foundation in life sciences that informs her work in the healthcare communications field.

Role at Santis

With extensive experience in government relations, Dylan provides expert advice to build and maintain strong relationships with key political and civil service stakeholders. He supports clients with government relations plans, lobby days, and the development of advocacy materials including key messages, briefing notes and pre-budget submissions. Dylan works with a number of clients including hospital networks, associations, and organizations representing health professionals.

Experience

Prior to joining Santis, Dylan completed a Work Integrated Learning placement at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) in the Communications and Government Affairs division. Dylan has worked on multiple election campaigns at the provincial and federal levels for Mike Schreiner, MPP for Guelph, and Gord Miller, former Environmental Commissioner of Ontario. He worked in Mike Schreiner’s office at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and helped draft Private Members’ Public Bill 71, Paris Galt Moraine Conservation Act.

Volunteerism and Education

Dylan has a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Development and Political Science from the University of Guelph. He also holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Government Relations from Seneca College. He has previously volunteered for Vote Savvy, a non partisan team which encourages young people to become involved in the political process.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Pivotal in guiding strategy, policy development, and public affairs engagement, Catherine brings more than 30 years of health care leadership experience advising Santis’ clients, including senior roles within the Ontario government and Ontario Health. Catherine’s specialized expertise is the cornerstone of Santis’ comprehensive Organizational Recovery offering, helping clients to make sound decisions under pressure, rebuild resiliency, and emerge stronger after upheaval or change.

EXPERIENCE

Catherine brings a wealth of experience to Santis Health, with decades in public sector management. Her extensive background includes serving as Ontario Health’s Executive Vice-President for the pandemic response, CEO of Health Shared Services Ontario (HSSOntario), and several strategic ADM roles within the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and other provincial Ministries. Most recently, Catherine led a critical response for a provincial organization.

During her time as the CEO of HSSOntario, she was instrumental in the formation of Ontario Health through organizational amalgamations. Catherine’s career is marked by her leadership in various roles, driving health care innovation and integration across Ontario. Her expertise in managing complex policy agendas and reform mandates has led to significant advancements in the health care sector.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Catherine is an active volunteer, notably in long-term care and mental health-focused boards. She is currently a board member at the Humber Meadows Long-Term Care Home.

EXPERIENCE

Hayley has produced/directed commercials and video content for companies worldwide. She works with a senior filming team, using state of the art cinema equipment to capture the highest quality results to showcase your story on screen.

Her production resume includes videos for: Volkswagen, Honda, Mitsubishi, Audi, Microsoft, HP, Canadian Tire, BDO, TD Bank, BMO, PartyCity, and the Government of Ontario. She has directed medical ads through Canada and America, including a Pharma campaign that aired on CNN in 2022. Her team’s health care work includes production for Women’s College Hospital, Mount Sinai, Wounded Warriors Canada, Niagara Health and The College of Family Physicians of Canada among others.

EDUCATION

Hayley holds a Bachelor of Arts (with honours) in media production from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University).

Role at Santis

Dan co-founded Santis in 2012 after serving in a variety of senior advisory roles in the Ontario government. At Santis, Dan provides strategic advice to boards and executives across the Canadian health care sector. Over the past decade, Dan has led dozens of leading organizations through successful strategy development, management and execution processes. He has also worked with clients to reshape public opinion and public policy through the development of policy proposals, business cases and white papers aimed at improving health system performance. Dan’s clients include Fortune 500 companies, leading national and provincial health care organizations, government agencies and a range of health charities.

Experience

Prior to Santis, Dan spent almost a decade at the intersection of health care strategy, policy and politics. He served as the senior advisor for health care to the Ontario premier, deputy premier, and two ministers of health. During his time at Queen’s Park, Dan helped drive forward the government’s health care transformation agenda, which included the expansion of interprofessional primary care, regional care integration, digital health reform, and wait times reduction. Before coming to Ontario, Dan worked in the UK as a parliamentary researcher for a member of parliament and health critic; in this role he was responsible for monitoring legislative and regulatory activity and researching heatlh policy issues. Dan’s private sector experience also includes a stint in the investment banking industry in the United Kingdom, where he worked for Goldman Sachs and UBS Warburg.

Volunteerism and Education

Dan is past Chair of the Board at St. Jude Community Homes, a provider of supportive housing for people living with mental illness. He has also served on several corporate advisory boards over the past 5 years. Dan has an MSc. with Distinction from the London School of Economics and a BA Hons from McGill University. He lives in Toronto with his wife and four daughters.

Role at Santis

Dr. Brendan Carr is a distinguished health system leader who served as the President & CEO of the Nova Scotia Health Authority, William Osler Health System, and Island Health in British Columbia.

He brings an array of expertise in strategic health system leadership and governance with a focus on improving outcomes and rethinking the delivery of care. Dr. Carr’s vast experience in enacting positive improvements and large scale initiatives make him uniquely-suited to providing guidance to Santis clients in the areas of stakeholder engagement, transformation, and strategic implementation.

Experience

Prior to joining Santis, Dr. Carr served as the President and Chief Medical Officer of Innoneo Health Enterprise, an organization focused on dramatically impacting health through an innovative ecosystem model that addressed systemic issues such as provider fatigue, service fragmentation and affordability. In this role, Dr. Carr led efforts to rethink health care delivery in response to global trends in patient expectations, demographics, emerging technology and artificial intelligence.

Dr. Carr also served as the President & CEO of the Nova Scotia Health Authority where he led the province’s comprehensive COVID-19 response and ensured minimal disruption to the health system’s core services. As President & CEO of William Osler Health System in Ontario, Dr. Carr led the shift to a learning organization culture, commissioned several large capital projects, and collaborated with government and external stakeholders to position Osler as an efficient and high-performing organization. Dr. Carr spearheaded the rebranding of the Vancouver Island Health Authority in British Columbia to Island Health as President & CEO. In this capacity, he also established regional leadership nodes to promote community engagement and partnerships to address local health needs.

Volunteerism and Education

Dr. Carr holds a BSc, MBA and MD from Dalhousie University. He completed his medical residency at the University of Ottawa in emergency medicine and family medicine. He has served as a director of numerous Pan-Canadian and provincial organizations including Canada’s Drug Agency, Canadian Resident Matching Services (CaRMS), and HealthCare Can. He has also worked extensively with boards to strengthen governance, manage enterprise risk, and build agile, future-ready organizations.

Dr. Carr is the recipient of several distinctions including the Healthcare Excellence Canada Naimark award and a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. Brendan holds a Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation with the Canadian College of Health Leaders, a Certified Canadian Physician Executive (CCPE) designation with the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders and is an EXTRA Fellow.

Role at Santis

Hannah is a multi-skilled communicator with a keen ability to evaluate and craft communication strategies that resonate with target audiences. She has played a pivotal role in building the Santis brand from the ground up, creating platforms that empower clients to achieve their communication goals. Drawing on her extensive experience in the health care sector, Hannah oversees Santis’ communications practice, delivering complex messaging effectively through corporate communications, media relations, and crisis communications.

Experience

At Santis, Hannah has led high-impact communication initiatives for a wide range of clients, including hospital networks, national associations, MedTech companies, and over 20 long-term care facilities across the province. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her work focused on leading crisis communications related to outbreaks in long-term care and timely access to COVID-19 testing in key communities.

Prior to joining Santis, Hannah worked at Corus Entertainment where she supported the Global Television publicity team with internal and external communications, event management and media relations. Following her time at Corus, Hannah joined the Movember Foundation, handling their media monitoring and reporting during the height of the campaign.

Volunteerism and Education

Hannah has a Bachelor of Arts degree in media information and technoculture from Western University, a diploma in radio broadcasting from Fanshawe College and a public relations postgraduate certificate from Humber College. She also recently completed her Digital Marketing certificate with BrainStation.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Michael Ceci helps Santis Health clients engage government decision-makers, rapidly mapping the political landscape to advance both client goals and government mandates. Backed by a political network forged through successive campaigns and service at the provincial and federal levels, he delivers granular, ahead-of-the-curve intelligence on shifting priorities and legislation, providing senior-level signal checks while decisions are still being shaped. Michael’s portfolio spans hospital groups, long-term care operators, pharmaceutical manufacturers, health technology innovators, industry associations, and not-for-profits, providing him with a panoramic view of Canada’s health care ecosystem and the dynamics that drive it forward.

EXPERIENCE

For over 15 years, Michael has established himself as a trusted advisor and aide to politicians and business executives, translating complex policy landscapes into actionable strategies.

In addition to his work with Santis Health, Michael Ceci is a member of the Public Policy Group at a major Canadian law firm, where he provides expertise in global affairs, international trade, and government relations to both public and private corporations.

Previously, Michael served as an Advisor to Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. He has also worked in various production and general management roles in the Canadian and US media industry, co-founding a company and producing a wide array of narrative, musical, and corporate films and videos. Michael started his career and held various corporate roles at TELUS.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Michael volunteers his time as the Board Chair of The Participation House Project: Durham Region, a developmental services agency, and serves as a Director at Ontario Creates, a government agency with a mandate to be a catalyst for economic development, investment, and collaboration in Ontario’s creative industries.
Michael has been a long-time political activist with the Conservative Party of Canada and the Ontario PC Party. He has led and organized campaigns at both the local and national levels and has stood for election as a candidate.

Role at Santis

Victoria is an experienced member of the Management Consulting team with strong health policy knowledge, strategy development expertise, and stakeholder engagement experience. She has a strong ability to facilitate strategic discussions, identify opportunities and needs, and work collaboratively to develop tailored solutions and strategies to address pressing organizational and health sector challenges. During her time at Santis she has worked closely with the Boards and leadership teams of hospitals, community service providers, provincial health organizations, and national and international health and life sciences organizations to help them navigate uncertainty and position themselves for long-term success.

Experience

Prior to joining Santis, Victoria worked at the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) as an Associate, conducting and coordinating skills, innovation, and labour market equity research, as well as managing Board and member relations and supporting on strategic planning and operations.

She brings additional experience from her psychiatry research at Queen’s University, where she focused on the mental health of older adults, pharmaceutical prescribing practices and health care quality in long-term care. She was previously a member of the Queen’s University Board of Trustees.

Volunteerism and Education

Victoria holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Life Sciences, with a specialization in Epidemiology, from Queen’s University.

Role at Santis

Eden supports clients seeking expertise in federal government relations and management consulting. With a foundation in health sciences, Eden brings expertise through in-depth research, detailed analyses, and writing to inform policy and decision-making. She is also experienced in project management and supports stakeholder engagement initiatives. Eden is driven to tackle complex challenges and contribute to the development of a stronger health care system.

Experience

Prior to joining Santis, Eden worked as a research assistant at the University of Ottawa’s Placenta Lab. In this role, she conducted and analyzed scientific research, co-authored a systematic review, analyzed large data sets, reviewed grant submissions, and assisted with ongoing research projects. During her studies and two internships at Santis, Eden has experienced the current and emerging health policy environment.

Volunteerism and Education

Eden holds an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Ottawa with a Minor in Psychology. She has also volunteered with Kids Help Phone, the uOttawa Interprofessional Health Association, the CARE Lab at the University of Ottawa, and Ausome Ottawa.

Role at Santis

Peter joined Santis to launch the company’s first regional expansion in 2017, after spending over a decade supporting five cabinet ministers, in three different governments, including supporting two Health Ministers at both the federal and provincial level. Since 2017, Peter has supported a wide range of clients across Canada including health charities, not-for-profits, think tanks, health systems and companies on a range of government affairs, communication and strategic planning approaches. This work focused on how to understand the nexus between client objectives, health system needs and government priorities to then develop and help implement impactful proposals, whitepapers, and engagement strategies to drive towards a meaningful outcome.

Experience

Prior to Santis, served as senior staff for the Hon. Jane Philpott, Minister of Health in the Government of Canada. During his time on Parliament Hill, Peter maneuvered key initiatives through the legislative process including the government’s landmark assisted dying legislation, the federal response to the acute-opioid crisis, supported a robust process to legalize cannabis safely, as well as the successful negotiation of a 10-year health accord agreement with provinces and territories – which served as the basis for numerous agreements to follow throughout and following the pandemic.

At Queens Park, Peter served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs at a critical moment for the agricultural community when Canada was negotiating both the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. While supporting the Minister of Health in Ontario, Peter supported efforts to successfully negotiate on a physician services agreement, implement the Health-Based Allocation Method in Ontario’s hospitals, address critical issues at Orange air ambulance service as well as the implementation of Ontario’s Action Plan to transform the health care system and deal with the demographic challenges as well as the then provincial deficit. Peter also served in several advisory capacities for the Minister of Community and Social Services,

Volunteerism and Education

Peter has brought years of political and media activism experience to his roles, leading national media discussions on Canada’s voting system, numerous senior central campaign roles on both general elections and leadership campaigns , and also has past board experience on the Northumberland United Way Board of Directors and extensive political volunteer experience.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Nancy is a senior communications leader at Santis, renowned for her expertise in strategy, campaign development, media relations, issues management, and corporate communications. She has a unique ability to see the big picture, forge connections, and inspire teams to push the boundaries of what’s possible. At Santis, Nancy spends much of her time on campaigns to support government relations objectives, helping clients develop their story to spark conversation and change. Of particular interest, Nancy enjoys working on innovative concepts like social prescribing and health technology.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining Santis, Nancy led health practices at two Canadian PR agencies, where she played a pivotal role on many files during the pandemic, including in launching TELUS Health’s virtual care services and spearheading awareness campaigns for mental health, drug shortages, and physician burnout. Her groundbreaking work, including the world’s first drone-delivered human lung transplant, has garnered global media attention and recognition from the Canadian Public Relations Society.

Nancy also spent nearly a decade at the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), where she managed communications during critical negotiations and crises while elevating physicians through branded content and marketing. During this time, she developed a deep passion for uncovering untold medical stories, particularly in end-of-life care. Earlier in her career, Nancy held key roles in the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Ministry of the Environment.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Nancy is dedicated to volunteer work with Wellspring, where she supports cancer patients with non-clinical care. She holds a Social Science degree from Western University and a Public Relations Certificate from Toronto Metropolitan University.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Morgan Davidson is a strategic marketing and communications leader with more than a decade of experience advancing public awareness, stakeholder engagement, and policy impact across Canada’s health care and pharmaceutical sectors. At Santis, Morgan provides strategic oversight for communications programs spanning corporate communications, media relations, digital marketing, and patient engagement. She is known for her ability to craft compelling, human-centered narratives that drive conversation, build trust, and influence change.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining Santis, Morgan led national communications campaigns for top health care and pharmaceutical organizations, with a focus on patient advocacy, access to treatment, and the introduction of innovative therapies. She has held senior leadership roles at the Canadian Liver Foundation and Cystic Fibrosis Canada, where she helped integrate communications with fundraising and public affairs strategies – expanding reach, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and elevating the patient voice. Morgan is especially passionate about working with patient communities to surface real stories that connect public policy to lived experience. She believes storytelling is a powerful tool for empowerment and for driving meaningful change in the health system.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Morgan holds an Advanced Diploma in Public Relations from Durham College, and has completed professional certifications in Digital Marketing Management from the University of Toronto and Indigenous Canada from the University of Alberta.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Avis Favaro is an acclaimed medical journalist with decades of experience. As a Senior Advisor at Santis Health, Avis leverages her extensive background in uncovering and reporting health stories that matter to Canadians to help bolster our media training program.

EXPERIENCE

Based in Toronto, Favaro was Canada’s longest-serving television Medical Correspondent, having started this beat for CTV News in 1992. She continues to contribute to the news programming as a freelance contributor. She is also a host of The CHIP – a podcast by the Canadian Institute for Health Information

Favaro has been recognized with a multitude of awards for her work, and holds an honorary PhD from McMaster University. She also has an honorary membership to the Federation of Medical Women of Canada. She is a graduate of Western University where she earned a Master’s Degree in Journalism.

Role at Santis

With over a decade of experience in health advocacy, policy, government relations, and business development Danielle Flieler brings deep expertise and strategic insight to Santis Health’s federal government relations team. A trusted advisor to clients across the health and life sciences sectors, Danielle Flieler supports clients with shaping policies and advancing advocacy initiatives on a national scale. Her portfolio includes working with diverse stakeholders—from rare disease advocates to long-term care associations and health research bodies—creating impactful recommendations that influence policy and improve outcomes in Canada’s health care system.

Experience

Prior to joining Santis, Danielle was the Senior Development Manager at Research Canada, an Alliance dedicated to federal advocacy on behalf of health research and health innovation in Canada. During her time at Research Canada, Danielle managed a portfolio of over 100+ members and stakeholders stemming from a variety of sectors including biopharmaceutical companies, academic health science centres, hospitals, health charities, universities and start-ups.

Danielle has held other roles in health care over the years, including Ottawa Chapter Manager at Cystic Fibrosis Canada and Officer of Program and Sponsorships at the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Volunteerism and Education

Danielle completed her Honours B.A. at the University of Ottawa in History with a Minor in Psychology. She also recently completed her Mini-MBA at Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Mirianna is a Public Affairs Coordinator on the Ontario Government Relations Team. At Santis, Mirianna monitors for the introduction of new bills and regulations, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario’s Question Period and Hansard, announcements from the government and opposition parties, committee meetings, and other channels for political updates of interest for clients. Mirianna also provides research, communications and project management support for clients, including health professions and associations.

EXPERIENCE

Before working at Santis, Mirianna was a research assistant at the Global and Environmental Lab, where she worked on a project funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR). Additionally, Mirianna has professional and academic experience working on projects with international and national health organizations such as Plan International Canada and the Public Health Agency Canada (PHAC). Mirianna has also conducted policy analysis and research on vaping products.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Mirianna holds a Master of Science in Global Health from McMaster University, a Bachelor of Global Health from York University and a Bachelor of Humanities and Biology from Carleton University.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Sarah is a Senior Consultant on the Management Consulting Team, helping to execute effective stakeholder engagement, facilitations with Boards and leadership teams and overall strategy development. With a background in data analytics and demographics and a passion for the health care industry, Sarah brings a unique set of skills to help clients understand their needs and create successful and meaningful outcomes in an ever-changing environment.

EXPERIENCE

Sarah brings experience in synthesizing data, managing large, complex projects and creating high- quality deliverables for clients. Prior to joining Santis, Sarah worked at Environics Analytics as the Director of Demographic Data, leading a team of data analysts and scientists. Through her 8 years of experience at Environics Analytics, Sarah helped produce many data products related to demographics, behaviours and lifestyles. She led the development of new methodologies, project management and strategic support for the team. She also assisted in leading webinars on the topic of demographics in Canada with a focus on the senior population.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Sarah holds a Master’s of Spatial Analysis from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Geography and Environmental Management, with a minor in History and a Specialization in Geomatics, from the University of Waterloo.

Role at Santis

Jonathan brings senior strategic counsel and decades of executive and advisory experience to Santis.

Experience

For seven years, Jonathan served as the CEO of the Ontario Medical Association, gaining significant exposure to all facets of the health care system. Upon his arrival, he worked with the board to initiate and implement a Strategic Plan designed to cover the fundamental issues facing the OMA. Based on the plan, the board implemented a major governance realignment, and a communications and public affairs strategy (implemented by Patrick Nelson), which guided the Association’s approach in two rounds of negotiations. Jonathan was also responsible for the turnaround of the OMA subsidiary, OntarioMD, which placed Electronic Medical Record (EMR) technology in the hands of over 11,000 Ontario physicians.

Prior to his tenure at the OMA, Jonathan ran the Credit Union Central of Ontario for over twelve years, where he envisioned and engineered the merger with BC Central Credit Union to create the pan-Canadian Central1. Prior to that he served as a lawyer and diplomat in the foreign service.

Volunteerism and Education

Jonathan has also served on numerous boards, including the University of Guelph, the Harvard Alumni Association, Credit Union Central of Canada, OntarioMD, the Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare, a trust company and two insurance companies. He was Chair of the University of Guelph’s Health for Life initiative and is chair of Board of the Pine River Institute. Jonathan has a law degree from the University of Toronto and a degree in economics from Harvard University.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Madeleine draws on her academic background and experience in health and life sciences to support the Life Sciences team at Santis. She contributes to research, policy analysis, and project management across client files in pharmaceuticals, health care, and digital health. Madeleine works closely with colleagues to support the development of key deliverables that align with clients’ needs. She also supports stakeholder engagement, monitors relevant policy and regulatory developments, and helps prepare briefing materials for clients.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining Santis, Madeleine developed a strong foundation in the non-profit and health policy sectors. At Cystic Fibrosis Canada, she worked across the research and communications teams to translate complex scientific information into accessible content for the cystic fibrosis community. She also has experience in digital health, with a focus on health data policy and privacy legislation, and has supported initiatives aimed at strengthening health system collaboration and information-sharing.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Madeleine holds a Master of Management of Applied Science and a Bachelor of Science in Genetics from Western University. Her educational background blends business with science, giving her a unique perspective that she brings to her work in the life sciences team. During her time at Western, Madeleine also served as Vice President of External Affairs for the Women in STEM club, where she helped build partnerships and promote opportunities for women pursuing careers in science and technology.

Role at Santis

Izabella provides research, policy analysis, communications, project management and stakeholder engagement support to the Santis team and its clients.

Experience

Izabella has extensive skills and experience in leading multi-stakeholder projects that seek to establish evidence and influence health policies to act on necessary pathways to support healthcare improvement and innovation. Prior to joining the Santis team, Izabella worked as a Research and Partnerships Manager at a women’s health medical technology start-up, Eve Medical. During her time at Eve Medical, Izabella managed governmental contracts focused on technology innovation and also supported the research development, clinical validation, quality assurance, and sale of innovative self-sampling technologies to improve access to diagnostic tests for women in Canada. Izabella also worked at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre at the Practice-Based Research and Innovation (PBRI) Group where she operationalized PBRI’s 5-year strategic plan to ensure goals and objectives were being met. Along with developing new initiatives in engaging patients as co-learners in a didactic quality improvement curriculum to develop skills and collaboration between patients and clinicians to improve gaps in care.

Volunteerism and Education

Izabella completed her Master in Public Health degree at University of Waterloo in June 2020. Her final seminar presentation showcased a policy analysis on appropriate tax reform measures for vaping products in Ontario. She also holds a B.A. (Honours) is Anthropology and a professional diploma in Not-For-Profit Management from Western University

Role at Santis

Ben leads Santis’s digital health practice, helping clients understand and leverage information technology to re-shape Canada’s health care system. Ben is a well-known expert in his field, with more than 15 years of experience in the sector. He has worked extensively in both the public and private sectors and has a deep understanding of the ways in which public policy can both drive and hinder innovation. He provides clients with an encyclopedic knowledge of the past and present of digital health in Canada, along with actionable insights regarding the likely evolution of the sector moving forward.

In addition to his role at Santis, Ben also teaches digital health policy at the University of Toronto where he enjoys educating the next generation of policy leaders in the field.

Experience

Ben has more than 15 years of experience in Canada’s digital health system. Prior to joining Santis, Ben was the Manager of Strategy + Innovation at the Ministry of Health’s Digital Health Secretariat, where he was responsible for the development of the province’s overarching digital health strategy. Ben helped to spearhead digital components of the Ontario Health Team initiative, the establishment of a provincial eConsult service, and the creation of innovative virtual care pilots. He also negotiated provincial funding agreements and addressed policy barriers that were limiting the spread and impact of technology across the health system.

Ben has also worked as an analyst and system designer for public sector IT development projects.

Volunteerism and Education

Ben has a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University as well as a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University.

Ben has also co-written and produced a pair of award-winning musicals that were staged at independent theatre festivals in Toronto.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Valerie is an experienced health care communicator with expertise in strategy, data-driven campaign development, reputation management and corporate communications. She is solutions-oriented and brings a systems mindset that shows crucial connections between context, priority areas and stakeholder impacts. At Santis’ Toronto office, Valerie provides strategic communications planning and counsel and mentors the communications team to create valuable outcomes and cultivate relationships.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining Santis, Valerie developed strategic communications programs in a variety of health system roles, such as leading the proactive COVID-19 response at Peel Public Health, advising on hospital corporate communications, issues management and special projects at Headwaters Health Care Centre, and piloting a data-driven practice to measure physician communications engagement at the Ontario Medical Association.

Earlier in her career, Valerie was accountable for regional government external communications projects, housing issues management and member communications, digital innovation marketing communications products, and multimedia storytelling in a variety of sectors. Her diverse experience underscores an audience-centric approach to communications management.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Valerie is trained as a Master of Communications Management (MCM) with a research interest in AI systems transformation and communications innovation. She is a former journalist and holds an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree in anthropology and linguistics. Passionate about mental health, she volunteers with Strong Minds Strong Kids, a national charity championing proactive children’s mental health with educators, parents and psychologists.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Stephanie leads the Human Resources function at Santis Health. In a business centered around talent, HR serves a critical strategic role, focused on attracting, developing, and retaining top consulting professionals at every level. Under Stephanie’s leadership, the HR team ensures that employees are positioned to consistently deliver exceptional results for clients.

EXPERIENCE

Stephanie has spent the past 15 years advising and working within high-impact organizations in the areas of people, change and operational effectiveness. With an MBA and a background in management consulting, she is recognized as an exceptional business partner to senior leaders and Boards. She brings a unique perspective gained from working across a variety of industries from public services to tech and has a strong focus on healthcare.

Prior to joining Santis, Stephanie served as VP, People at Maple Corporation, a fast-growing healthtech startup, where she led the HR function from start-up to scale-up. There, she set strategy, developed leading-practice operations across all HR pillars, establishing an HRBP structure across the organization, sustainably growing company headcount, and drove all HR aspects of a strategic acquisition and external investment rounds. At Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, she led change efforts for priority one enterprise-level initiatives, including global expansion. Stephanie also brings considerable management consulting experience. Most recently, she ran an independent HR consulting practice, supporting clients to build, scale and refine best-practice People programs. She started her career at KPMG, where supported public sector Boards and Senior teams in strategic plan and operational efficiency initiatives with a strong focus on complex stakeholder engagement.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Stephanie has an MBA from McMaster University with a focus in healthcare management and a BA Hons from University of King’s College. She is a past Committee Member of her high school alumni association and Board Member of Social Venture Partners Toronto. She lives in Toronto with her young family.

Role at Santis

At Santis, Yvan serves as a writing lead and has worked on multiple projects for member associations and hospitals. Much of his work involves collaborating with senior managers, subject matter experts and marketing teams to help build the essential written elements of their communications projects.

Experience

For over 15 years, Yvan’s work has focused on health care writing projects. As a consultant for the Ontario Hospital Association, he has written and assisted with the development of more than 20 OHA publications including a 400-page guide for perioperative supply chain management that became the seminal resource for Ontario hospitals, as well as a number of guides and toolkits related to health human resources.

As a corporate communications writer, he plans and develops complex messaging projects including annual reports for eHealth Ontario, work that grew from his experience with a Fortune 500 company producing annual reports, web content and speeches. He also serves as a technical writing consultant for a medical device manufacturer where he organizes information and learning, and helps to devise and implement content marketing strategies.

Volunteerism and Education

Yvan has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and English Literature from the University of Ottawa and a diploma in journalism from Sheridan College.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Dr. McNally has held strategic leadership roles in health care for over 20 years. She has worked in various care settings in both northeastern Ontario and on PEI as a practising family physician. 

Her wealth of acumen in primary care, strategic leadership, and firsthand practitioner experience make her uniquely-suited to providing guidance to Santis clients in the areas of public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and policy analysis.

EXPERIENCE

A distinguished leader in health care, Dr. McNally has over 20 years of experience as a practising family physician both in northeastern Ontario and on PEI. Her work in advancing primary care has garnered her numerous health sector accolades. She has worked in a wide range of settings  including full scope community family medicine, long-term care, emergency medicine and acute hospital medicine. Her most recent clinical work is with the homeless population on PEI and in community family medicine.  

Prior to joining Santis, she served as the Chief Medical Officer of Health PEI, the province’s health authority. In this role Dr. McNally was accountable for physician leadership structure, appointment & privileging, and the Medical Affairs team, among other responsibilities. Dr. McNally co-authored and was instrumental in the initiation of the Provincial Primary Care Road Map (PCRM) leading to the province-wide implementation of Patient Medical Homes and Neighbourhoods. 

She previously held the role of Director of Health Services with PEI’s Department of Health & Wellness.

Dr. McNally received the Health PEI Board Leadership Excellence in Quality & Safety award in 2024 and the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Award of Excellence for leadership in primary care in 2020. She received her first CFPC Award of Excellence for leadership in hospitalist medicine in 2009 in recognition of creating and implementing the first Hospitalist program on PEI.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Dr. McNally graduated from Dalhousie University’s M.D. program and the University of Ottawa Family Residency program. She holds a B.Sc. Major in biology obtained from the University of Prince Edward Island. She completed a Master’s Certificate in Physician Leadership with the Schulich Executive Education Center at York University and is a Canadian Certified Physician Executive (CCPE).

A strong advocate for physician health and wellness, Dr. McNally was the inaugural chair of the Medical Society of Prince Edward Island (MSPEI) provincial steering committee on physician health and engagement from 2016 to 2021 and was pivotal in the creation and implementation of the first provincial physician health program. For over a decade, she was the provincial representative and advocate for physician health attending national meetings and conferences on behalf of MSPEI.  She was awarded the MSPEI President’s Leadership award in 2018 for her years of advancing awareness and advocacy in the area.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Clare helps health care organizations navigate the complexities of government and craft the right message at critical moments in the public environment. She brings extensive experience in provincial government relations and strategic communications, helping clients develop thoughtful engagement strategies and targeted public affairs campaigns that drive advocacy outcomes and align organizational goals with public priorities.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining Santis, Clare led high-stakes mandates for a Canadian crisis communications agency, where she worked with broader public sector clients, including hospitals, long-term care operators, universities and social services organizations. Her work focused on government engagement and public positioning during times of reputational risk and sector-wide transformation.

Clare also previously served as Director of Strategic Communications and Principal Writer for the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario. In this role, she supported the Premier through hundreds of press conferences and speeches covering the government’s COVID-19 response, major infrastructure investments, and omnibus legislation. She also oversaw the intergovernmental affairs portfolio.

Earlier in her public service career, Clare was a senior communications advisor to Ontario’s Minister of Finance, where she scripted provincial budgets and fiscal updates, and supported the ministry through key economic announcements.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Clare holds a Master of Global Affairs from the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto and an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Greater Toronto Central Council and Participation House Durham. Clare also plays an active role in political campaigns at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.

Role at Santis

With more than fifteen years of experience in political campaigns, policy, and government engagement, James Mitchell brings significant expertise and strategic insights to Santis Health’s Western Canada team. A trusted advisor to clients in the health care and life sciences sectors, James Mitchell supports clients with advancing advocacy initiatives and shaping policy in Western Canada and across the country. His experience at Santis includes working with diverse clients from regulatory colleges to pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers to health care charities crafting campaigns that influence policy and improve outcomes across Canada’s health care system.

Experience

Prior to joining Santis, James worked as a consultant, regularly advising government officials and candidates across all three levels of government. In this role, James provided advocacy and public policy advice to health stakeholders, including work to support veterans and first responders dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

James has extensive experience working on political campaigns across Canada. Notably, he acted as Deputy Campaign Director on Ken Sim’s successful campaign to become Mayor of the City of Vancouver. James also previously advised the Leader of Canada’s Official Opposition on a number of issues including health care policy.

With over a decade of experience in politics, James has a keen sense of determining what elected officials and their staff are looking for when making key decisions. Most notably, James translated this political expertise to support the development of several campaigns that advocated for various public benefits including boosting the supply of affordable housing.

Volunteerism and Education

James is a Library Board Trustee in North Vancouver, helping to set strategic direction, develop policies and oversee the library budget. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise and serves on the board of the Lighthouse Park Preservation Society.

James holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from Simon Fraser University.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Mariana offers her expertise in health policy to Santis, collaborating with the Life Sciences team as well as other teams, including Digital Health and Government Relations. She leads client work, manages projects, and provides research support to ensure that client projects are successful. With her experience, Mariana develops data collection tools, analyzes qualitative data, and transforms it into valuable insights and meaningful deliverables. Additionally, she assists in the creation of client business proposals.

EXPERIENCE

Mariana has extensive expertise in comparative global health policy research. Before joining Santis, she collaborated with the North American Observatory on Health Systems and Policy at the University of Toronto, supporting research that delivered evidence-based insights on public health issues across Canada. She also worked as a consultant at the World Bank, focusing mainly on public health emergency preparedness and response in Central America and gained experience in behavioral economics and costing research related to HIV at the National Institute of Public Health of Mexico.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Mariana holds a PhD in Health Services Research with an emphasis in Health Policy, from the University of Toronto. In her doctoral research, she analyzed and compared reimbursement decisions for oral PrEP for HIV in Ontario and Mexico. Additionally, Mariana has a Masters of Science in Health Economics from the School of Public Health of Mexico and a Bachelor’s in Environmental Health.

Role at Santis

At Santis, Patrick helps health care organizations adapt to the changing health care environment, influence government policy and improve their engagement with members and stakeholders. Patrick has expertise in strategic communications, government relations, public affairs and board governance.

Experience

Prior to joining Santis, Patrick served as the Executive Director of Public and Corporate Affairs at the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), the voice of the province’s 34,000 physicians. Over almost ten years, he led the OMA through several strategic communications campaigns, a comprehensive governance review, as well as a major rebranding of the organization. Under his tenure, member satisfaction with the OMA doubled to a record high and, over the course of a five-month advocacy campaign, the profession witnessed a remarkable 12 per cent increase in public trust.

Patrick also worked in senior communications roles in the Ontario government, as an aide to Ontario’s Minister of Health and as Director of Communications to the Minister of the Environment and to the Minister of Education.

Volunteerism and Education

Patrick served as Past-Chair of the Board of Directors at ALS Canada, following eight years on the Board of Directors and as Co-Chair of the Client Services Advisory Committee and Chair of the Governance Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors at the Pine River Institute which helps treat adolescents with addiction and mental health challenges. He has also served for six years on the Board of Trustees at the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, the largest children’s mental health treatment facility in Toronto. During that time, Hincks-Dellcrest presented him with an Award of Appreciation for his work in receiving additional funding from government to support mental health services for kids. Since 2014, Patrick has also served as the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants.

Patrick also coaches rep baseball and basketball in West Toronto.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Gabriel plays a key role in driving creative strategy and execution at Santis, developing visually compelling assets that elevate client communications. From presentations and infographics to social media content, slide decks, web design elements, and promotional materials, he ensures every piece is both visually striking and strategically aligned.

Beyond design execution, Gabriel collaborates closely with teams to shape visual communication strategies, bringing clarity and creativity to complex ideas. His work not only enhances brand consistency but also strengthens client messaging, ensuring impactful engagement with target audiences.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining Santis, Gabriel worked at a design studio and a content agency, collaborating with brands such as Ford, Interac, Bamboo, AMGEN, JP Wiser’s, and KPMG. His expertise spans brand identity systems, website and mobile app UI design, marketing campaigns, experiential design, and marketing collateral.

Notably, Gabriel was part of the design team that developed promotional materials and ad campaign assets for Interac’s From Dollar One campaign, which won Gold for Best B2B Campaign at the 2024 International Content Marketing Awards. His ability to articulate design thinking, combined with a strong collaborative approach, ensures impactful and results-driven creative solutions.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Gabriel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in Nigeria and has completed numerous certifications in project management and design, with a focus on user experience, visual design, branding, and art direction.

He also volunteers his time to support design efforts at a non-profit organization geared towards empowering young minority people.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Nabiha focuses on Ontario’s policy landscape, helping organizations simplify challenges and develop strategies that reflect not just how government operates, but how solutions find their place in the policy conversation. With a talent for navigating competing demands and finding common ground, Nabiha brings people together through win-win storytelling that moves conversations forward and builds lasting partnerships.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining Santis, Nabiha held senior policy roles within the Ontario government, advising on health and social policy initiatives across the Ministries of Health, Finance and Labour. This work advanced long-term reforms to improve access to care, expand system capacity, and introduce workforce solutions that addressed urgent sector demands. She also contributed to a provincial budget, helping align government objectives with fiscal planning and investment decisions. Among her proudest achievements is Ontario’s naloxone-in-at-risk-workplaces policy, which provided a timely and life-saving response to a growing public health crisis.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Nabiha holds a Master of Health Science from Ontario Tech University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto. Her master’s research focused on physician behaviour, payment models, and reforms in primary care funding. She volunteers with Second Harvest and the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. Outside of work, she performs improv at Second City, strengthening her creativity and real-time problem-solving skills.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Urvi is a valuable asset to the Santis team and its clients, offering a diverse skill set that includes research, policy analysis, project management, and stakeholder engagement support. Her expertise extends to managing client relationships on a daily basis, where she leverages her clinical background and education in digital health and health informatics to deliver insightful recommendations and valuable perspectives. Urvi’s unique combination of clinical knowledge and technological understanding allows her to bridge the gap between health care practice and digital innovation, providing clients with well-rounded and informed guidance.

EXPERIENCE

Previous to Santis, Urvi has extensive experience as a clinician and educator. She spent six years as a frontline paramedic and has an on-the-ground understanding of health care systems. She provides a nuanced and unique perspective on health care processes and digital health issues. Urvi has specifically leveraged her clinical experience to effectively define, investigate, and propose solutions for data problems in paramedicine. Urvi is also an active professor at Humber Polytechnic for their paramedicine program – focusing on applied clinical skills and pharmacology. She is passionate about and involved in policy and educational advancement for paramedicine.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Urvi completed her Master’s in Health Informatics at the University of Toronto in 2023. Her Master’s project led to the definition of a novel governance model for paramedicine. She also has a Paramedic Diploma from Humber Polytechnic and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from McMaster University.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Alexia supports research and project management on the Management Consulting Team. She specializes in policy and environmental research and analysis, and supports clients in achieving their goals from project start to finish. Driven by a strong passion for improving health systems, she is committed to developing high-impact knowledge products that foster meaningful change.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining Santis, Alexia worked at the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), where she played a key role in managing and facilitating information exchange among 180 Collaborating Centres across the Americas. Her work focused on optimizing digital knowledge-sharing networks to strengthen collaboration and enhance the impact of knowledge products.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Alexia holds a Master of Science in Global Health and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Windsor.

ROLE AT SANTIS

With nearly a decade of experience in the federal government providing strategic counsel to four Ministers across three key portfolios, Jill applies her extensive experience in health, social policy and government affairs to support client objectives. Jill has played a pivotal role in federal, provincial, and territorial relations on health issues and developed a profound understanding of the complex dynamics across all levels of government. She takes pride in the networks she has cultivated with key health stakeholders over the years and leverages this wealth of knowledge and trust in her role at Santis.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining Santis, she held the role of Director of Policy (Health Systems) and Legal Affairs for the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health in the Government of Canada. In this capacity, Jill was instrumental in negotiating both the Working Together and Aging with Dignity bilateral agreements. She also played a central role in the development of the Connected Care for Canadians Act and provided advice on critical issues including the modernization of the Canada Health Act, pharmacare, sexual and reproductive health, and systemic innovation in health care.

Earlier in her career, Jill served as both Atlantic Regional Advisor and Policy Advisor to the Ministers of Families, Children and Social Development, and Employment and Workforce Development. She was responsible for managing the Canada Student Financial Assistance portfolio and played an integral advisory role in the development of pandemic income support programs. She also led the Employment Insurance file through the expansion of the EI Sickness benefit from 15 to 26 weeks. Additionally, Jill is a licensed legal practitioner in Ontario, further enhancing her ability to navigate complex policy and legal landscapes.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Jill has extensive political volunteer experience, having worked on nomination campaigns and in senior roles on general election campaigns. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of New Brunswick.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Saäd provides high-value counsel to executives navigating complex organizations, landscapes and challenges, utilizing his decades of experience as a change leader in the public and private sectors.

EXPERIENCE

For nearly 30 years, Saäd has served as a leader in challenging public and private sector environments, honing his expertise in financial administration, leadership of complex organizations, risk management, health care and, critically, as a changemaker who delivers results.

Saäd has held some of the most critical Deputy Minister positions in the Ontario Public Service including public safety and policing, transportation, energy and infrastructure and health and long-term care. During his time at the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, he oversaw one of the largest government budgets in Canada, $48 billion. Shepherding the Ministry through the challenging landscape after the 2008 to 2009 financial crisis, Saäd also drove impactful change in the realms of infrastructure, digital health and hospital funding modernization.

After his successful tenure with the public service, Saäd was named CEO of the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games in Toronto. He re-established shareholder and sponsor confidence implementing the largest multi-sport event in Canadian history, returning a significant surplus of funds to taxpayers and increasing the economic activity above normal levels in Toronto and the surrounding 16 municipalities.

Prior to joining Santis as an Executive Advisor, Saäd was a National Leader for the Government and Public Services Industry at Deloitte. He has also consulted and advised a wide number of clients in pharmacare, long-term care, municipalities and major health care organizations.  

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Saäd serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations including the Hospital for Sick Children, Baycrest Seniors Care, Ellis Don and the Canadian Olympic Committee. He has received an Honorary Degree from Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning and was recognized as a one of the “75 for 75^th” distinguished alumni honored as part of the 75^th anniversary of the Faculty of Public Affairs at Carleton University.

Role at Santis

Veronica serves as the Practice Lead for Santis’ Management Consulting service area. She brings over a decade of experience in Management Consulting across the public, private and non-profit sectors. During her tenure with the firm, Veronica has been pivotal in shaping and expanding Santis’ strategic advisory offerings. Her expertise lies in aligning organizations’ goals with actionable strategies, fostering seamless collaborations, and crafting comprehensive strategies that pave the way for long-term success. Veronica works directly with Boards and leadership teams of health authorities, health care providers, and associations. Her health care provider clients have spanned across sectors, including hospital and acute care, specialty care, community care, home care, mental health and addictions and primary care.

Experience

Prior to joining the Santis team, Veronica worked at the Ontario Public Service. During her time, Veronica led a diverse range of policy files and provided recommendations to senior management related to various strategic priorities and stakeholder issues.

Veronica also worked on multiple teams at United Way Greater Toronto. At United Way, Veronica assisted in scoping and developing new initiatives for future investments, supported the organizational strategic planning and implementation of the strategic plan, as well as worked with key partners to advance the organization’s research and public policy agenda.

Volunteerism and Education

Veronica holds an M.A. in International Relations, and a B.A. (Honours) majoring in political studies with a minor in global development studies from Queen’s University.

Role at Santis

As an Associate, Marcel serves as an advisor to the Santis team and its clients on key health initiatives and supports them in achieving their strategic policy, health care policy and government relations objectives.

Experience

Marcel joined Santis after 30+ years of experience in the federal government focusing on strategic policy, health care policy, and intergovernmental relations. After holding several positions as a Policy Analyst, Marcel became a Policy Advisor for the Director of Policy in the Prime Minister’s Office, where he provided advice on key issues in the Health, Justice and Human Resources Development Portfolios.

Marcel has since held various leadership positions as the Director of Policy Research for the Canadian Medical Association, Director General of Policy Coordination and Director General of Health Care Strategies for Health Canada. Most notably, Marcel worked as the Executive Director, Secretariat for the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare for Health Canada. In this role he oversaw the work of the Advisory Council, provided leadership for the Council’s cross-country consultations, and collaborated with senior officials at Finance Canada, the Privy Council Office and Health Canada.

Prior to joining Santis, Marcel served as an Associate Assistant Deputy Minister for the Strategic Policy Branch of Health Canada. In his role he advised the Minister and Deputy Minister on health care policy and led Federal-Provincial-Territorial negotiations on bilateral agreements for mental health, home care and virtual care.

Volunteerism and Education

Marcel holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Economics from the University of Ottawa, along with a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Montreal. Marcel is fluently bilingual in English and French and has significant experience as a member of the Board of Directors of several pan-Canadian health organizations.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Lucy is a public relations, strategic communications, and media relations expert at Santis.
She brings a track record of creating communications and PR strategies for brands across health and wellness, B2B and B2C SaaS, consumer technology, and fintech. With over 10 years of experience as an in-house strategist, she is adept at creating programs that bolster brand awareness and drive business objectives.

EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining Santis, Lucy established and led the in-house PR and communications function at a venture-backed Canadian health software startup with over 140,000 practitioner users across Canada and the U.S. She created an organic thought leadership program, identified and trained new spokespeople, and secured the company’s first MedTech Breakthrough Award. Prior to this her efforts increased the industry visibility of a digital identity verification startup. She successfully secured coverage across media outlets in Canada, the U.S., and the UK, positioning company executives as thought leaders in the fintech space.

Lucy also led global PR strategies across five product lines for a leading consumer software provider. Earlier in her career she launched an online magazine for a program that helps Canadian SaaS entrepreneurs scale their startups. She led brand development, determined editorial strategy, and produced podcast segments featuring interviews with software industry influencers. A former journalist, her work has appeared in publications like VentureBeat and BetaKit.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Lucy is proudly involved with the Women in Communications and Technology (WCT) Mentorship Program. As a mentor, she facilitates conversations about defining career goals and navigating the workforce. She earned a Bachelor of Journalism from the Toronto Metropolitan University.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Leveraging a vast Conservative network across Canada in governments and opposition parties from Alberta to Ottawa to Atlantic Canada, Vesna supports clients with government relations, provincial affairs, project management and stakeholder relations.

EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining Santis, Vesna served in the Office of the Honourable Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta, working as the Manager of Stakeholder Relations and then continuing to lead her tour team as Manager of Tour and Scheduling. Before working in the Premier’s Office, Vesna held various roles in the office of the Honourable Tanya Fir, MLA and Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women.

Vesna also has experience in political campaign management and stakeholder relations, most recently in senior roles on the Alberta Provincial election in the spring of 2023 and a provincial leadership campaign in the fall of 2022. Vesna is active with federal Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), most recently working on MP Shuv Majumdar’s general by-election in Calgary, as well as CPC nominations in British Columbia.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Vesna currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Croatian Heritage Society in Calgary, as well as her local provincial United Conservative Party constituency association. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, with a major in International Business from Vancouver Island University, while also studying at the University of Zagreb, Shanghai Lixin University of Commerce and Qingdao University of Technology.

ROLE AT SANTIS

As a Senior Advisor, Tyler serves as an advisor to the Santis team and its clients on key initiatives in the areas of health policy, government relations, and stakeholder engagement.

EXPERIENCE

Tyler has nearly 20 years of experience practicing public law and served as the Minister of Health for the Government of Alberta from 2019 to 2021. Notably, he oversaw the province’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, passed a dozen bills to reform health care in Alberta, and led the redesign of the continuing care sector through the Continuing Care Act and the Facility-base Continuing Care Review.

In addition to these achievements, he held several other prominent posts in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, including overseeing the Ministry of Justice and acting as Solicitor General. Tyler’s areas of specialization include pharmaceutical policy, municipal, environmental, and Indigenous law.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Tyler has sat on numerous tribunals and commissions, including the Municipal Government Board, the National Parole Board, and the Calgary Police Commission. He has a track record of involvement with community initiatives and he currently sits on the board of Covenant Health and the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre.

In 2005 the Law Society of Alberta called him to the bar and in 2020 he was appointed Queen’s Counsel, a designation and distinction bestowed upon lawyers who have made significant contributions to the legal profession or public life. He obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Calgary in 2004.

Role at Santis

Rosa is a Senior Consultant providing strategic problem solving, stakeholder engagement, and public policy analysis to health care and Life Science clients. Particularly, Rosa consults for leading industry, and health system clients navigating challenging political and economic environments, producing strategic advice and counsel backed by evidence-based insights. She primarily works with clients looking to improve market access, market competitiveness, business structures, organizational funding, and product sales.

Given that her clients come with a variety of needs, she often works closely with cross-functional teams, including with Santis’ Ontario and Federal Government Relations, and Communications teams to provide her clients with a suite of services. She’s built pan-Canadian coalitions, developed strategic plans, gathered and collaborated with stakeholders, managed Advisory Boards, led the development of a digital tool, conducted qualitative and quantitative research, and crafted briefing notes and letters to governments.

Experience

Prior to joining Santis, Rosa worked as Manager of Knowledge Translation at CanCOVID, a network of researchers, academics, decision makers, and industry partners at the University of Toronto dedicated to an evidence-informed pandemic response. During her time at the University of Toronto, she led a number of briefs and expert roundtables for federal agency clients on a breadth of topics including vaccines, long-term care, COVID-19 mitigation strategies, indoor ventilation, and mental health. She also collaborated with members of the Ontario Science Table, conducting research and analysis for their Post COVID-19 Condition brief.

Rosa also has on-the-ground health care experience at St. Michaels Hospital’s Emergency Department, providing provider and patient support and coordination across the hospital, which streamlined patient care for Toronto’s most vulnerable populations.

Volunteerism & Education

Rosa holds a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from McMaster University’s Department of Research Methods, Evidence and Impact. At McMaster, she developed a framework to improve the development of clinical practice recommendations for antibiotics to reduce the impact of AMR. During her time at McMaster, she collaborated on several health research projects, first authoring two published peer-reviewed papers in the BMJ-Open and the CJIDMM. Rosa also co-authored seven papers in journals including The Lancet, Annals of Internal Medicine, and BMJ Global Health. In 2019, she travelled with her thesis supervisor to the World Health Organization Headquarters, supporting an international expert panel updating a tuberculosis guideline.

She also completed a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Life Sciences at the University of Toronto, specializing in Human Biology, Immunology, and the Italian Language.

Role at Santis

Haylee is a digital communications coordinator at Santis, helming many of Santis’ internal marketing efforts to help Santis’ brand identity shine through. She also leads digital and marketing projects with a variety of clientele and organizations. Primarily working in web and graphic design, social media strategies and analytics as well video and podcast production for clients and internal development, Haylee brings a creative and innovative approach to content development, thinking outside the box and exploring unique and thought provoking ideas. She thrives bringing a creative voice to client projects, helping make people comfortable in a variety of settings and connecting with professionals across the country. Some of her favorite projects to work on include video and audio production, live event organization and web design and development.

Experience

Prior to joining Santis, Haylee spent time in a variety of roles with major companies across Canada including working as a production manager at StoryBook Theatre, Canada’s largest volunteer driven theatre for young audiences as well as producing on various festivals, live events and podcasts. She also works with Canadian Traffic Network as both an airborne and ground reporter, working with dozens of radio and television companies across Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver to write, produce and record news hits.

Volunteerism and Education

Haylee is a recent graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) with a Bachelor of Arts in media production and minor in digital marketing. She also recently completed a certificate in Web Development from Lighthouse Labs. In her spare time, she teaches theatre classes for inner city youth and continues to report evening and weekend traffic on radio stations around the GTA.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Annie plays a key role in project management and research on the Management Consulting Team. She conducts policy and environmental research and analysis, develops and executes engagement plans, and helps address high-priority client goals. Annie’s passion for innovative solutions and improved health outcomes drives her work, as she develops high-impact products—such as reports, frameworks, and recommendations—that inform critical decision-making and drive meaningful change.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining the Santis team, Annie worked at Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, where she collaborated with investigators, doctors, patients, and stakeholders to assess and expand virtual mental health supports. She also played a key role in developing research protocols for hospital program implementation and evaluation. Before working in clinical research, Annie worked as a graduate researcher and teaching assistant at the University of Toronto.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Annie holds a Master of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Cynthia provides counsel to clients navigating Canada’s health care supply chain management system by leveraging her more than three decades of experience in leadership and operations for health care procurement.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining Santis Health, Cynthia worked at HealthPRO Canada for 24 years, most recently as President and CEO for seven years until her retirement in 2020. In her increasingly senior roles at HealthPRO, the organization grew from an Ontario based group purchasing organization to a national company serving hospitals, health authorities and shared service organizations across Canada.

Cynthia was previously a member of the GS1 Canada Healthcare Advisory Council, the C.D. Howe Health Policy Council, and a Board Director at HealthPRO Canada.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Cynthia is a Volunteer Advisor with Catalyst+, a Canadian economic development organization who connects Advisors with partners and clients in 30 countries and Indigenous communities in Canada to strengthen local economies. She is also a Board Director at the National Institute of Supply Chain Leaders, one of Canada’s largest communities for supply chain professionals.

Cynthia has her Cynthia has her NISCL-CSCL/CSCMP professional designation from the National Institute of Supply Chain Leaders and completed the Richard Ivey School of Business, Executive Program.

Role at Santis

As the leader of Santis’ Life Sciences team, Ross helps innovative medtech and biopharma companies, research and commercialization organizations and government agencies develop impactful solutions to complex strategy and policy challenges.

Experience

Before joining Santis in 2014, Ross was the Director of Government Affairs and Corporate Responsibility at AstraZeneca Canada (AZC). With overall responsibility for the company’s public policy and advocacy efforts, Ross led a national team of colleagues and directly supported three CEOs in their policymaker and stakeholder engagement efforts.

Ross joined AZC, after nearly four years as the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the MaRS Discovery District, an innovation incubator and urban science park in downtown Toronto. One of the organization’s first full-time employees, Ross built strong ties with all three orders of government, developed a global network of commercialization collaborators and launched the organization’s social innovation initiative. Ross also spent five years working in Washington, DC – first at the Embassy of Canada and then at the G7 Group, a political and economic forecasting firm.

Beyond his work at Santis, Ross spent 8 years as an Innovation Fellow at Women’s College Hospital, where he advised the Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (known as “WIHV”) on public policy, strategy and stakeholder relations.

Volunteerism and Education

Ross has an MPA from Queen’s University and an MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, where he guest lectures in the School’s Global Executive MBA for Healthcare and the Life Sciences.

ROLE AT SANTIS

John brings over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector to his role at Santis Health, and is pivotal in shaping Santis’ strategy, policy development, and public affairs engagement. John is instrumental in managing client relationships, conducting in-depth policy and environmental research, and providing valuable support in project management.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining Santis, John held various impactful roles that enriched his understanding of healthcare policy and advocacy.

With over 13 years at the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) John served in several capacities, starting as Director of Health Policy on Public Health files. He subsequently transitioned to leading the Health Promotion program and eventually became Director of Health Promotion, Research, and Emerging Issues.

As CEO of the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND) for seven years, John led the organization through significant milestones, including ushering them through the early days of their RHPA regulation, membership and budgetary growth, and then the successful negotiation of the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.

ADVOCACY

Before his healthcare career, John dedicated six years to advocating for environmental policies at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Jim brings over 20 years of experience in the life sciences sector to his role with Santis Health. His deep understanding of market access, policy development and expertise in government and stakeholder relations ensures success in effectively managing client relationships and driving results. Jim works with the Santis Life Sciences team to deliver strategic counsel and client leadership to biopharma and MedTech clients.

EXPERIENCE

Before joining Santis, Jim held several key government relations and policy roles with two leading biopharmaceutical companies. He honed his skills working with a wide range of government, industry, and not-for-profit organizations that enriched his understanding of healthcare policy and advocacy. Prior to entering the pharma industry, Jim worked at the Ontario Legislature in a senior role with a Member of Provincial Parliament.

Jim spent the first part of his career working for the Regional Municipality of Niagara and Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services in progressively senior roles, including managing a regional MCSS office.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Jim completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brock University.

ROLE AT SANTIS

Dr. Wright, an esteemed physician recognized worldwide, brings with him an unparalleled depth of experience from leadership roles in health care institutions both in Ontario and globally. At Santis, he will offer strategic counsel to executives grappling with the intricacies of navigating the ever-evolving health care landscape. His role is grounded in his decades of experience as a changemaker in both the public and private sectors, aimed at fostering meaningful organizational transformations.

EXPERIENCE

In 2018 Dr. Wright joined the Ontario Medical Association (OMA). There, in addition to the crucial advocacy of a professional organization he engaged stakeholders, and through thought leadership, the OMA became a credible, trusted, and valuable voice within the health system. Specifically, he advanced the role of physicians in transforming the health care system to serve as a model for Canada and beyond, including policy papers on mental health, primary and integrated care.

The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges where the health policy unit under Dr. Wrights’ leadership played a critical role not just in preparing the profession but more profoundly by guiding and influencing the system.

Previously, as Chief of Perioperative Services at SickKids, arguably one of the most preeminent children’s hospitals, Dr. Wright oversaw one of the busiest and most advanced paediatric surgery departments in the world ensuring a high level of engagement in complex clinical care, basic and clinical research, undergraduate and postgraduate education.Dr. Wright has been involved in many international and national organizations, held many leadership roles, and is an Adjunct Professor at the Universities of Toronto and Oxford.

VOLUNTEERISM AND EDUCATION

Dr. Wright was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2016 largely based on his National contributions to Children’s Surgery, specifically the Canadian Pediatric Surgical Wait time project. He is the recipient of the highest research awards from the American Academy of Orthopedics Surgeons, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, The Pediatric Orthopaedic Association of North America and the Canadian Orthopaedic Association. He was awarded an ad hominem fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh. He is a distinguished scientist with more than 250 publications.