CMSC 2026 Sample Agenda Overview
[CMSC 2026 Live Draft Agenda coming soon]
Note: Changes may still occur
Welcome Address from AFMC
Friday April 5 | 9:30 AM - 9:40 AM
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
Saturday April 5 | 1:00 - 1:45 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.
John Gallinger
CEO, Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS)
John Gallinger is CEO of the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS), an independent, not-for-profit, fee-for-service organization that provides a fair, objective and transparent application and matching service for medical training throughout Canada. Since joining CaRMS in 2015, John has focused his efforts on building collaborative client, partner and stakeholder relationships to improve and enhance the CaRMS client experience. John has also used his considerable expertise and knowledge to focus on areas such as strategy execution, operational excellence, responsible and transparent financial stewardship, system reliability and enhancement, and the generation and provision of robust data to aid in decision making at all levels.
Prior to his tenure as CEO of CaRMS, John gained extensive leadership experience in the health care, professional services and resources sectors. He has worked with boards and senior teams developing and executing strategies to achieve superior performance in client experience, operational excellence and financial sustainability. His prior experience in for-profit and not-for-profit settings includes executive-level roles with prominent Canadian organizations such as VON Canada, Enbridge and Emco.
John is an active volunteer, having held numerous community and industry-based board positions while also doing individual volunteer work with adult literacy groups and Habitat for Humanity. John is also an avid endurance athlete, competing in marathons and triathlons. He lives in Ottawa with wife Patti and enjoys traveling to visit their five sons and rapidly expanding families.
Ryan Kelly
Director, Client Experience & Service Excellence
Ryan has been with CaRMS since April 2007. Starting in an entry-level communications position and taking on many new challenges over the years, he is now Director, Client Experience & Service Excellence. Ryan is responsible for identifying targeted improvements that make the application and selection process as smooth and efficient as possible.
Ryan loves hockey and golf, plays euchre, and tolerates football. His son Cohen loves LEGO, plays video games, and tolerates hockey and golf. Neither has any appreciation for soccer, and probably never will.
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.
Setting yourself up for financial success: How to budget
Saturday April 13 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Join us for an interactive session, where you will gain advice from a team of MD Financial Management and Scotiabank professionals who are dedicated to advising medical students. Financial success starts with creating a budget and managing your debts and expenses effectively while you are still in training. We will walk you through how to prepare a budget that matches your lifestyle and needs and can help you stay on track to maintain your financial health in medical school and beyond.
Sophia Chouinard
As an Early Career Education Specialist with MD Management Limited, I work with and support medical students, resident physicians and new-in-practice physicians across Canada. Taking a holistic approach, I work to deliver financial literacy presentations and share my knowledge with early career physicians to support them in managing their financial needs and reaching their financial goals.
My career in financial services began in 2020, and I earned a Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in Marketing from the University of Ottawa in 2021.
Away from work, I enjoy cooking, playing sports and exploring local businesses in my city.
Melea Kellough
I understand the value of advice and take pride in providing physicians and their families with thoughtful planning to help them meet their financial needs and reach their goals in life. Taking a holistic approach, Imwork to consistently deliver tailored planning solutions to ensure my clients’ overall financial wellness. In 2015 I joined MD Management Limited, where my career in financial services began.
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and hold a Certificate in Advanced Financial Advice from the Canadian Securities Institute. I am also working toward the Certified Financial Planner® designation.
Away from work, I love to travel locally in beautiful British Columbia, and also to explore other parts of the world — I have a long bucket list! I also really enjoy cooking and skiing, and I spend a lot of my spare time hiking in the North Shore mountains.
Aya Shea
I’m part of a healthcare banking team that is dedicated to serving students working towards practising and securing their financial future. I will keep communication seamles and draw on the support of experts across the country to serve your unique needs. You’ll have access to advice and solutions tailored to every stage of your career, from finals to your first practice and beyond.
As your one point of contact for your student journey, I am here to support you with your professional education and personal financing needs. I have 5 years of industry experience, specializing in education financing, tailored banking advice and solutions specific to the needs of busy student professionals like yourself. I am committed to delivering best-in-class advice and services and ultimately, with our team of experts, help you achieve your financial goals.
I am involved in the Healthcare professional community in Greater Vancouver area. I’m happy to discuss your financial needs and what defines success for you at your convenience.
