Our Team

Dr. Jon S. Novick is a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and addiction medicine specialist who runs a private practice in Oakville, Ont. and is the medical director of the OMA Physician Health Program in Toronto. He attended McGill University for medical school followed by residency training in adult psychiatry at Brown University and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and psychoanalytic training with the Toronto Psychoanalytic Institute.

As an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Toronto with a focused interest in medical psychotherapy, he has supervised and mentored many students and residents during the past two decades. He also served as the first career exploration faculty lead and the first director of the Career Advising System with the MD Program at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Novick is certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, the American Board of Preventive Medicine (Addiction Medicine), and as a medical review officer. He is also a fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

In addition to assisting physicians struggling with mental health and addiction problems, he enjoys helping learners with career development and established physicians find the best work-life balance. Originally from the United States, Dr. Novick now lives in the Greater Toronto Area with his husband and two kids. He is a proud member of the MTV Generation.

Laura Mattila joined the OMA as the senior director for the Physician Health Program in 2020. Laura completed her master of arts degree from the University of Toronto with a specialization in sociology of health and mental health and has completed professional development through the Rotman School of Management and the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Laura has more than 10 years of experience in health-care leadership including at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto as well as at Sault Area Hospital  in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. Laura has held volunteer executive board of director positions in the non-profit sector in the areas of mental health and women’s employment. 

Ted Bober is the director of clinical services at the Physician Health Program. He has over 30 years of experience as a hospital administrator and clinician working with community and hospital-based mental health and addiction services. As a social worker, Ted believes that helping responses need to address immediate needs in practical terms and over time include a social justice and advocacy approach to reduce stigma and barriers to treatment while increasing compassion and support from one’s professional community and workplace.

Ted has a keen interest in enhancing professional health and peak performance during high-stress-high stakes work. He has served as a consultant to first responders following disasters in Canada and the U.S. and provided training to organizations such as the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Ministry of the Attorney General and Indian Residential School Adjudication Secretariat. He has presented at scientific conferences in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. and is the co-author of the book In the Line of Fire: Traumatic Stress in the Emergency Services published by Oxford University Press.

Dr. Kaufmann graduated with a degree in medicine from the University of Toronto in 1979. He completed his training in family medicine at the University of Toronto and then received certification from the College of Family Physicians of Canada in 1981. The College of Family Physicians honoured him in 1991 with a fellowship award.

After 14 years of practising family and addiction medicine in rural Ontario, in 1995 Dr. Kaufmann became the founding director of the Physician and Professionals Health Program (PHP) of the Ontario Medical Association - a service designed to assist doctors and other health professionals with substance abuse, psychiatric disorders and other personal health problems. He received certification in addiction medicine from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) in 1996 and the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM) in 2000. He is presently a fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and a diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine.

Dr. Kaufmann is a past chairman of the Canadian Physician Health Institute Advisory Committee, the Physician Health Committee of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine and the Canadian Physician Health Network, a national affiliation of physician support programs.

In 2003, Dr. Kaufmann was awarded a Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of his work in the field of doctors’ health. In 2007, he received the Courage to Come Back award from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and in 2009 he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement in Addiction Medicine Award from the Addiction Medicine Section of the Ontario Medical Association. In 2015, Dr. Kaufmann was the recipient of the Misericordia award from the Canadian Medical Association recognizing his career-long contributions to the field of physician health.

Dr. Kaufmann is an invited speaker, teacher and consultant nationally and internationally and has written extensively on the subject of doctors’ health.

Dr. Kaufmann retired from the PHP on May 1, 2017, and was honoured as emeritius medical director with the PHP for his service. Dr. Kaufmann is still involved in physician health but has more time for his other interests, including music, writing and travel.

Dr. Lisa Lefebvre joined the OMA’s Physician Health Program (PHP) as an associate medical director in September 2014. She is an assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at the University of Toronto and is cross-appointed in the department of psychiatry. Dr. Lefebvre completed a fellowship in addiction medicine at the University of Toronto in 2006. She became a diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine in 2009 and completed her master of public health degree at the University of Toronto in 2011. In 2016, Dr. Lefebvre became a fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and was granted a Certificate of Added Competence in Addiction Medicine in 2019—the inaugural year for this certification. Dr. Lefebvre is also certified by the Medical Review Officer Certification Council.

Dr. Lefebvre served as program director of the University of Toronto addiction medicine fellowship for seven years. During this time, the program underwent a significant expansion, culminating in its accreditation by the American Board of Addiction Medicine in 2013. Dr. Lefebvre continues to supervise fellowship-level trainees.

Dr. Lefebvre is a past chair of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine Education Committee and was previously co-chair of the Ontario College of Family Physicians’ Practising Well Program. Dr. Lefebvre served as an OMA council delegate from 2008 to 2014 and as a CMA council delegate from 2011 to 2017. Her clinical interest lies in occupational addiction medicine with a particular focus on safety-sensitive workers as well as in the treatment of opioid use disorder.

Kirat Klair has been with the OMA’s Physician Health Program (PHP) as an operations manager since 2019. Kirat holds a masters of health informatics degree from the University of Toronto.

Prior to working at PHP, Kirat worked in medical case management, clinical research, and has co-published a Canada’s Health Informatics Executive Forum white paper on enterprise innovation with Digital Health Canada.

Kirat manages, executes, and implements technical and operational responsibilities for the PHP case management system in collaboration with OMA technology and multiple external stakeholder groups. As well, Kirat manages and oversees overall program operations and business processes, analytics and reporting, and quality improvement and quality assurance initiatives within the PHP.

Jordanna Graves joined the Ontario Medical Association’s Physician Health Program (PHP) as a Clinical Coordinator in 2007. Jordanna is a social worker and has a master of social work from the University of Toronto, bachelor of applied science with a specialization in family and social relations from the University of Guelph, and a certificate in dispute resolution from York University.

Jordanna has worked in the field of mental health, addictions, health and wellness for over 20 years. Jordanna’s previous work experience includes case management and counseling individuals with substance use, problem gambling and mental health disorders. Jordanna is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

Ms. Beth Collison joined the OMA’s Physician Health Program (PHP) as clinical coordinator in 2019. Beth has a Master of Social Work degree from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of British Columbia. She also has a post-graduate certificate in addiction studies from OISE/Toronto Advanced Professionals Education and has completed training in CBT, motivational interviewing and many other modalities.

Prior to working at the PHP, Beth worked for several years as a therapist in community-based substance use and mental health treatment and held various roles in employee assistance and health-care settings. Beth is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

Dijana Jovic has been with the OMA’s Physician Health Program since October 2018 as a senior administrator supporting the PHP assessment team. Dijana transitioned to a new role in April of 2021 when she took on more responsibility as an operation manager. Dijana holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, a certificate in business management from Ryerson University and project management professional certification from PMI.

Dijana manages and oversees overall program operations and business processes, analytics and reporting, and quality improvement and quality assurance initiatives within the PHP while collaborating with other departments of the OMA.

Dijana has more than 20 years of experience in health care, and her previous work experience includes roles in research and business/project management.

Colleen Good has been with the Physician Health Program as a clinical coordinator since 2015. Colleen is a status-only faculty member at McMaster University and also at the University of Toronto’s department of occupational science and occupational therapy where she was a clinical associate from 2012 to 2014. Colleen is an occupational therapist registered in the province of Ontario. Colleen has worked in the field of mental health and addictions for over ten years.

She has worked clinically as an occupational therapist in the field of community mental health as well as in the forensic mental health system.

Eva Ingber has been working in the role of clinical coordinator since June 2015. Eva has a master of social work degree from the University of Toronto, and is a registered social worker. She is also a member of the International Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers.

Prior to working at the PHP, she has been working in private practice, and facilitating training on motivational interviewing for health-care professionals. Eva worked for twenty years at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health as an advanced practice clinician, trained staff in concurrent disorders and motivational interviewing. Eva was a manager of the Women’s Addiction Program and a therapist.

Tereena Berry joined the OMA’s Physician Health Program as a senior administrative assistant in May 2015. Tereena has a bachelor of arts in journalism and a background in financial analysis and reporting with 10 years of experience at Coca-Cola Bottling Ltd. as a sales analyst. A shift in her career interests and some experience in various reception and office administration roles took her in the direction of medical administration and an opportunity to work for the OMA. Tereena currently supports various members of the clinical team while actively contributing to the program’s special projects.

Tania Campbell has been working with the Physician Health Program as a clinical coordinator since 2018. Tania has a master of social work degree from York University, and a bachelor of social work from Ryerson University.

Prior to joining the PHP, Tania worked as a social worker and addiction therapist in an outpatient treatment program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health for 12 years. Tania has provided education and training to health-care professionals about mental health and addiction, as well as providing training in cognitive behavioural therapy.

Tania works as a psychotherapist in private practice, providing support to individuals who struggle with mental health and substance use-related issues. Tania is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, as well as the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

Anna Kopowska joined the OMA’s Physician Health Program as a senior administrative assistant in November 2006. Anna provides administrative support to various members of the clinical team and provides reception duties while actively contributing to the program’s special projects. Anna is certified in early childhood education, medical office assisting, communications, marketing and advertising. She has held various administrative positions, sales coordinator and sales representative positions for several publications of Today’s Parent Magazine (Professional Publishing) and Rogers Media.

Rosa Parsons joined the OMA’s Physician Health Program as a senior administrative assistant in March 2015. Rosa holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto. Rosa provides administrative support to various members of the clinical team while actively contributing to the program’s special projects. Rosa has held several administrative roles, including, the high-tech industry, human resources and health care. Rosa previously worked as an administrative assistant for the client services section of the Toronto Central CCAC. In that capacity, she supported six managers and their teams of front-line staff (in hospitals and community) in all aspects of their administrative needs.

Mary Vidaic joined the OMA’s Physician Health Program as a senior administrative assistant in April 2014. Before joining the PHP, Mary had a long work experience with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board working in number of administrative roles, her latest position was as the executive secretary of the chief operating officer at the WSIB. In her current role, Mary supports various members of the clinical team while actively contributing to the program’s special projects.

Danijela Ninkovic, RN, joined the OMA’s Physician Health Program in 2018. Danijela’s strong passion for physician health brought her to the PHP, where in her role of clinical co-ordinator she supports and advocates on behalf of physicians across Ontario.

Danijela is an internationally educated registered nurse with over 25 years of experience in a variety of clinical settings. She worked in the psychiatric emergency department and urgent care program and was actively involved in internal and external projects, including the Registered Nurses of Ontario Fellowship implementing RNAO best practice guidelines across psychiatry and addiction services at St. Michael's Hospital. With over 15 years of work in crisis intervention, Danijela’s focus has been mental health and addiction. Danijela has a master’s in health management. She also holds the Canadian Nurses Association Certification in psychiatric and mental health nursing.

Danijela has successfully presented her scholarly work in global forums, linking the European and North American settings that influenced her practice.

Throughout her career, she has valued the work of the interdisciplinary team and is actively involved with a number of PHP projects with the goal of improving supports for medical learners and physicians across Ontario.

Mike is a clinical social worker with 25 years of clinical experience in adult mental health and addictions. He received his master of social work degree from Carleton University in Ottawa Ontario and is a registered social worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

Prior to coming to the Physician Health Program, Mike worked at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health as a front-line clinician and advanced practice clinical leader. He worked in a number of clinical settings including the schizophrenia program, concurrent disorders program, and the forensic mental health program providing direct client care, clinical supervision, clinical consultation and capacity building

In his spare time, Mike enjoys playing, coaching, and watching baseball, basketball and hockey and driving his three sons all over the city to ensure that they get to the field or rink on time.

Wendy Ross joined the OMA’s Physician Health Program in July 2019. Wendy is a registered social worker whose career spans over 40 years. She has held both administrative and clinical positions in health care which has included the management and development of numerous addiction and mental health programs. Additionally, Wendy has chaired multiple committees addressing child abuse, woman abuse, concurrent disorders, diversity, crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment and prevention and program advisory committees including consumer and family participation.

Wendy has provided clinical services to various populations including older adults, individuals, couples, and families in the area of bereavement, couple and family conflict, mental health, and addiction problems, and occupational and/or personal stress. She has additional accreditation in family and elder mediation.

Dr. José Silveira is an associate professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Toronto and is certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in psychiatry. He is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine and is accredited by the American Society of Addiction Medicine since 2004. Over the past 22 years, Dr. Silveira has worked at the Academic Health Sciences Centers, a community teaching hospital and works extensively with community-based physicians through the Ontario College of Family Physicians and the Center for Effective Practice.

Since 2012, Dr. Silveira has been an addiction psychiatrist with the National Basketball Association/National Basketball Players Association Player Assistance/Anti-Drug Program Clinicians Network. His leadership experience spans 20 years and includes departmental chief, medical director, chair of the Medical Advisory Committee at St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto, and co-chair of Corporate MAC for Unity Health Toronto. He has also served as chair of the SJHC Quality of Care Committee and chair of the Credentialing Committee. 

Dr. Silveira’s professional focus is to support the delivery of mental health and addiction care through primary care and community networks. He has worked closely with the Ontario College of Family Physicians since 2001 facilitating continuing education workshops for primary care physicians and was on the steering committee of the Ontario College of Family Physicians Collaborative Mental Health Network until 2020. As a mentor in the latter program, Dr. Silveira has provided support to family physicians across Ontario since 2001. Working with the Centre for Effective Practice, he has been an invited lead or committee member on several point-of-care tools to assist primary care providers in managing complex conditions. He has served as a psychiatrist providing shared care with numerous CHCs and FHTs throughout his career and has developed and delivered peer-reviewed workshops and seminars based on naturally emerging clinical dilemmas derived from case discussions with primary care providers. Dr. Silveira has been nominated and/or received 12 teaching awards over the course of his career.

Dr. Samantha Cook Wallenius is a psychiatrist who has practiced general adult inpatient and outpatient psychiatry in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., since 2008.

Dr. Wallenius obtained her medical degree from the University of Toronto faculty of medicine in 2003, and completed her psychiatry residency through the University of Toronto in 2008.

Dr. Wallenius has special clinical interests in treating the dual-diagnosis population, physician mental health and Indigenous health and wellbeing. Additionally, she has always had an interest in the intersection between medicine and the legal system, and is completing her master’s degree in health law via the LLM — health law program at Osgoode Hall Law School.

Since 2008, Dr. Wallenius has been on faculty at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine as an assistant professor. She has also been the site director for the NOSM Postgraduate medical education psychiatry residency program since 2019.

In 2021, Dr. Wallenius expanded her academic involvement when she was appointed to the position of assistant program director, general psychiatry — collaborative Indigenous residency stream in the department of psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and continues to serve in this capacity.

Outside of her professional roles, Dr. Wallenius loves travelling, cooking, reading and playing the piano. However, the one place where she is truly able to relax and renew is at her cottage with her family.

Shayan Baksh joined the Physician Health Program in February 2022 as a senior administrator. Shayan completed her honours bachelor of arts in psychology, with a minor in health studies, at York University in May 2021. Before joining the PHP, Shayan has held several administrative and customer-service roles, and has supported different industries, including the non-profit and hospitality sector.

In her current role, Shayan supports the senior director, assessment program, and other team members as needed. In addition, she supports the financial operations of the PHP, while actively contributing to the program’s special projects.

Since 2001, Lesley Stoddard has practiced nursing in Halifax, Vancouver, and Toronto. She holds an honours degree in health psychology from Queen’s University; a BScN from Dalhousie University; and a MSc in community health from the University of Toronto. Lesley was an intensive care nurse in major tertiary care centres. She then turned to community work providing palliative care, primary care, and most recently mental health and addictions care. 

Early in Lesley’s career, she developed a strong interest in learning about the well-being of health care providers and pursued a deeper understanding of the dynamic nature of how intrinsic and extrinsic factors can positively or negatively influence the healthcare work environment, the care that is provided, and the overall personal and professional wellness of providers. 

In her role as clinical coordinator at the PHP, Lesley hopes to help normalize the experience for medical learners and physicians accessing PHP services and play a supportive role in connecting them with the resources they need and deserve.  

Thurja joined the OMA’s Physician Health Program (PHP) in May 2023 as a Senior administrator. She completed her honours Bachelor of Health Studies degree at York University. Prior to joining the PHP, Thurja worked as an Administrative Assistant in the healthcare industry over 13 years, mainly at downtown teaching hospitals such as UHN & St. Micheal Hospital.

Thurja is currently part of Intake and PSAAP, where she manages the daily workflow of clinical coordinators in terms of responding to inquiries, preparing documents, supporting financial operations, coordinating schedules, travel and meeting arrangements, along with contributing to the program’s special projects.

Chantale Laing joined OMA’s Physician Health Program in March 2023 as a senior administrator. Chantale has an advanced college diploma in business administrative human resource management. 

Before joining the PHP, Chantale held various administrative roles with Disney and Microsoft, and worked in the United Arab Emirates with Emirates Airlines. She then shifted her career into the health industry with Ontario Health Shared Services and Ontario Health Central.

As a senior administrator for the Physician Health Program, Chantale actively and passionately contributes to co-ordinating and supporting the leadership team.