This year's conference promises an enriching experience with our keynote segment. These experts will not only share groundbreaking ideas and personal journeys but also offer invaluable advice on how we can make a significant impact in Canadian healthcare. Discover CUCOH’s 2025 keynote speaker lineup below.
Dr. Wiley Chung
Dr. Wiley Chung, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Queen’s University and 2023 Reznick Scholar, is a leader in minimally invasive thoracic surgery, education, and equity. He founded Southeast Ontario’s first Esophagogastric Diagnostic Assessment Program and serves as Director of EDIIA for Queen’s MD Program, establishing North America’s first equity committee of its kind. As Program Director of Queen’s Thoracic Surgery Fellowship, he advances inclusive and interprofessional education while pioneering research on surgical outcomes and team resiliency. Renowned for his innovation and leadership, Dr. Chung continues to shape healthcare and medical education locally and nationally.
Dr. Bishal Gyawali
Bishal Gyawali, MD, PhD, is an associate professor in medical oncology and public health sciences and scientist in the Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, at Queen's University, Kingston, Canada. His clinical expertise is across multiple adult solid tumors, with a special focus on GI, GU and breast malignancies. He is in the editorial and advisory board for multiple medicine and oncology journals and has authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals. Dr. Gyawali’s areas of academic interests include cancer policy, evidence-based oncology, financial toxicities of cancer treatment, clinical trial methods, supportive care, cancer care disparities, and global oncology.
Dr. Mary Ann McColl
Dr. Mary Ann McColl serves as the Academic Lead for the Canadian Disability Policy Alliance, a national collaboration dedicated to understanding and enhancing disability policy in Canada. A prolific author, Dr. McColl has written 14 books on disability, occupational therapy, and spirituality and is a co-author of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), a widely used tool in occupational therapy practice. With advanced degrees in occupational therapy, epidemiology, biostatistics, and theological studies, her interdisciplinary expertise spans disability policy, health services access, and spirituality's intersection with disability. Dr. McColl’s research includes changing attitudes toward disability, enhancing mobility and participation for people with disabilities, and improving primary care for individuals with spinal cord injuries. She has also held leadership roles at Queen’s University, including two terms as Head of Occupational Therapy and Acting Director of the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research.
Dr. Tony Sanfilippo
Dr. Anthony (Tony) Sanfilippo is a Professor of Medicine at Queen's University and a clinical cardiologist specializing in echocardiography, valvular heart disease, and cardiac disease in women. With a postgraduate fellowship at Harvard and extensive research contributions, he is recognized as a leader in his field. Dr. Sanfilippo has also held significant roles in medical education, including three terms as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education at Queen's, and currently serves as Senior Advisor for Educational Expansion and Innovation. A recipient of multiple awards, he continues to shape healthcare and education in Canada.
Past Keynotes
