CAHNference 2025 Speaker Bios
Dr. Naheed Dosani
Toronto, ON
As a palliative care physician and health justice activist, Dr. Naheed Dosani is dedicated to advancing equitable access to healthcare for people experiencing structural vulnerabilities like poverty and homelessness. These efforts include founding & leading the Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH) Program at the Inner City Health Associates in downtown Toronto, serving as the Medical Director of Kensington Hospice (Kensington Health), a Health Equity Expert Advisor at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and as a palliative care physician at St. Michael’s Hospital (Unity Health Toronto).
Dr. Dosani shares his passion for palliative care and health equity with learners as an Assistant Professor with the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. As a researcher, he is appointed as an Investigator with the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St Michael’s Hospital’s Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, with a special interest in health system innovation & advancing access to equity-oriented care for structurally vulnerable populations. As a health systems leader, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Medical Association.
Dr. Dosani has received many prestigious honours for his trailblazing work. These awards include the Meritorious Service Cross for Humanitarianism from Canada’s Governor General (2018), the Award for Humanitarianism from the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians (2019) and the Early Career Leader Award from the Canadian Medical Association (2020). Most recently, Dr. Dosani received an Honorary Doctorate Degree (Doctor of Laws) from Ontario Tech University (2022), the Dr Earl Dunn Award [for advancing primary care] from the University of Toronto Department of Family & Community Medicine (2024) and the Dr S. Lawrence Librach Award [for excellence and leadership in Palliative Care] from Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (2024). In May of 2025, he was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal, awarded to Canadians whose work strengthens their communities and country.
Bernadette Lettner, RN
Toronto, ON
University Health Network
With a background in community health nursing, Bernadette Lettner currently leads the Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap, working to build systems and strategies rooted in the realities of people most affected by hepatitis C.
With two decades of clinical and community experience, Bernadette brings deep nursing knowledge and a strong commitment to making healthcare more equitable, person-centered, and responsive. She believes in the power of nurses not just in delivering front-line care, but in transforming systems, leading change, and advocating for health equity at every level.
Jill Aalhus
Yukon
ED of Blood Ties
Jill Aalhus (she/her) is the Executive Director of Blood Ties Four Directions Centre, a community-based harm reduction organization that delivers services on the territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council in what is known as Whitehorse, Yukon and throughout the Yukon. Before moving North, Jill worked in Vancouver in mental health, substance use, HIV and Hepatitis C, and community-based research with a focus on harm reduction, peer-led initiatives, and 2SLGBTQI+ health. Since joining Blood Ties five years ago, she has supported and led a range of low-barrier programs including mobile outreach, drop-in and wellness programming, peer support work, housing, and education initiatives. She also co-led the development and continues to oversee the Yukon’s first supervised consumption site with indoor inhalation.
Lesley Gallagher, RN
Vancouver, BC
GIRI Associates Group
In 2002, Lesley Gallagher began her work as a Hepatitis C Clinical Research Nurse, at the Pender Community Health Centre in the DTES of Vancouver, B.C. In 2013, Lesley moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to assist in developing Hepatitis C treatment programs for patients living within the city and in northern regions of the province. She has continued to travel between provinces, providing care and treatment for patients living with Hepatitis C. Lesley continues to work as a Hepatitis C Outreach Nurse for the GIRI Associates Group in Vancouver and is now collaborating with the outreach teams at “Unlocking the Gates” (UTG) to test and treat persons in BC, with recent incarceration experience. She continues to work with the Saskatchewan Infectious Disease Care Network (SIDCN) in Saskatoon. Lesley serves as Vice President for Action Hepatitis Canada (AHC). She is a steering committee e member for the BC, Prairie and Indigenous Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap Programs.
Keenan Boily, RN
Sudbury, ON
Reseau Access Network
Keenan Boily is a registered nurse and team leader specializing in Hepatitis C (HCV)treatment and community-based health care. With a strong commitment to improving access to care for underserved and marginalized populations, she brings extensive experience in outreach nursing, wound care, and harm reduction. Keenan began her health care career as a Personal Support Worker before earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario. She has since built a diverse and impactful career in community health, working primarily with individuals affected by homelessness, addiction, and involvement in the justice system. Since joining Réseau ACCESS Network in Northern Ontario, Keenan has played a key role in expanding outreach and treatment services. Initially hired as an Outreach Testing Nurse, she quickly advanced into the role of HCV Treatment Nurse, where she developed and implemented a client-centered care pathway for populations facing complex barriers to treatment. Her leadership has contributed significantly to improving outcomes for individuals living with Hepatitis C, particularly those with limited access to
traditional health care systems. Keenan is recognized for her collaborative approach, clinical expertise, and unwavering commitment to health equity. She continues to advocate for inclusive and trauma-informed care models that prioritize respect, dignity, and culturally safe practices.
Dr. Orlee Guttman
Vancouver, BC
BC Children’s Hospital
Dr Orlee Guttman is a Clinical Associate Professor and Pediatric Hepatologist within the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at BC Children’s Hospital.
She did her pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. She has been the fellowship program director in the division of GI at BCCH and is presently director of the liver transplant clinic at BCCH. Her research interests include pediatric genetic cholestatic liver disease, viral hepatitis and Fontan-Associated Liver Disease.
Dr. Jean-Philippe (JP) Wallach
Nanaimo, BC
Dr. Edward Tam
Vancouver BC
Pacific Gastroenterology Associates
Dr. Edward Tam is a Clinical Hepatologist at the Digestive Health Centre of BC.
He has a full-time community-based clinical practice in General Hepatology with a focus on viral hepatitis, as well as an interest in steatotic liver disease and autoimmune liver diseases. He is active in teaching, clinical research, clinical guidelines development, and has published extensively in peer-review journals and presented at international congresses. He currently serves on the executive for the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver as Secretary and Treasurer.
Dr. Nabiha Faisal
Winnipeg, MB
University of Manitoba
Dr. Faisal is the Morberg Family Chair in Hepatology at the University of Manitoba. Her research centers on epidemiology, clinical outcomes, and care models for chronic liver diseases, with a special emphasis on Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease (ALD). She has established Manitoba’s first interdisciplinary ALD Clinic, improving integrated patient management. Dr. Faisal actively collaborates in national and international research initiatives, contributing to clinical guidelines and health policy development in hepatology.
Dr. Alnoor Ramji
Vancouver, BC
University of British Columbia
Dr. Ramji is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, practicing at the St. Paul’s hospital site. He completed his Internal medicine and Gastroenterology fellowship training at the University of British Columbia, and thereafter undertook a Hepatology fellowship at the University of Toronto. His area of clinical and research interest includes viral hepatitis and Metabolic associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). His center is involved in investigator-initiated and Clinical Studies in Hepatitis B, C and MASLD. Other research interests include identification, linkage to care of persons and implementation science of models. Dr. Ramji also coordinates multiple provincial education programs. He is a co- founder of the Canadian MASLD Network (CanMASLD). He is on the Steering committee for the national CanHepC clinical group. He is a co-author for the Canadian Guidelines in HCV, HBV, MASLD chapter of Diabetes Canada guidelines and guidance on MASLD.
Lisa Douglas, NP
Calgary, AB
Alberta Health Services
Lisa Douglas works as a Nurse Practitioner in Calgary, Alberta. She joined the Calgary Liver Unit at the beginning of 2013. While part of her position involves managing patients with cirrhosis, the majority of her time is dedicated to care of patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. She maintains a lead role in the Calgary-based Multidisciplinary Hepatobiliary Tumour Team group and works closely with patients from the time of diagnosis with HCC, through their treatment and beyond.
Outside of work, Lisa has a long-standing commitment to volunteering within her community. In 2022, she was awarded a national volunteering award from the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions. She has also previously served as a Board of Director and past president for CAHN.