Medical Advisory Board
The CPFF Medical Advisory Board (MAB) is comprised of some of Canada’s most highly respected respirologists and pulmonary fibrosis specialists. Its primary goal is to support the CPFF’s mission to fund research, provide patient support, and raise awareness of pulmonary fibrosis.
The CPFF will seek their guidance to:
- Ensure that the CPFF continues to deliver high quality, evidence-based and accurate programs related to pulmonary fibrosis.
- Oversee all health and medical information available through the CPFF, such as educational materials, website content, and discussion forums.
- Provide expert counsel on all scientific matters related to the CPFF, such as the allocation of research grants and identification of new areas of interest.
- Establish a link to the Canadian pulmonary health community and promote awareness for the CPFF among healthcare professionals and patients.
Please scroll down to view the members of the MAB and their biographies.
Dr. Shane Shapera, Chair, Toronto
Dr. Shane Shapera obtained his Doctor of Medicine in 2003 from the University of Toronto and went on to continue in Toronto during his Internal Medicine and Respirology residency training. He completed an additional year of clinical fellowship in Interstitial Lung Diseases in 2010. Dr. Shapera is an Associate Professor and Clinician Teacher in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is currently the Director of the Interstitial Lung Diseases Program at the Toronto General Hospital, UHN. He also works with the Toronto Lung Transplant Program providing pre-lung transplant assessments for patients with interstitial lung disease.
Dr. Deborah Assayag, Montreal
Dr. Deborah Assayag is an Associate Professor at McGill University and Director of the Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic. She cares for people with complex lung conditions and studies how to make treatments more personalized and equitable. Her research focuses on autoimmune-related lung disease, health disparities, and new ways to measure lung function to improve patient care.
Dr. Charlene Fell, Calgary
Dr. Charlene Fell obtained her medical degree from the University of Toronto and completed her Internal Medicine residency and Respiratory Medicine fellowship training at the University of Calgary. She completed a Clinical Research Fellowship in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis at the University of Michigan. Her research interests include determining the clinical predictors of diagnosis and survival in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, clinical trials of novel therapeutic agents for patients with IPF, and improving the health-related quality of life for patients with fibrotic lung disease.
Dr. Lee Fidler, Toronto
Dr. Lee Fidler is a staff respirologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the University Health Network. He completed additional fellowship training in the field of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and research training in clinical epidemiology and health care research. Areas of interest include the epidemiology and health outcomes in patients with ILD, with previous work focused on sarcoidosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Dr. Martin Kolb, Hamilton
Martin Kolb is the Jack Gauldie Boehringer Ingelheim Chair in Interstitial Lung Disease and Research Director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University and St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. His major research interests are fibrotic lung disease, with a particular interest in the role of growth factors, matrix abnormalities and pulmonary vessel remodeling in disease progression. He serves as a Principal Investigator, on steering committees, data safety and adjudication boards for numerous ILD clinical trials.
Dr. Stacey Lok, Saskatoon
Dr. Stacey Lok obtained her medical degree, Internal Medicine residency, and Respiratory Medicine fellowship training at the University of Saskatchewan. She was the recipient of the CPFF Robert Davidson fellowship award and completed an ILD clinical research fellowship at the University of Calgary. She currently provides clinical care and performs research at the University of Saskatchewan in the Saskatchewan ILD clinic.
Dr. Sarah MacIsaac, Halifax
Sarah MacIsaac is a staff respirologist and assistant professor at Dalhousie University with a focus on interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension. She completed her undergraduate degree in Connecticut, her medical school at McMaster University, and her internal medicine as well as respirology training at McGill.
Dr. Nicole Schneider-MacRae, Kelowna
Dr. Nicole Schneider-MacRae is a Respirologist / Pulmonologist. Practicing at a respiratory clinic in Kelowna, BC, Dr. Schneider-MacRae is committed to delivering expert, patient-focused care in Respirology. Dr. Schneider-MacRae is licensed by The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC) and upholds the highest professional and ethical standards of medical practice in BC.
Dr. Leigh Minuk, Vancouver
Dr. Minuk is a respirologist at Vancouver General Hospital and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto Respirology and Interstitial Lung Disease training programs and completed a clinical epidemiology diploma at McMaster University. She has a special interest in fibrotic lung disease, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, and sarcoidosis.
