Cathy

I am the Medical Director of the Collaborative Mentorship Network for Chronic Pain and Addiction. My job is to help establish the network by recruiting members; supporting the online discussion board; working with the Scientific Planning Committee and Steering Committee to ensure the network is recruiting members; providing education and supports in appropriate areas for primary care physicians and their teams; and integrating and supporting other programs in the health and social systems in the province.

What is a fun fact about you?
I have been studying ancient Egypt and have a course on writing hieroglyphics that begins in February 2021. I also cannot type! It probably would be better to learn to type!

What is on your bucket list?
I really want to spend some time exploring Egypt, not just the ancient history but also the natural history. They have some amazing migrations of birds through their country and the natural world was extremely important to the ancient Egyptians.

What is your favorite pastime?
Hiking and exploring remote corners of the world…during the pandemic it has been amazing to explore our own backyard in my corner of southern Alberta. I am also an avid novel reader.

What is your favorite song/music?
I am a folk music fan and really like supporting local song writers and musicians.

What is your favourite quote?

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In deed, it is the only thing that ever has.

—Margaret Mead

The Physicians are the natural attorneys of the poor, and the social problems should largely be solved by them.

—Rudolf Virchow, 1870

Kelsey

Coordinator CPD Programs
I coordinate the Continuing Professional Development for family physicians in Alberta, including organizing the Family Medicine Summit, managing the certifications for CPD Programs, and supporting the Virtual Education Committee.

What is a fun fact about you?
I’m trilingual! Including French by education and Spanish by fire.

What are your favorite pastimes?
Dancing, cooking, camping, hiking, bonfires, reading, and adventuring.

What is your favorite song?
Rolling Stone by Whiskey Myers

What is your favorite food?
Authentic Oaxacan Mole

Favourite quote:

As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.

—Herman Melville, Moby Dick

Lindsay

Manager, Communications and Stakeholder Relations
I am the Manager for Communications and Stakeholder Relations. I am passionate about clearly relaying information, building rapport, and cultivating connections through in-person or virtual engagement opportunities.

What is a fun fact about you?
I am a meteorologist by trade, let’s talk weather! #headintheclouds

What is your favourite pastime?
When it comes to new fitness activities, I am up for trying just about anything: Yoga, Bosu, Spin, TRX, etc. You name it, I have likely tried it!

What is your favourite food?
I am a food fan, from home cooked to trying out new local restaurants, I am there. In a sweet vs. savory debate I’ll always side with savory.

Favourite quote:

One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others.

—Lewis Carroll

MAIA

As the Membership Services Coordinator, I answer all membership inquiries and aid in events planning for the Collaborative Mentorship Network.

Fun Fact about you?
I have too many, one for the doctors here is that I can move my eyes independently.

What is your favourite pastime?
I have a lot of hobbies on the go, but my favourite hobby is astrophotography. I love finding the darkest skies possible and pointing my camera upwards for hours. If you ever want to learn more or chat about astronomy, you can reach out!

What is on your bucket list?
I really would love to go to the Atacama Desert and visit the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) and Very Large Telescope (VLT) [I promise I didn’t make those names up]. Or go to the salt plains in the United States and do astrophotography there.

What is your favourite music/artist?
I really love alternative artists, one of my favourites is Tennis. They are a husband and wife duo, their sound is a synthesis of ABBA, Tame Impala and Fleetwood Mac.

What is your favourite food?
Korean Mozza Sausage Korn Dogs are my favourite, they are so gooey and greasy – they fill my heart with joy and cholesterol. You can buy them from Gangnam Street food in Edmonton 😉

My favourite quote:

A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.

Nikita

Coordinator, CPD and Research Programs
Hello! For those of you who haven’t met me yet, I’m Nikita! I have been with ACFP since the beginning of 2019. I tend to have my hands in a few buckets at ACFP but you may know me from the Practical Evidence for Informed Practice (PEIP) conference, Research Programs such as the Research Showcase and the annual Forum, or other member programs like Awards. I work alongside the PEER team to publish biweekly Tools for Practice articles, and assist our team with other CPD offerings through presentations, programs, podcasts, and conferences. If you are at any of events come by and introduce yourself!

What is a fun fact about you?
I’m always game for an adventure, whether it be travelling through Guatemala, hiking the Rockies, checking out local plant stores or jumping out of moving planes!

What is your favourite pastime?
When I’m not exploring I’m most likely napping or listening to a podcast.

What is your favourite food?
I consider myself a food enthusiast.

Favourite quote:

“The problem isn’t the problem. The problem is the way you think about the problem.”

Roxanne (Roxy)

As Executive Coordinator, I provide diversified administration services to the Executive Director, ACFP Board of Directors, Governance Advisory Committee, Members and Staff.

What is a fun fact about you?
I am from Venezuela and I speak fluent Spanish and English.

What’s on your bucket list?
Europe

What is your favourite pastime?
Reading, singing, hiking, dancing

What is your favourite song/music?
Blues, Jazz, Soul, Folk, Pop, Rock

iPhone or Samsung
Samsung all the way

Favourite Food
Italian

Favourite Quote

“You must strive to find your voice because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all”
— Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society

Selam

As a Collaborative Mentorship Network (CMN) for Chronic Pain & Addictions Program Coordinator, my work focuses on planning and implementing certified virtual and in-person experiences for current and future members. Working closely with the CMN team and scientific planning committee, I organize interactive and cross-collaborative educational sessions at ACFP.

What is a fun fact about you?
Over the years, fortunate to have lived with roommates from 12 different countries in the past. Consequently, exploring unique world cuisine and developed great friendships.

What is your favourite pastime?
Walking in nature, traveling whenever possible.

What is your favourite food?
Savory Ethiopian cuisine. Dessert at any time.

Favourite quote:

We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community. —H.I.M Haile Selassie I

Susan

I am primarily responsible for overseeing the ACFP’s CPD/ME program offerings and ensuring that its programs are meeting member needs and aligned with the ACFP’s Strategic Framework. I also provide support and strategic guidance on communications and government relations, member engagement, and overall operations.

What is a fun fact about you?
I can recite the phonetic alphabet.

What is your favourite song/music?
At the Hundredth Meridian

What is your favourite pastime?
I love live music – a concert-goer since I was nine. If I’m not in the stands, I’m binge-watching Netflix flicks, going down YouTube rabbit holes, and more recently, solving scrambled Rubik’s Cubes that cross my path.

Favourite quote:

All change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and gorgeous at the end.

—Robin Sharma

Terri Potter

I am Terri Potter, the Executive Director for the Alberta College of Family Physicians.  My training and experience over the course of my career has provided me with a broad set of skills that support my role as ED.  I thoroughly enjoy supporting teams to be effective and efficient in their work.  I have a background in project management, training and facilitation, resource development and association management.  My recent area of interest to read and learn about is “systems”.

On a personal note, I am a mother of 4 adult children and married to an avid farmer and heavy equipment mechanic.  We live in Onoway (a small community northwest of Edmonton) where we enjoy our free time with life-long friends and new community members alike.  I enjoy all things outdoors, travelling and music.  I just recently joined a big band to play my trumpet (a little rusty).

My Board Experience

The ACFP Board of Directors are my “bosses” and I respect and appreciate their leadership and experience and depend on them everyday in the work that we do as a staff team and in the interactions with our members and partners. ACFP members are well represented and the strategic leadership of the specialty of family medicine is their primary concern.  It is through dynamic discussion, thoughtful assessment, and consistent action the Directors of the Board and staff of ACFP have been able to achieve so much in the past, and into the future.

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. The best is yet to come.

—Anonymous