Regional Advisory Council 8 - Health

Archana Chaudhary is a manager in the health care industry and known for delivering innovative projects that improve patient care and operational efficiency. Passionate about social impact, she volunteers with various organizations to make a difference.

Skilled in strategic capital planning and collaboration, Archana thrives on building meaningful relationships. Outside work, she values family time and celebrating life's special moments. 

Rufus Awharitoma is a registered psychiatric nurse and a registered nurse with over 25 years’ experience in the addiction and mental health fields across three continents. Rufus also holds a diploma in adult psychology and a master of business administration. He currently practises as a mental health therapist with Recovery Alberta in Edmonton. 

Originally from Nigeria, Rufus has built extensive knowledge in addiction and mental health care using evidence-based approaches in both inpatient and community settings to support individuals in their recovery journey. He is a skilled clinician and passionate advocate for quality mental health services that are easily accessible, available, affordable, accountable and acceptable.

Rufus was a provincial council member with the College of Registered Psychiatric Nursing of Alberta and continues to promote addiction and mental health awareness through information sessions and conversation cafés.

As the president and chief executive officer of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, Karen Faulkner works passionately with the community to ensure kids have access to the most specialized and family-centred health care available. 

During her 12 years with the Stollery, she has formed several successful partnerships with other charities and worked collaboratively to improve the well-being of children. Karen was raised in small towns across Alberta and received degrees in science and commerce from the University of Alberta before pursuing careers in the corporate and charitable sectors.

Ric Gibbons has built a successful three-decade career in information technology and currently serves as Parkland County’s chief information officer. He is the past president of the ADHD Association of Greater Edmonton and has worked in his community as a coach and volunteered in various roles. 

Ric is an advisor/partner with the University of Lethbridge’s patient-oriented innovative nutrition trial. He was born and raised in Edmonton, where he graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and the University of Alberta. 

Dr. Raeesa Hassan has always embraced a deep connection with the community. Growing up in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, she developed an early passion for helping others. This led to her completing her medical degree in 2008 and has been shaping her professional journey. 

Raessa has gained experience and insights into varying levels of patient care and the importance of health care in the community after practising in a developing country then moving to Canada in 2016 and working as a family physician in Edmonton. She believes in the power of collaboration and advocacy to drive positive change and looks forward to helping provide this for Alberta.   

Yuliia Marcinkoski is a community member with a strong commitment to supporting newcomers and fostering inclusive opportunities in Edmonton. She has served on multiple boards focused on public education, youth mentorship and newcomer integration, including initiatives supporting Edmonton schools and Ukrainian families settling in Alberta. 

With over a decade of experience in economic development, business management and public service, Yuliia brings a deep understanding of cross-sector collaboration and community resilience. She is passionate about creating spaces where every Albertan, regardless of background, can thrive and feel at home. 

Danielle Moffatt enjoys applying design, research and policy analysis to strategic problem solving. In her current role with the Alberta government, she helps design products and services that meet the needs of Albertans and measure the long-term impact of these products and services. 

Danielle has lived in Edmonton for more than 10 years, where she has found professional and vocational opportunities to give back to her community. During this time, Danielle has worked in environmental services at the Glenrose Hospital, co-chaired Habitat for Humanity’s Community Advisory Council and managed the Edmonton Regional Innovation Network. She has also provided entrepreneurs with strategic growth support through her company. 

Esther Olatunji is a registered social worker with more than 8 years’ experience supporting youth, families and immigrant communities in Canada and internationally. She currently works as a family wellness worker and a community program liaison.

Previously, she worked as a youth and family counsellor and program director on varying programs supporting mental health and well-being. Esther also volunteers with community organizations, where she leads mental health and wellness initiatives and other social justice projects. In recognition of her impactful work, Esther was named one of Alberta’s Top 30 Under 30 in 2023.

Nadia Qureshi is a dedicated mother of two teenage daughters and a registered respiratory therapist with 18 years’ experience. She has specialized in neonatal and pediatric intensive care, including six years in the Middle East, where she contributed to the establishment of a new women’s and children’s hospital. 

Nadia holds a master’s degree in health care leadership and is currently pursuing a PhD in maternal and infant care at the University of Dundee in Scotland. In addition to her clinical expertise, she has expanded her professional focus to include health care quality improvement and the implementation of evidence-based practice change.  

Mark Wade has been a registered nurse for 17 years and an advanced critical care registered nurse for 12 years. He has worked in seven provinces and the Northwest Territories in urban and rural emergency departments and intensive care units. Mark is on the national board for the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses. He has volunteered as a student nurse mentor at both Mount Royal University and the University of Alberta for many years. 

In addition, he has extensive experience in mental health and addictions, with a focus on advancing trauma-informed care knowledge and skills into the student nursing body. As an interim director with Alberta Health Services, he helped develop and advance a suicide risk reduction program.  Mark is also proud to have created a scholarship at Memorial University, his alma mater, that supports two students a year in the Bachelor of Nursing program.

Tammy Whittaker is a passionate advocate for change in the home care community space in the Edmonton area. She is a registered nurse with a bachelor of science and a master of business administration, bringing 21 years of care experience to the table. 

Tammy’s family legacy of nursing and unique mix of public and private sector experience provide a distinctive perspective on home and community care. She is currently the chief executive officer and co-founder of Ember Healthcare. Her deep-seated passion for care goes beyond a mere exchange of services – she embodies a vision for home care that is centred on empathy, emotional support and personalized attention