2026-2028 LEAP Cohort Meeting Dates
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | To be confirmed | ½ day virtual |
| Winter 2027 | To be confirmed | ½ day virtual |
| Summer 2027 | To be confirmed | full day in person |
| Fall 2028 | To be confirmed | ½ day virtual |
| Winter 2028 | To be confirmed | ½ day virtual |
| Summer 2028 | To be confirmed | full day in person |
Program Overview
This program aims to identify and foster leadership among early-career rheumatologists (within five years of completing adult or pediatric rheumatology fellowship). It explores a range of topics informed by a needs assessment, and in collaboration with Canadian mentors and expert advisors. The program provides participants with opportunities to develop their professional and leadership skills and is designed to support future leaders in both academic and community practice.
Program Objectives
- Foster leadership development across research, education, advocacy, and community practice
- Provide mentorship and networking opportunities with Canadian thought leaders and peers
- Support career growth by enhancing professional and leadership skills for future rheumatology leaders
Participant Outcomes
- Develop strategies to balance academic, clinical, and professional responsibilities
- Learn best practices for research success, including grant funding, publications, and promotion
- Build and maintain an educational dossier to track professional achievements
- Enhance presentation, advocacy, and media communication skills
- Gain experience and guidance in professional interactions with peers, colleagues, the community, and industry
Program Guidelines
Program Participants
2024 LEAP Program Participants
Dr. Samar Aboulenain
Dr. Maude Bouchard Marmen
Dr. Audrea Chen
Dr. Molly Dushnicky
Dr. Lauren Glick
Dr. Melissa Holdren
Dr. Amanda Hu
Dr. Gabriel Jeyasingham
Dr. Dylan Johnson
Dr. Adam Kovacs-Litman
Dr. Timothy Kwok
Dr. Ellen MacDonald
Dr. Oscar Mwizerwa
Dr. Vanessa Ocampo
Dr. Maria Powell
Dr. Wen Qi
Dr. Micol Romano
Dr. Azin Rouhi
Dr. Justin Smith
Dr. Madina Weiler
Dr. Stephanie Wong
Dr. Alan Zhou
2022 LEAP Program Participants
Dr. Gemma Cramarossa
Dr. Tala El Tal
Dr. Arpita Gantayet
Dr. Megan Himmel
Dr. Mats Junek
Dr. Alexandra Legge
Dr. Shahna Tariq
Dr. Paul Tsoukas
Dr. Shivani Upadhyaya
2020 LEAP Program Participants
Dr. Tooba Ali
Dr. Jason An
Dr. Daniah Basodan
Dr. May Choi
Dr. Dilan Dissanayake
Dr. Bailey Dyck
Dr. Maysoon Eldoma
Dr. Stephanie Gottheil
Dr. Ambika Gupta
Dr. Joanne (Zhuan) Jiang
Dr. May Kazem
Dr. Maysam Khalfan
Dr. Faiza Khokhar
Dr. Lauren King
Dr. Sahil Koppikar
Dr. Raphael Kraus
Dr. Piya Lahiry
Dr. Elizaveta Limenis
Dr. Tamara McMillan
Dr. Arielle Mendel
Dr. Kate Neufeld
Dr. Mo Osman
Dr. Larissa Petriw
Dr. Saara Rawn
Dr. Herman Tam
Dr. Fergus To
Dr. Ruud Verstegen
Dr. Mary-Clair Yelovich
Dr. Yan Yeung
Dr. Nadil Zeiadin
Dr. Boyang Zheng
2018 LEAP Program Participants
Dr. Hugues Allard-Chamard
Dr. Noura Al Osaimi
Dr. Neda Amiri
Dr. Corisande Baldwin
Dr. Julie Couture
Dr. Natasha Dehghan
Dr. Maeve Gamble
Dr. Stephanie Garner
Dr. Jason Lee
Dr. Jennifer Ji Young Lee
Dr. June Lee
Dr. Lillian Lim
Dr. Norman Madsen
Dr. Liam O’Neil
Dr. Matthew Piche
Dr. Ceri Richards
Dr. Janet Roberts
Dr. Thanu Ruban
Dr. Alexandra Saltman
Dr. Stephanie Tom
2016 LEAP Program Participants
Dr. Tom Appleton
Dr. Pari Basharat
Dr. Roberta Berard
Dr. Tristan Boyd
Dr. Jonathan Chan
Dr. Mercedes Chan
Dr. Alison Clifford
Dr. Lihi Eder
Dr. Michelle Jung
Dr. Natasha Gakhal
Dr. Kimberly Legault
Dr. Lily Lim
Dr. Zeineb Mahjoub
Dr. Alexa Smith
Dr. Evelyn Rozenblyum
Dr. Dax Gerard Rumsey
Dr. Annaliese Tisseverasinghe
Dr. Marinka Twilt
2012 LEAP Program Participants
Dr. Pooneh Akhavan
Dr. Daniela Ardelean
Dr. Claire Barber
Dr. Lillian Barra
Dr. Shirley Chow
Dr. Ines Colmegna
Dr. Glen Hazlewood
Dr. Linda Hiraki
Dr. Tabitha Kung
Dr. Alison Kydd
Dr. Nadia Luca
Dr. Dharini Mahendira
Dr. Laëtitia Michou
Dr. Kimberly Morishita
Dr. Marie-Paule Morin
Dr. Natalie Shiff
Dr. Amanda Steiman
Dr. Zahi Touma
2010 LEAP Program Participants
Dr. Zareen Ahmad
Dr. Juan Antoine Avina-Zubieta
Dr. Cheryl Barnabe
Dr. Susanne Benseler
Dr. Josiane Bourre-Tessier
Dr. Vinod Chandran
Dr. Sindhu Johnson
Dr. Raheem Kherani
Dr. Bindee Kuriya
Dr. Maggie Larche
Dr. Deborah Levy
Dr. Mark Matsos
Dr. Shikha Mittoo
Dr. Gina Rohekar
Dr. Sherry Rohekar
Dr. Irene Vasiliu