Meet the changemakers working on reducing the gap for cardiovascular and diabetes care in New Brunswick

How might we close the gaps in care for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in New Brunswick?

This is the complex issue we are working on alongside 17 passionate changemakers from the health sector, academia, and government. On March 12, we gathered in Fredericton to kick-off a new rapid innovation challenge: Pathways to Equitable Health: A Focus on Cardiovascular & Diabetes in New Brunswick.

Divided into three teams, these experts have spent the past several weeks diving deeper into the journeys of individuals facing cardiovascular and diabetes-related challenges — exploring where gaps exist in patient care and how we can bridge them.

We are incredibly grateful to these dedicated professionals for carving out time outside of their day-to-day work to take on this challenge and drive meaningful change.

Before launching the challenge, we also conducted discovery interviews with key leaders from New Brunswick’s healthcare systems. Their insights helped shape the focus areas for this work, and they continue to guide the initiative as part of our Systems Leaders Group — offering critical expertise, system-level perspectives, and support.

Read on to learn more about the individuals working in these teams and the leaders helping pave the way for better, more equitable health outcomes in New Brunswick.

Shaun Loney during his keynote at the Symposium

Credit photo: Cameron Fitch, UNB Media services

Team 1 – Diagnosed individuals

Real-life strategy to reach your goals.

This team is focusing on the experiences of individuals already diagnosed with diabetes or cardiovascular disease. By mapping their journeys and identifying barriers in the current system, they aim to find new ways to improve support, care coordination, and health outcomes for patients living with these conditions.

The six experts working in this team are:

  • Chris Roberts, MPE – Community Health Manager, YMCA Southwestern New Brunswick

  • Dana El-Mughayyar, Msc, CCRP – Clinical Research Manager, New Brunswick Heart Centre
  • Joel Mazerolle – Therapeutic Specialist, Boehringer-Ingelheim Canada Ltd
  • Krystyna Edwards-Lee, RPh, BscPhm, PharmD – Cardiology Clinical Resource, New Brunswick Heart Centre

  • Myles O’Brien, Ph.D., CSEP-CEP – Assistant Professor, Université de Sherbrooke, Centre de Formation Médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick

  • Stephan Dombrowski, Ph.D. – Associate Professor and Health Psychologist, University of New Brunswick

Team 2 – Undiagnosed & At-Risk Individuals:

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This team is exploring the journeys of individuals who are at risk or remain undiagnosed, with a particular focus on underserved communities. Their goal is to better understand where prevention efforts and early detection systems fall short and how to close those gaps before critical health issues arise.

The six experts working in this team are:

  • Deborah McCormack, MPE – Retired Public Health Nurse

  • Madeline Shivgulam, Msc, CCRP – Ph.D. in Health candidate, Université de Sherbrooke

  • Melanie McCarthy – Lived experience member

  • Negar Rezaei – Epidemiologist, Government of New Brunswick

  • Sam Lanctin, MBA., ICD.D – Principal Partner and Founder, Sam Lanctin Consultant

  • Yuliia Bosova, M.D. – Laboratory Analyst (Quality Assurance), New Brunswick Provincial Veterinary Laboratory

Team 3 – Women Across Critical Life Stages: 

Real-life strategy to reach your goals.

This team is centring their work on women’s cardiovascular and diabetes health during key life stages such as pregnancy and menopause. They are uncovering the unique barriers women face in accessing timely, appropriate care and are working to create more responsive, equitable health pathways.

The four experts working in this team are:

  • Maya Laham, Pharm.D., MSc. – Researcher University of Montreal

  • Nathalie LeBlanc-Boswall – Project Manager / Innovator, Government of New Brunswick

  • Stephanie Percival – Senior Analyst – Service Design, Government of Canada

  • Teri Emrich, MBA., ICD.D – Population Health Epidemiologist, Government of New Brunswick

Systems leaders

Before the launch of the challenge, we conducted a series of discovery interviews with leaders from the healthcare systems. These leaders helped shape the focus for this challenge. They continue to support and guide the work each time, bringing their various expertise and connections in the challenge area. Together, these leaders and teams are paving the way for systems change — ensuring that equitable, patient-centered health solutions become a reality for all New Brunswickers. 

Anne-Marie Picone
Executive Director,
NB Association

Emily Richard, RN, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, UNB Institute of Population Health

Jennifer Russell, M.D.
Executive Director, UNB Institute of Population Health

Kerrie Luck, MSc OT, Ph.D.
Vice President, Policy & Research The Heart & Stroke Foundation of NB

Nicole Vandenborre
Director of Operations,
Can Health Atlantic

René Boudreau
Chief Executive Officer,
NB Medical Society

Sarah Pakzad, Ph.D.
Professor, Université de Moncton

Shilo Boucher, CPA, CA, ICD.D.
President & CEO,
YMCA Southwest NB

What’s next?

In the coming weeks, the teams will move into the solution phase of the challenge, focusing on identifying actionable ideas that could be implemented to address the gaps they’ve uncovered.

The innovative solutions they develop will form the foundation for a call for proposals, which will be launched this summer by Research NB. This next step will open the door for organizations and partners across the province and beyond to help bring these ideas to life and drive meaningful change in cardiovascular and diabetes care in New Brunswick.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the teams and system leaders for their continued dedication to advancing equitable health outcomes for communities across the province.

To learn more about the Cardiovascular and diabetes challenge