Dr. Krista Jangaard
President and CEO, IWK Health Centre

Dr. Krista Jangaard is the IWK Health Centre’s President and CEO. Krista first joined IWK Health in 1996 in the division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. In 2008, she assumed the role of Medical Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and in 2010 become the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Division Head. In addition, Krista is as associate professor at Dalhousie University in the department of pediatrics and the department of obstetrics and gynecology. In 2016 Krista joined the Executive Leadership Team as the VP Medicine and Academic Affairs and assumed the role of President and CEO in 2017. Krista currently sits on the Board of several not-for-profit organizations including the YMCA of greater Halifax-Dartmouth, United Way Halifax, the Nova Scotia Community College and is the Vice Chair of Children’s Healthcare Canada.

Krista completed her medical training at Dalhousie University where she also later earned a Masters of Health Administration and was awarded the Glenn Moore Memorial Award and the Nova Scotia Association of Health Organization Award for Academic Excellence. Krista is a mother of two, lives in Halifax with her husband and dog, and is an avid gardener.

Moderator: Jean du Plessis
Vice President, Corporate Programs & Chief Financial Officer, IWK Health

Jean is a seasoned finance leader with extensive experience spanning various industries. He joined the IWK in 2024 as the Vice President, Corporate Programs & CFO.

Before joining IWK Health, Jean served as Director of Finance and Global Process Owner for Procure to Pay at J.D. Irving. In this role, he successfully drove cross-functional improvements across multiple divisions and functions. His career also includes a significant tenure as a consultant at Deloitte, where he led major modernization and transformation initiatives in Finance for public sector clients and spearheaded the national finance analytics community of practice.

Jean holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University and an MBA from Saint Mary’s University. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and a certified Lean Six Sigma professional.

Dr. Bruce Crooks
Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, IWK Health

Dr. Bruce Crooks is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist who joined the Division at the IWK in 2002. He attended Birmingham University Medical School and completed residency training in the UK, with interests in general oncology, stem cell transplantation, neuro-oncology, retinoblastoma and histiocytic diseases. Over a 35-year pediatric career, he has seen many changes and advancements in treatments for these populations, and is now excited for the opportunities and possibilities that precision medicine and targeted therapies finally bring to the pediatric oncology and hematology world.

Dr. Chelsea Ash, MD, MSc, FRCPC Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, IWK Health

Dr. Chelsea Ash joined the IWK as a Pediatric Hematologist‐Oncologist in July 2024. She is originally from Newfoundland, where she attended Memorial University for her BSc and MD. She completed her General Pediatrics residency and Pediatric Hematology‐Oncology subspecialty training at McGill University, and subsequently did a fellowship in Pediatric Cancer Survivorship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Concurrent with her clinical training, she completed an MSc in Precision Cancer Medicine at the University of Oxford, UK. Chelsea now co‐leads the pediatric Targeted Therapy Clinic, and is the physician lead for the Long‐Term Follow‐Up Program at the IWK.

Dr. Ronald Cohn, MD, FACMG
President and CEO of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)

Dr. Ronald Cohn has served as President and CEO of the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada since May 1st, 2019. Dr. Cohn joined SickKids in September 2012 as the Chief of the Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Co-Director of the Centre for Genetic Medicine, and Senior Scientist at the SickKids Research Institute. He became the Inaugural Women’s Auxiliary Chair in Clinical and Metabolic Genetics in April of 2013, and joined the department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. In 2016 he was appointed to the position of Chief of Paediatrics at SickKids, and Chair of Paediatrics at The University of Toronto.

Dr. Cohn received his medical degree from the University of Essen, Germany. After his postdoctoral fellowship at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the laboratory of Dr. Kevin Campbell, he moved to Baltimore where he was the first combined resident in paediatrics and genetics at the Johns Hopkins University. He subsequently joined the faculty of the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins where he became the director of the worlds’ first multidisciplinary centre for Hypotonia, which has earned national and international recognition. Dr. Cohn was also the director of the medical genetics residency program at Johns Hopkins. He has received numerous awards including the David M. Kamsler Award for outstanding compassionate and expert care of pediatric patients in 2004; First Annual Harvard-Partners Center for Genetics and Genomics Award in Medical in 2006; and the NIH Young Innovator Award in 2008.

Over the last few years, Dr. Cohn has developed an interest in applying a concept of Precision Child Health to the care of children. His own research focusses on implementing genome editing technologies for the treatment of neurogenetic disorders.

Moderator: Dr. Victor Martinez, PhD
Clinical Genomics Specialist, IWK Health

Dr.Victor Martinez integrates AI and genomics at IWK Health and Dalhousie University. He leads a clinical genomics team implementing AI-powered bioinformatics solutions to enhance patient care, focusing on transforming the diagnosis and treatment of inherited diseases in Atlantic Canada through genome-wide analysis. In addition to his work on AI and genomics, Dr. Martinez conducts research on molecular markers for environmentally induced cancers, utilizing advanced sequencing technologies. He is also involved in developing data governance and strategy frameworks for the IWK’s Maritime Centre for Precision Medicine. He advocates for in-house genomic sequencing to maintain data sovereignty within Canada. His research contributions have been published in leading scientific journals, including Science, Cancer Discovery, and PNAS.

Frank Rudzicz
Professor of Computer Science at Dalhousie University

Frank Rudzicz is a Full Professor at Dalhousie University, original faculty member at the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence, status professor at the University of Toronto, Killam Memorial Chair, and Canada CIFAR Chair in Artificial Intelligence. His work is in machine learning in healthcare, especially in natural language processing, speech technologies, and AI safety. His students have founded several companies in AI and Health that have had successful exits, including Winterlight Labs and Mutuo Health Solutions. His research has appeared in popular media such as Scientific American, Wired, CBC, and the New York Times, and in scientific press such as ACL, NeurIPS, JAMA, and Nature.

Conor Newcombe
MLOps Lead (Machine Learning Operation Lead), Nova Scotia Health

Conor Newcombe is leading Nova Scotia Health’s Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) team, Conor brings together Data Engineering, Data Science, and Software Engineering, to deliver AI digital solutions aimed to improve the performance of healthcare services across Nova Scotia. Conor started his career as a Software Engineer with experience working in the UK’s Ministry of Defence, and the UK’s Health Security Agency, Conor moved to Canada to hone his acumen in healthcare digital innovation in 2021.

Graduating from Dalhousie University’s Master of Digital Innovation program, with a certificate in Health Informatics, Conor joined Nova Scotia Health to apply his expertise and bolster Nova Scotia Health’s in-house AI capabilities. Three years later, Conor has established the MLOps team and led the development of various AI solutions at Nova Scotia Health, starting with the public-facing Emergency Department Wait Times Prediction Tool, and onwards to surgery duration prediction and scheduling optimization, patient access and flow forecasting, and now individual patient risk indicators.

Awarded with Nova Scotia Health’s Making Waves Research and Innovation award, Conor’s team is emboldened to continue delivering on the promise of Artificial Intelligence to Nova Scotia Health, facilitating the data, governance tools, digital infrastructure to make it all possible.

Sidki Bouslama
National Lead, Bioinformatics (Canada), Illumina

Sidki Bouslama, MSc, leads Bioinformatics strategy and adoption for Illumina across Canada as National Bioinformatics Lead. With over a decade of bioinformatics experience, he supports organizations in evaluating and implementing Illumina bioinformatics solutions for research and clinical use. He routinely tackles the challenges of germline, somatic, and pharmacogenomic biomarker accuracy and interpretation; cohort and longitudinal data aggregation; and the practical use of machine learning tools and AI methods. Sidki collaborates with stakeholders across Canada and beyond and is passionate about transforming complex genomic data into clear, defensible decisions that advance patient outcomes.

Pablo Prieto Barja, PhD
Co-founder/CTO, Lifebit BioTech Ltd.

Dr. Pablo Prieto Barja is a recognised industry leader with over 15 years of experience developing high-performance, cloud-native solutions for analysing multi-omics data. His expertise spans technology domains, including federated technology, AI, workflow languages, cloud/hybrid/HPC architecture and high-performance databases. With a PhD from Pompeu Fabra University, Pablo had a high impact in research, co-inventing Nextflow, a bioinformatics workflow management system that has become the industry standard for coding high-performance bioinformatics pipelines.

Moderator: Kristen Tweel
Director, Sector Innovation, Genome Atlantic

With expertise in both science and business, Kristin Tweel bridges the two worlds to deliver impactful, real-world solutions. As Director of Sector Innovation at Genome Atlantic, she leads collaborations with industry, researchers, and government to develop genomics-enabled projects that tackle pressing challenges and fuel economic growth.

With a PhD in Pharmacology and an MBA, Kristin pairs deep scientific expertise with strong business acumen. Her career spans cancer research, biotechnology, and strategic business development. At Genome Atlantic, where she has worked for more than a decade, Kristin has helped shape the organization’s innovation portfolio. She is known for translating complex science into compelling business opportunities, forging partnerships, and securing investments. Her leadership has delivered impactful projects that benefit industries and communities across Atlantic Canada and beyond.

Dr. Étienne Richer
Director, Genomics Programs, Genome Canada

Dr. Étienne Richer has a postdoctoral background in the genetics of infectious diseases, complemented by consultancy experience across various healthcare domains. His commitment to advancing the genomics community began in 2011 when he joined the CIHR Institute of Genetics (IG) as Assistant Director, later becoming Associate Scientific Director.

Over 14 years, Étienne played a key role in shaping and implementing the institute’s strategic vision. He also strengthened ties with the national research community and forged numerous international partnerships, expanding opportunities for the Canadian genomics sector.

His expertise and collaborative leadership have been widely recognized, notably through his election as Chair of the Health Economics Working Group of ICPerMed, followed by his appointment as Chair of ICPerMed.

Building on this experience, Étienne is now continuing to help building a thriving Canadian genomic ecosystem as Director, Genomics Programs, at Genome Canada, bringing his passion and vision to further drive innovation in genomics. Fluently bilingual, Étienne has a Ph.D. from INRS Institut Armand-Frappier, a B.SC. in Biological Sciences from University of Montréal, and a graduate degree in Project Management from UQAM’s School of Management.

Terry-Lynn Young, Ph.D     

Scientific Director of Genomics Research, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS)

Professor Terry-Lynn Young, Faculty of Medicine (MUN) is currently the Scientific Director of Genomics Research for Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS) and co-founder of the Centre for Translational Genomics (CTG). She completed a Ph.D. in molecular genetics (MUN) and postdoctoral training in the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington. Her research focuses on gene discovery in underlying conditions of unmet medical need in genetically isolated populations and leads multidisciplinary teams capable of translating these discoveries into improved clinical management and services.

Her research support includes Genome Canada (GC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). Dr. Young and her team have received numerous recognitions including the Governor General’s Innovation Award (2018) for leading a “multidisciplinary team that not only uncovered the disease-causing gene TMEM43, but also spearheaded research to establish life-saving screening methods and preventative treatments”. She serves on multiple national funding bodies and most recently as Scientific Advisor for Sequence Bio Inc towards building a drug target discovery platform based on the NL population in partnership with NLHS.

Dr. Johane Robitaille

Pediatric Ophthalmologist, IWK Health

Dr. Johane Robitaille, a Pediatric Ophthalmologist at the IWK Health Centre and Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Dalhousie University since 1997, earned her medical degree from McGill University in 1989. Following her Ophthalmology residency at l’Université Laval, she completed fellowships in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Neuro-ophthalmology in Iowa, and Ocular Genetics at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore. With cross-appointments in Pediatrics and Pathology at Dalhousie, she focuses on hereditary eye disorders in children, particularly familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), and other developmental retinal vascular diseases including retinopathy of prematurity. Dr. Robitaille has built a significant FEVR patient database, leading to the discovery of novel FEVR genes and their molecular connections to related conditions. As the founder and Director of the Centre for Genomics Enhanced Medicine (CGEM), she champions genomics research in the Maritimes. An outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys hiking, sailing, skiing and karate in her leisure time.

Iris Cohn

Director, Pharmacogenetics Program, The Hospital for Sick Children

Iris Cohn, a pharmacist and Director of the Pharmacogenetics Program at The Hospital for Sick Children, established the program with the goal of integrating pharmacogenetics into routine pediatric care. Deeply committed to advancing awareness of the clinical benefits of pharmacogenetically guided prescribing, she collaborates with several multidisciplinary teams within the Precision Child Health initiative. Her primary focus is on optimizing the design and delivery of both the clinical service and research components of the pharmacogenetics program.

Luke Y.C. Chen, MD, FRCPC, MMEd
Clinical Hematologist, Professor of Medicine, Dalhousie University

Dr. Luke Chen is a Hematologist and Professor of Medicine at Dalhousie University and Affiliate Professor at the University of British Columbia. His clinical and research interests are in rare inflammatory diseases including cytokine storm syndromes (HLH, Castleman disease and COVID-cytokine storm), histiocyte disorders, autoinflammatory diseases, IgG4-related disease and eosinophilic disorders. In 2024 he received the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network “Physician of the Year” award. He directs the Coastal Rare Inflammatory Diseases Program which provides support for physicians dealing with rare diseases.

Dr. Sam Dubinsky

Assistant Professor, Department of Critical Care, Dalhousie University

Dr. Sam Dubinsky is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Critical Care at Dalhousie University. Prior to his academic role, he completed his doctoral training in Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacometrics from the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy. His research focuses on the application of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modelling to understand how changes in physiology may impact the pharmacokinetics of drugs in the critically ill.

Dr. Lesa Dawson

Clinical Associate Professor, University of British Columbia 

Dr. Lesa Dawson is a Gynecologic Oncologist with more than 25 years of experience caring for women diagnosed or at high risk of gynecologic cancer. She is the Founder and Director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention and Survivorship Program at Vancouver Coastal Health, which serves both women who have gynecologic cancer and those who have hereditary predisposition such as BRCA 1, BRCA2, RAD51C/D, PALB2 and Lynch Syndrome. She completed medical school and a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Memorial University, and a Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at University of Alberta. She is a Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, at the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Kathy Hodgkinson

Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)

Dr. Kathy Hodgkinson’s primary research interest is in determining genetic causes of young sudden cardiac death (SCD), and genotype phenotype relationships. Her work led to the identification of TMEM43 (p.S358L) causing a virulent form of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) in 2008. With the SCD team, she showed that treatment with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) increased survival by at least 30 years in males. Dr. Hodgkinson is involved in the ethical issues raised by genetic knowledge and moral responsibility. In 2018, Dr. Hodgkinson, alongside her colleagues, Dr’s. Terry Young, Daryl Pullman and Sean Connors received the Canadian Governor General’s Innovation Award for her work with ACM. She is currently the scientific director for policy and community genetics with the centre for translational genomics.

Dr. Zhaolin Xu

Pulmonary Pathologist, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre

Dr. Zhaolin Xu is a pulmonary pathologist and cytopathologist at Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax and a professor in the Department of Pathology at the Dalhousie University. Dr. Xu is also a cancer researcher who holds the position of Senior Scientist in the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute. Dr. Xu is the driving force to establish and implement mutiplexed molecular profiling and biomarker testing for lung cancer in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada. In addition, Dr. Xu has actively involved in many other activities on the national and international stages. He is a Panel Member in the Lung National Cancer Pathology and Staging Multidisciplinary Expert Panel, and Network Member in the Pan-Canadian Lung Cancer Screening Network, CPAC. He is the Cancer Protocol Review Panel Member for pulmonary and mediastinum tumors in the College of American Pathologists. He holds memberships in the Correlative Sciences and Tumor Biology Committee in the Canadian Cancer Trial Group. He sits in the Medical Advisory Committee and is the Chair of the Research Committee in Lung Cancer Canada. He is also a member of the College of Advisors in Canadian Tissue Repository Network (CTRNet). He is the Director of Pulmonary Pathology Fellowship Program, Dalhousie University. In addition, Dr. Xu sits in the National Lung Cancer Advisory Committees for many pharmacuitical companites. Dr. Xu established the QE II Lung Tumor Bank in 2005, and the bank is certified by the Canadian Tissue Repository Network (CTRNet). It is now one of the largest and the most comprehensive lung tumor bank in the country. Dr. Xu’s research interest includes studying molecular profiling and biomarkers, proteomics, and metabolomics in lung cancer. His research interest also includes lung cancer metastasis and early detection, as well as interstitial lung diseases.

Dr. Doha Itani

Associate Professor, Dalhousie University

Dr. Doha Itani received her Doctor of Medicine Degree from the American University of Beirut and completed her board certification in Anatomic, Clinical, Hematology and Molecular Genetics Pathology in the United States. She started her practice in 2013 in Calgary. Currently Dr. Itani is an associate professor at Dalhousie University and the Head of the Division of Molecular Diagnostics and Cytogenetics Laboratory at Saint John Regional Hospital.