Our Board

Atiqa Mohammad

President and Chair

Atiqa is a public and health systems professional committed to driving social change and promoting health equity. She is particularly passionate about patient-centred models of care and advocating for diverse representation in research and data. This passion led her to co-found the Research Family Advisory Council at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

Currently, Atiqa serves as a manager at Movember, where she is responsible for designing and implementing research and clinical care programs with a primary focus on prostate cancer survivorship. With over 13 years of experience, Atiqa has successfully spearheaded strategic and operational initiatives. Her commitment to evidence-based practices has resulted in the effective execution of sustainable national and local programs across diverse communities and causes. 

Atiqa’s educational background includes a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Clinical Practice from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. She also holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance, a BA in Mathematics from York University, and a post-graduate certificate in Epidemiology.

Alicia Dean

Vice President

Alicia is a licensed healthcare professional with diverse experience in the healthcare sector. She has extensive experience in clinical and community-based settings, having worked with predominantly adult and senior populations across several areas, such as rehabilitation, complex care, and palliative care. She brings a unique mix of leadership, governance, teaching and healthcare management experience.

Alicia is passionate about healthcare. She strives to improve clients’ and patients’ experiences to support better health outcomes and advance OT practice.

Alicia has a Master of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Toronto. She is a Certified Health Executive with Project Management and Change Management certifications. Alicia is pursuing a doctorate and remains committed to community involvement.

Jeffrey Wong

Treasurer

Jeffrey is currently a Vice President at RBC Capital Partners, where he provides junior capital financing to North American mid-market companies. Prior to this role, he worked at Ernst and Young in Transaction Advisory Services. He has also volunteered as a pro bono consultant in Valencia, Spain, with Endeavor Global as part of Ernst & Young’s corporate responsibility initiative. Jeffrey has a Master of Accounting and a Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Waterloo.

Leshawn Benedict

Secretary

Leshawn Benedict is an Area Lead Consultant focusing on supporting school mental health engagement initiatives and programs across the province. He is the Founder of Public Health Insight, a public health organization committed to leading and innovating modern solutions to support evidence-informed public health communication, education, and knowledge translation. Public Health Insight reaches audiences in over 190 countries across over 5800 cities.

Leshawn received his Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto, majoring in Biochemistry and Biology. He completed his Master of Public Health and Master of Science (Global Health Management) degrees at Western and McMaster University.

Mark Vimr

Member at Large

Mark is a registered nurse who worked in healthcare for thirty-five years until retiring full-time in 2019.   He held various senior and middle leadership roles in acute, academic, and community healthcare settings, including his most recent role as executive vice president of clinical programs at Scarborough Health Network, as well as senior roles at St. Joseph’s Health Centre (Toronto), Trillium Gift of Life Network and the Cardiac Care Network of Ontario.  He currently serves as a nurse advisor consultant with Spectrum Health Care. Mark holds a Bachelor’s and Master of Science in Nursing and is a lifelong member and Certified Healthcare Executive in the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

Karthika Yogaratnam

Board Director

Karthika Yogaratnam, currently the Project Lead for Strategic Initiatives at Halton Healthcare, is deeply driven by her commitment to advancing health system reform and fostering innovation tailored to the needs of underserved communities.

Drawing from her extensive background spanning provincial, community, and academic realms within the healthcare landscape, Karthika has assumed diverse leadership roles. Notably, she recently contributed her expertise as a member of the quality improvement committee for CHATS – Community & Home Assistance to Seniors.

With a Master of Public Health, specializing in Population Health Sciences, attained from Simon Fraser University, Karthika brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to her endeavours. Having grown up in Scarborough, she is eager to contribute to the community that shaped her, embodying a profound sense of giving back.

Art Jerome Lopez

Board Director

A.J. is a transformational healthcare leader passionate about optimizing our communities’ health.  He believes in continuous quality improvement, equity, collaboration, and innovation.
A.J. is a forward-thinking, strategic planner who constantly strives for excellence.  He has succeeded in several leadership roles in various academic health sciences centers.   A.J. has a clinical background as a critical care nurse and a Combined Master of Nursing and Master of Health Science.  He is an adjunct lecturer at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. He is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

Cheryl Cheung

Board Director

Cheryl is a Scarborough-based lawyer whose practice is focused on advising startup companies and small businesses on intellectual property, privacy, and commercial law.

Cheryl has an LL.M. from George Washington University and an LL.B. from the University of Ottawa.

Cheryl endeavours to advocate for equitable access to services for vulnerable populations. She currently also volunteers for Pro Bono Ontario’s Free Legal Advice Hotline, providing free summary legal advice and assistance to individuals who cannot afford lawyers across the province.

Lauren Della Mora

Board Director

Lauren is an epidemiologist with healthcare leadership roles in research, policy development, and system planning. Her work has always been guided by a commitment to combining evidence and stakeholder perspectives to create meaningful quality improvement in care delivery and improve population health.

In her current role at Ontario Health, she leads a multidisciplinary team that is transforming cancer care to be more person-centred. They prioritize helping patients manage their symptoms and improving the experiences of both patients and healthcare providers.

Lauren earned her Honours Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Health degrees at the University of Toronto and remains an active member of the alumni community. Her keen interest in understanding what people need to live healthy, productive lives has also led Lauren to volunteer with multiple Toronto hospitals, her faith community, and local recreation programs. As a relatively new Scarborough resident, Lauren enjoys getting to know her vibrant community and exploring the waterfront with her family.

Alexander D’Souza

Board Director

Alexander has a 20-year career in financial services with experience in payments, technology, operations, product management, and leadership. He has a proven track record in managing key external and internal banking relationships and providing substantial value to stakeholders. Alexander holds an MBA in Strategy & Financial Services from the Schulich School of Business and a BA in Management and Economics from the University of Toronto. Complementing his professional pursuits, Alexander has shown a commitment to community service. He served on the Board of Directors of a non-profit organization focused on youth leadership for six years, where he chaired the Governance Committee and is looking to contribute meaningfully to the community.

Tristan Simpson

Board Director

Tristan has worked diligently within the City of Toronto’s Economic Development and Culture Division (EDC) for 13 years. He is passionate about building strong communities by supporting vulnerable populations. He has played a vital role in initiatives within Toronto History Museums, including implementing a youth engagement strategy. He is currently in EDC’s Intra-divisional Working Group for the Advancement of Equity & Inclusion. Tristan is passionate about storytelling. He graduated from Ryerson University’s School of Journalism and has written for various publications, including The Globe and Mail. He has a heart for the youth and seeks creative and innovative ways to amplify the voices of marginalized communities.