NPAM Conference 2025

Dr. Jonathan Gabor

“Safety of GLP-1 Medicines: From Mechanisms to Trials to Real World Experience”

Bio:
Dr. Jonathan Gabor is a specialist in general internal medicine with post-graduate subspecialty training in cardiometabolic and cardiovascular disease. He is board-certified in obesity from the American Board of Obesity Medicine, a Specialist in Clinical Hypertension from the American Society of Hypertension, a Specialist in Heart Failure from the European Society of Cardiology, and board-trained in Clinical Lipidology from the National Lipid Association. He is passionate about knowledge dissemination and guideline development, speaking locally and nationally to diverse audiences of health care providers.

He is one of the authors of the 2018 and the 2020 Canadian Hypertension Guidelines, including the chapter on the diagnosis and management of resistant hypertension, an upcoming author on the 2026 Canadian Hypertension Guidelines, an author on the 2022 national Cardiorenal Risk Reduction guidelines, and the chair and primary author of the dyslipidemia section of the pending 2026 Canadian Brain-Heart Clinical Practice Guidelines, the first ever national guidelines in the world to simultaneously address cerebrovascular and cardiovascular risk factor management.

Dr. Denise Black

“What’s New in Non-Hormonal Management of Vasomotor Symptoms”

Bio:
Dr. Denise Black is a graduate of the University of Manitoba School of medicine, and completed residency training in Ob/Gyn in Manitoba as well.

In a career which spans 4 decades, she has been involved in both the academic and privatepractice systems. While in academia, she served as the Director of the Post graduate medical education program
in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and served as an examiner for the Royal College.
Attending a menopause conference in 2011 sparked interest in menopause management, and this has fostered collaborations with many organizations to create education and educational
materials tailored to the needs of patients and care providers.

In the field of menopause, Dr. Black has published several peer reviewed articles and is passionate about making menopause education and menopause care accessible to all, and in a timely fashion.

Dr. John Embil

“Look at What Came Through the Door: Case Histories and Infectious Diseases”

Bio:
John Embil is a Professor of Medicine, and a specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is the Medical Director of the Infection Prevention and Control Program for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Health Sciences Centre. John is a member of working groups for the management of the diabetic foot for the Canadian Diabetes Association, International Working Group for the Diabetic Foot and the Infectious Disease Society of America.

John has been involved in the drafting of guidelines for all of these organizations. John’s research interests include: The diabetic foot, blastomycosis, hospital infection control, and clinical trials for new
anti-infective agents and wound care therapies. John has published close to 200 articles and delivered close to 500 presentations in the areas of infectious diseases, infection prevention and control, wound care and the diabetic foot.

Tasia Patmore, RN NP

“Practical Pearls for IBD in Primary Care”

Bio:
Constance (Tasia) Patmore is a Nurse Practitioner IBD clinician for Shared Health.

Tasia is a graduate of the University of Manitoba BN program and has over 15 years nursing experience in emergency, critical care and gastroenterology. She obtained her master of nursing Nurse Practitioner at the University of Manitoba in 2018 with a focus in primary care for all ages. Before becoming Manitoba’s First IBD NP clinician, she practiced primary care at Access River East where she was a full-time primary care provider. She had always hoped to join gastroenterology again as a Nurse Practitioner and in 2023 was recruited back to Shared Health to work alongside Dr. Bernstein as part of the multidisciplinary team to support improved access to excellent IBD care for all Manitobans.

Tasia has special interest in mental health and woman’s health in IBD. She cares deeply for her patients and colleagues and has a strong commitment to the community of Manitoba.

Dr. Douglas Hobson

“Early Management of Parkinson’s Disease”

Bio:
Douglas Everett Hobson BSc, MD, FRCP(C) completed his medical degree at the University of Manitoba in 1981. He went on to complete a neurology residency at the U of Manitoba, including an elective at Columbia University New York in the specialty of Movement Disorders. He has been practicing as a clinical Neurologist, Movement Disorder Specialist and Educator in Winnipeg since 1987.

He is currently an Assistant Professor with the University of Manitoba, where he is the Co-director of the Interdisciplinary, Movement Disorder Clinic, at Deer Lodge Center and the Movement Disorder Program with the University of Manitoba.  The clinic’s catchment area is the Province of Manitoba, eastern Saskatchewan, Western Ontario, and Nunavut. 

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by Doctors Manitoba in 2009 an award given to one Manitoban physician annually for services rendered to patients and the community, and in 2019 was honored to receive the Educator of the Year Award from the Association or Residents and Interns of Manitoba. (PARIM). In 2025 he received the King Charles coronation medal for service to the community. 

Dr. Shuangbo Liu

“Recent Advances in Women’s Heart Health”

Bio:
Dr. Liu obtained her MD from the University of Manitoba. She completed Internal Medicine and Adult Cardiology training in Winnipeg. In 2017, she moved to Toronto to pursue an Interventional Cardiology fellowship at St. Michael’s Hospital. She returned to Winnipeg in 2020 and is currently on staff at St. Boniface Hospital.

Dr. Elissa Abrams

“Anaphylaxis – Prevention, Diagnosis and Management”

Bio:
Elissa Abrams is a Professor at the University of Manitoba and holds an adjunct appointment at UBC and University of Colorado. She is President of the Allergy Section of the Canadian Pediatric Society, on the Board of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and is a member of the Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters as well as the Global Burden of Disease Unit at the University of Washington. She has a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University and is a Medical Advisor at Public Health Agency of Canada within the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. She has published over 250 articles in peer-reviewed journals and co-authored over 15 allergy practice guidelines through the CPS and CSACI.

Dr. Christopher Hayes

“Not Just a Rash: Herpes Zoster and Cardiovascular Complications”

Bio:
Dr. Christopher Hayes, born and raised in Winnipeg, completed his Bachelor of Science at McGill University and his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Manitoba, where he also served as chief resident in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. He now practices general cardiology at the Manitoba Clinic. His clinical interests include cardiovascular disease prevention, safe return to fitness for adults with heart concerns, and follow-up care for patients at St. Boniface Hospital. He also collaborates in Genetics and Cardiac Sciences to provide specialized care for patients with aortic disease.

Dr. George Zhanel

“RSV is like Influenza: Let’s Prevent it”

Bio:
He is presently Professor and Associate Head, Department of Medical Microbiology/Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine and Research Director of the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance (CARA). Dr Zhanel is the founding/ Chief Editor of the CARA website

Dr. Shayne Reitmeier

“From Burnout to Brainwaves: How EXOMIND® is Rewiring Wellness”

Bio:
Dr. Shayne Reitmeier is nationally recognized by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and honoured as a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Manitoba. He is a leader in functional wellness and a Key Opinion Leader for BTL Industries, helping to shape the national conversation on technology-driven healthcare and whole-person treatment approaches. He also holds a Master of Science in Practical Dermatology and is deeply appreciative of the collaboration and clinical consultations he shares with his Nurse Practitioner colleagues.

Heidi Pharand, RN NP

“The Art and Science of Addiction Care”

Bio:
Heidi is a Nurse Practitioner with 8 years of NP experience and 19 years in nursing. Throughout her career, she has dedicated her practice to serving marginalized populations and underserved communities. Her clinical expertise spans HIV care, addictions, and mental health, with a strong focus on holistic, patient-centered approaches. Heidi is passionate about health promotion and prevention, striving to reduce barriers to care and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations. Heidi has been providing addiction care in different workplaces and most recently has started an OAT clinic at Siloam Mission where the goal is to meet clients where they are at all while reducing systemic barriers to accessing care.

Dr. Alistair Brown

“Assessment of Cognitive Decline in the Older Adult”

Bio:
Alastair Brown is a family physician practicing in the field of Geriatric Medicine. He completed medical school (2016), family medicine residency (2018), and the Care of the Elderly enhanced skills program (2019) through The University of Manitoba. Following completion of training, Alastair worked in Thompson, MB for two years before joining the Geriatric Medicine Service in Winnipeg in 2021. His present clinical work involves inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient Geriatric Medicine clinics, Special Needs Unit coverage, primary care through the PRIME Program, and physician consulting for the Geriatric Program Assessment Team (GPAT).