CMSC 2026 Agenda Overview
[CMSC 2026 AGENDA]
Note: Changes may still occur
Welcome Address from AFMC
Friday April 17 | 9:20 - 9:30 AM
Dr. Constance LeBlanc
CCFP(EM), MAEd, CCPE, MBA
President and CEO, Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC)
Dr. Constance LeBlanc is a Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Dalhousie University. Originally from New Brunswick, Connie completed undergraduate studies at the Université de Moncton and medical education at Université Laval in Québec City. She has practiced tertiary care Emergency Medicine in Nova Scotia for over three decades. A lifelong learner, Connie holds a Master of Arts in Medical Education, an Executive master’s in business administration and technology, and most recently became a Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional. Dr. LeBlanc served in a decanal role for two terms as Associate Dean for Continuing Professional Development at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her scholarship focuses on Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity & Accessibility (EDIA) and medical education with a strong academic track record in these areas.
Dr. Anna Kawowska
Dr. Anna Karwowska is the Vice-President, Education at the Association of Faculties of
Medicine of Canada (AFMC). In this role she has the privilege of being involved in medical
education across the continuum, at the national level.
Dr. Karwowska received her medical degree from McGill University. She completed her training
in Pediatrics and a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the University of Calgary. Her
clinical practice is in Child Maltreatment Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
and she is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine,
University of Ottawa.
Dr. Karwowska has extensive experience as a leader and collaborator in the academic medicine
setting, with medical education and community partners. She is a strong advocate for learners,
teachers and educators along the medical education continuum.
CaRMS Residency Match Trends
Friday April 17 | 10:30 - 11:20 PM
The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) will present and discuss current residency match data and trends with a focus on applicant experiences, Family Medicine and more.
Jeff Nesbitt
CEO, Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS)
Mr. Nesbitt brings over 25 years of experience driving organizational success across the education, technology, and not-for-profit sectors—much of it within healthcare. Most recently, he served as CEO and Registrar of the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA) and the Canadian College of Health Information Management, Canada’s national bodies for health information professionals. In this role, he advanced certification and academic accreditation standards while advocating for the profession nationwide. Previously, he was National Vice President at the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation and has served on numerous boards and advisory groups, including the Federal Pan-Canadian Health Data Expert Advisory Group and the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network.
Mr. Nesbitt holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Computer Science from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University. He has also completed graduate-level certificates in marketing and entrepreneurship from Stanford University and in corporate governance from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He is currently pursuing a doctorate at Royal Roads University, focusing on governance and resilience in the not-for-profit sector.
Geneviève Leroux
Manager, Client Services
Geneviève has been with CaRMS since October 2011. Starting in Operations, Gen has moved her way into client relations and is now the manager of the Client Services department. Though primarily responsible for ensuring the organization’s clients are served efficiently and effectively, she also plays a key role in the advancement of committee work and ad-hoc projects.
Gen loves eating great food, travelling, and listening to live music, but does not tolerate anything hockey related. Her son, Malik, loves playing in puddles and the goal is to get him to also love vegetables, equally.
From Clerkship to Career: Financial Planning for Medical Students
Friday April 17 | 11:20 - 12:00 PM
A practical, no fluff panel covering student debt, income planning, and
how to set yourself up well for residency and early practice- featuring a medical
resident, a medical banking specialist, and a physician focused financial advisor.
Host:
Carissa Walker
As an Early Career Education Specialist with MD Financial Management, Carissa works with and supports medical students, resident physicians and new in practice physicians across Canada. Carissa is committed to sharing knowledge with early career physicians to support them in managing their financial needs and reaching their financial goals. Taking a holistic approach, Carissa works to consistently deliver tailored presentations on financial wellness to meet educational objectives.
Carissa’s career in the financial services industry began in 2020. Carissa earned a Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in Finance from the University of Ottawa in 2021.
Panelist:
Dr. Karam Al-Bayati
Dr. Karam Al-Bayati is a third-year resident physician in Internal Medicine and an incoming Gastroenterology fellow at the University of Manitoba. He is distinguished by a dual professional background, having practiced as a pharmacist before entering medical school. Dr. Al-Bayati serves as a CMA Ambassador and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholar. He has been actively involved in both clinical care and academic initiatives, contributing to research projects, scholarly publications, and educational mentorship.
In his free time, he enjoys hiking, travelling, and hunting down the perfect scoop of pistachio ice cream.
Panelist:
Luc Villeneuve
Luc understands the value of advice and takes pride in providing physicians and their families with thoughtful planning to help them meet their financial needs and achieve their life goals. Taking a holistic approach, he works to consistently deliver tailored planning solutions that enhance his clients’ overall financial wellness. Luc joined the MD Management Limited (MD) team in 2022. Prior to his current role, his career centered around IT systems management within the financial sector.
Luc earned a diploma in Hospitality from Fleming College and is currently working toward the Certified Financial Planner® and Certified Investment Manager® designations.
Away from work, Luc enjoys spending time with his family. He is a hockey dad to a talented 14-year-old daughter and a dance dad to an elegant 11-year-old daughter. He also has a seven-year-old chocolate lab, and two kittens have recently joined the family. Luc is a loving husband to his amazing wife of 15 years. In the small amount of spare time he gets, he enjoys a round of golf with friends.
Panelist:
Tara Alexander
Tara oversees a national team of Medical Banking Specialists dedicated to supporting physicians in the early stages of their careers. With over 14 years at Scotiabank, including senior roles in Healthcare & Professional Banking strategy, Tara brings deep industry expertise and a practical, relationship-driven approach to helping new physicians navigate their financial journeys.
Tara was born and raised in Toronto, so she has experienced the full range of highs — and many lows — that come with being a Toronto sports fan. Outside of work, Tara enjoys spending time with her partner, dog, and friends.
To be or not to be a Family Physician: Exploring Family Medicine as a career of Possibilities
Friday April 17 | 2:20 - 3:20 PM
The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) will present and discuss current residency match data and trends with a focus on applicant experiences, Family Medicine and more.
Panel will be hosted by: Dr. Allan Grill - Assistant Dean, Queen's-Lakeridge Health Campus
Panelists:
Jesse Lafontaine
Jesse Lafontaine is a third-year medical student at the University of Alberta. He holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of British Columbia. He also completed a Master of Science (MSc) in Applied Digital Health and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) at the University of Oxford. He is increasingly interested in the political determinants of health and the influence of policy and politics on health outcomes for individuals and populations across Canada. To explore this interest, he took a yearlong leave from medical school to participate in the Parliamentary Internship Program in Ottawa, where he worked in the offices of Members of Parliament. In the future, he hopes to pursue a career that combines primary care, digital health, health policy, and Indigenous health to drive meaningful change in the healthcare system.
Dr. Nick Preobrazenski
Nick is a second-year Family Medicine resident at uOttawa and Medical Officer with the Canadian Armed Forces. He’s passionate about leadership, preventive medicine, and making residency training just a little more humane. When he’s not in clinic or on call, you’ll probably find him running, cycling, lifting, or hunting down the best third-wave coffee in whatever city he’s in.
Dr. Laura Visentin
Dr. Laura Visentin is a family physician affiliated with The Ottawa Hospital Academic Family Health Team. She is also an Assistant Professor and the Faculty Development Director at the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Visentin holds a Master of Science degree in Epidemiology and has over a decade of experience as a clinician. Her work spans community-based and academic family practice, palliative care, as well as care in retirement homes and long-term care facilities. She has a research interest in dementia care. Additionally, Dr. Visentin has an interest in planetary health and how protection of the environment can be integrated into the skill set of future family physicians.
Shayna Watson
Shayna is Associate Professor of Family Medicine and is the Associate Dean of Regional Education at Queen’s University.
