Public Health Association of BC
Board of Directors
2025-2026
Executive Members
Dr. Ihoghosa (Muyi) Iyamu, MD, MDICHA, PhD
President
Muyi is an implementation scientist and health services researcher training and working with the Digital and Sexual Health Initiative (DISHI) of the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia. Over the past 5 years, he has supported BCCDC’s clinical prevention services team to adapt the design and implementation of their digital interventions to promote equitable access to health services through GetCheckedOnline and SmartSexResource. He has led work to define the scope of digital public health, served on two digital public health strategy working groups within BC and leads research to understand digital competencies needed to support the public health workforce in contemporary practice.
Muyi received a doctorate in Medicine (MBBS – MD equivalent) from the University of Benin in Nigeria, a master’s in international cooperation and Humanitarian Aid from the HASC Proyecto Kalu in Spain and a PhD in population and public health from UBC. Over the past 12 years has worked in multiple clinical, non-governmental and research organizations focused on public health. These include FHI 360 (Family Health International), Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNI) and the Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes. Notably, he has led digital public health interventions seeking to empower people and communities to access health services and optimize their health outcomes. He co-authored the HIV surge strategy implemented in Akwa-Ibom Nigeria to improve access to HIV testing services, meeting global goals for HIV/AIDS control in local communities in southern Nigeria. He contributes to the developmental evaluation of long-term care initiatives including the transformation of Providence Living at The Views – Canada’s first public, non-profit long-term care village which is inspired by the dementia village concept.
Believing in the power of applied research, Muyi has authored over 40 peer-reviewed articles in notable scientific journals, 3 book chapters exploring various perspectives on public health and continues to consult with organizations around the world that are improving public health outcomes through digital interventions. He serves as associate editor for Biomed Central’s public health journal. Muyi is a member of the Global Burden of Disease Collaborator Network, the Pan African Research Consortium and the West Africa Network of Emerging Leaders for Health Policy and Systems research. He has received multiple awards including the Frederick Banting and Charles Best Doctoral Award, the Bill Meekison Memorial Scholarship in Public Health, the CIHR Canadian Trials Network Postdoctoral Fellowship Award and the CIHR Fellowship Award. More than anything, Muyi is a proud father who enjoys the gift of family. When he is not working, Muyi enjoys cooking and thinks food is a fantastic way to explore the many beautiful cultures here in BC.
Dr. Theresa Healy, PhD
Past President
Dr. Theresa Healy is an Assistant Professor with the School of Planning and Sustainability at the University of Northern BC. She also holds an appointment as Senior Lecturer. Currently, she is a co-lead on “Nature for all: A Barrier free Canada through Standards Based Practice” with Dr. Mark Groulx at UNBC and Nancy Harris of Spinal cord Injury of BC. She is also co lead on Lead “Rural Consultations on Rural Health” with Dr. Mark Harrison and Dr. Magda Aguilar from UBC. Her research and work interests include community development and capacity building, participatory and action research, facilitating community driven initiatives and designing workshops and other learning modules for community members and organizations. Her past research projects have utilized these skills and interests in the subject areas of HIV/AIDS; Youth and Sexual Health, Homelessness and sexually exploited youth and Marginalized Populations and Health Care Services, food security, and disability studies. She was a Co-Principal Investigator on the Men’s Healthy Eating and Active Living (M-HEAL) project, a member of the UBC Youth Sexual Health team under Dr. Jeannie Shoveller, and an advisor to the Prince George New Hope Society providing services to street involved girls and women. She has also worked for 10 years as a founding staff member of Northern Health’s Population Health program, including 4 years with the Indigenous health program.
Lara Frederick
Vice President
Lara Frederick is a dedicated mother of four and a highly accomplished professional in the field of public health. As a Regional Manager, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing public health practices, ensuring the delivery of high-quality healthcare services across her region. Lara was recently awarded the Phyllis M. Baird award from PHABC for leadership, dedication, and passion in Public Health.
Lara’s educational journey reflects her passion for nursing and education. She holds a master’s degree in nursing, specializing in the teaching stream, which has equipped her with the skills and knowledge to contribute significantly to both clinical practice and nursing education. Her academic background not only underscores her expertise but also her commitment to lifelong learning—a principle she ardently upholds in both her personal and professional life.
Balancing a demanding career and a bustling household, Lara exemplifies resilience and dedication. Her role as a mother is central to her identity, and she manages to seamlessly integrate her family life with her professional responsibilities. Her ability to juggle these roles with grace and efficiency is a testament to her exceptional organizational skills and unwavering commitment.
Lara’s journey in public health has been marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a deep-seated commitment to improving community health outcomes. Her leadership as a Regional Manager is characterized by her strategic vision, innovative approach, and an unwavering focus on enhancing the quality of care provided to the public. She is known for her ability to inspire and lead teams, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages continuous improvement and professional development.
In addition to her professional and family commitments, Lara is an avid learner, constantly seeking opportunities to expand her knowledge and skills. Whether through professional development courses, attending conferences, or engaging in research, she is always on the lookout for ways to stay at the forefront of her field. Her dedication to lifelong learning not only benefits her career but also sets a powerful example for her children and colleagues. Recently Lara completed a certificate from Cornell University which equipped her with more tools to lead a dynamic and forward-thinking team.
Lara Frederick’s story is one of dedication, balance, and a relentless drive for excellence. She is a role model to many, demonstrating that with passion, commitment, and a love for learning, one can achieve remarkable success both at home and in the professional sphere.
Dr. Gord Miller, BSPE, MA, PhD
Treasurer
Gord is an Adjunct Professor within School of Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria. He was a former Research Officer and Senior Policy Analyst with the Ministry of Health, and Ministry for Children and Family Development. He has been involved in the provincial development and implementation of: Healthy Workplaces; Healthy Schools; Healthy Communities; Health Impact Assessment (HIA); Provincial Health Goals; Youth Agreements; Agreements with Youth Adults; Youth Safe House Standards; Child, Family and Community Services Act; and, Youth Policy Framework. As an international consultant, he has been involved in the country-wide development and evaluation of “Healthy Schools Initiatives” and “Health Impact Assessment” within Sweden, Australia, and the Bahamas. Gord is founding chair of the “Community Youth Development Coalition of British Columbia”.
He received an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. from the University of Victoria, and is a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Research Fellow. His research centers on understanding how programs, institutions, and communities affect children and youth health, well-being and development. Gord is the principal investigator and co-researcher for Surrey’s Community Youth Mapping Research Project; SD 62’s Staying in School Research Project; and, the Ministry of Children and Family Development’s Youth Engagement Project.
He is actively involved in teaching both undergraduate and graduate level courses and is the recipient of the 2013 Faculty of Human and Social Development Teaching Excellence Award, UVic. Gord is also a recipient of the 2014 ‘Premier’s Award for Innovation’ for his work in the area of Youth Engagement and Collaborative Action Research within the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Gord works as a private consultant (Miller and Mitic Research and Evaluation Consulting) and is currently involved with the BC Observatory for Population and Public Health (BCOPPH) supporting the development of provincial and regional surveillance capacity, as well as being involved with the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development in a provincial evaluation of their long-standing Afterschool Sport/Physical Activity and Arts Initiative (ASSAI).
Scholarly & Professional Interests:
- Community Youth Development
- Youth Engagement
- School as a Setting for Health Promotion
- Intersectoral Action for Health
- Health Impact Assessment
- Policy Development
- Adolescent Health and Development
- Youth Services
- Collaborative Action Research
- Research Methodology
Allysha Ram, MPH
Secretary
Allysha lives on the traditional and unceded territories of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Qayqayt and Tsawwassen First Nations. She holds a Master of Public Health with a specialization in Indigenous and Northern Health, Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and a certificate in Digital Marketing Management.
Allysha has several years of experience working in the non-profit, health care, and social service sectors where she brings experience in research, project management, program planning and implementation, community engagement, and administration.
Allysha is a Policy Analyst at Fraser Health Authority where she leads equity-focused public health initiatives aiming to improve health outcomes of marginalized populations. Alongside this, Allysha is a Program Manager at Engaged Communities Canada Society, where she oversees the design and delivery of a variety of health and social programming supporting underserved communities using low barrier, culturally appropriate, and harm reduction approaches.
Allysha is an avid volunteer both locally and abroad, with a special interest in supporting vulnerable populations through community-based outreach projects, public health education, and mentorship. As part of PHABC’s Board of Directors, Allysha hopes to promote health equity and social justice to mobilize change advancing the positive health and well-being of communities across BC.
Directors-at-Large
Quwam Kelani
Director-at-Large
Quwam is a dynamic and goal-oriented professional who brings a unique international perspective to his work. Originally from Nigeria, he pursued his education in Europe before relocating to Vancouver, Canada, for work, study, and leisure. His academic journey includes a bachelor’s degree in public health, a master’s degree in epidemiology, and three postgraduate diplomas in health supply chain, project management, and digital marketing.
With his diverse skill set, Quwam has several years of experience spearheading projects from inception to completion. He has collaborated with esteemed organizations such as the Global Fund, Irish Global Health Forum, Health Canada, BC Centre for Disease Control, and BC Children’s Hospital under the Provincial Health Services Authority of British Columbia, Canada, and the creative and technology industry.
Among his professional achievements, Quwam played a crucial role in managing projects under the COVID-19 Testing Innovation Projects. This included overseeing the Clinical Prevention Services Project (DBS), FNHA GeneXpert, Self-collection Sample Project, Chee Mamuk STBBI Project, and the BC PHL Self-registration Project. At the federal level, he successfully coordinated the Tox-LRN and Toxicovigilance projects, fostering collaboration across sectors and jurisdictions in Canada to facilitate the timely detection, evaluation, and intervention of health risks posed by drug and chemical exposures through leading data collection, analysis, and visualization efforts. Currently, he is managing the renovation of the Cardiology Department at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.
His professional interests include health research, health policy, community health, health promotion, and digital health technology.
Daniel A. Cohn
Director-at-Large
Daniel Cohn grew up in Metro Vancouver and has 20 years of experience in global public health as a program manager and policy advisor with nongovernmental organizations, and as a consultant to the World Health Organization. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and fluent in French. Having recently moved back to BC, Daniel hopes to contribute to stronger and more equitable health systems in his home province.
Daniel supported the health ministries of 12 low- and middle-income countries in strengthening their primary healthcare services, with a focus on infectious disease; he has also aided in pandemic preparedness and response. He has experience planning, delivering, and monitoring, and evaluating health services in resource-limited environments, including rural, remote, and conflict-affected areas.
Daniel has expertise in health equity and infectious disease, with a record of peer-reviewed publications and refereed conference presentations. He has served as an invited expert with WHO, and as a member of several international groups on neglected tropical diseases.
Daniel holds a master’s in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, a graduate diploma in International Relations from the Geneva Graduate Institute, and a bachelor’s in History from the University of British Columbia. As of 2026, he is pursuing a certificate in Emergency Management at the Justice Institute of BC.
Ilke Akpinar, MD, MSc
Director- at-Large
Ilke Akpinar is a health services and policy researcher specializing in evidence synthesis, health economics, and outcomes research. She earned her MD in Turkey and practiced as a pediatric surgeon for over 17 years in both rural settings and major urban training and research hospitals. Her clinical experience sparked a strong interest in improving health systems through evidence-informed policy and decision-making.
She holds an MSc in Public Health from the University of Alberta, with a focus on Health Services and Policy Research and Health Economics, and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health. As part of her doctoral work, she led the development of the first methodological quality assessment tool for economic evaluations of medical devices.
Ilke has published on health system efficiency, access to care, and evidence-informed decision-making. Her interests include knowledge translation and mobilization, and she recently completed advanced training in Knowledge Mobilization in AI & Public Health. She previously received the Carl and Dorothy Meilicke Graduate Leadership Award in Public Health and has volunteered in leadership roles with ISPOR’s Student Network, supporting educational programming and digital initiatives.
Lyndsay MacKenzie
Director-at-Large
Lyndsay started her role as a Senior Policy Lead in the Healthy Public Policy team at Island Health two years ago, after spending over twenty years as a municipal planner in BC and Alberta. She holds a master’s degree in social planning, with specific interest and experience in housing and public policy. Her work at Island Health currently focuses on alcohol use policy, as well as research and policy development on youth-specific and healthy built environment topics. She looks forward to learning more about equity-centered policy and program development over the wide range of issues public health touches. She hopes to be able to contribute her planning knowledge and experience to the work of the board and looks forward to being part of PHABC!
Sukhanjote Mann, MPH, B.Sc.
Director-at-Large
Sukhanjote’s keen interest in serving as a board member stems from a strong commitment to improving quality of life across diverse communities. As a recent Master of Public Health graduate and current Volunteer Coordinator with Fraser Health Authority, she is witness to both the strengths and gaps within healthcare and community systems. These experiences motivate her to advance equity, collaboration, and evidence-informed decision making to address the social determinants of health and build resilient communities across British Columbia.
Professionally, she supports a team of volunteers in long-term care, working alongside healthcare staff to enhance resident well-being. Previously, as a youth settlement worker with Archway Community Services, she facilitated programs for immigrant and refugee youth, supporting integration, mental health, and community connection. Most recently, she partnered with Brock University and the City of Abbotsford to launch a Neighborhood Small Grants pilot program, Connecting Newcomer Youth to Mindfulness, Nature, and Meditation, fostering social connection and mental wellness.
As a budding public health practitioner rooted in community practice, she brings collaborative project management skills, systems thinking, and meaningful youth engagement. In her spare time, she is an avid baker, enjoys spending moments outdoors with her two German Shepherds Rocky, Ziggy and over the years has developed an interest in landscape photography!”
Tiegan Daniels
Director-at-Large
Building on a decade of experience in the BC health system, Tiegan is currently a Public Health Epidemiologist with the Northern Health Authority. She holds a Master of Public Health from the University of British Columbia, a Bachelor of Health Sciences with honors from the University of Northern BC, and a Diploma in Health Services Administration from Dalhousie University. Her professional experience includes epidemiology and public health surveillance, program evaluation, qualitative and quantitative health research, leadership, and program and strategic planning.
Tiegan has broad interests across many areas of public health, including healthy public policy, determinants of health, leadership and capacity building, and rural and remote health, and is a strong advocate for evidence-informed policy and decision making. She is driven by a passion and commitment to healthy communities and environments, strong public health systems, and health and social equity.
Originally from Gibsons and having spent 15 years living predominantly throughout Northern BC, Tiegan now resides on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation in Cumberland. Here she can most often be found running the local trails, biking, camping, or generally spending her spare time being active outside with her community!
Want to join our board and support public health initiatives across BC? Nominations open each August for a 2-year term. Click here to see last year’s nomination form
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