Meet the Team

Dr. Erin Bearss is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and the Family Physician-in-Chief in the Ray D. Wolfe Department of Family Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. She has practiced comprehensive family medicine including emergency medicine for almost two decades at Mount Sinai Hospital. 

Dr. Bearss earned her medical degree at McMaster University. She completed her Family Medicine residency training at Mount Sinai Hospital and completed an Emergency Medicine Fellowship at the University of Toronto.

A physician at the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team, Dr. Bearss was the Associate Chief of Family Medicine responsible for Academic and Special Programs, where she provided outstanding academic leadership in the role of Family Medicine Residency Program Director for 12 years, from 2008-2020. She is the recipient of multiple awards for teaching excellence, educational achievement, leadership, resident wellness and, most recently, outstanding contributions to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Anne Biringer is an Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto, and holds the Ada Slaight and the Slaight Family Foundation Directorship in Maternity Care for the Ray D. Wolfe Department of Family Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, in Toronto.

Dr. Biringer received her medical degree from Queen’s University and has been practicing family medicine, including delivering babies care, for over 30 years. She has a special interest in family medicine maternity care and is past Chair of the Maternal and Newborn Care Committee of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. She is currently on the Clinical Practice Obstetrics Committee for the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada and the Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia working group for the Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health. She has published on many facets of maternity care and maternity care education and has received numerous awards.

Dr. June Carroll is the Sydney G. Frankfort Chair of Family Medicine and Professor and Clinician Scientist in the Ray D. Wolfe Department of Family Medicine at Sinai Health and the Department of Family & Community Medicine at University of Toronto.

In addition to Dr. Carroll’s busy family practice, she is involved in research and health policy. Her research interests focus on the integration of genomics into primary care including such topics as family history, prenatal screening, newborn screening, hereditary cancer, predictive genetic testing and personalized medicine. She is Co-Director of GEC-KO (Genetics Education Canada – Knowledge Organization: www.geneticseducation.ca), the mission of which is to increase the genetics knowledge of health care providers. She is also Chair of the Prenatal Screening Ontario Education Working Group and Vice Chair of the Ontario Genomics Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations about funding genetic and genomic tests.

Dr. Milena Forte is a staff physician at the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team where she has practiced Family Medicine including full-scope maternity care for over 20 years.

She earned her medical degree at the University of Western Ontario Medical School and completed her Family Medicine training at McMaster University. She subsequently completed a Women’s Health Scholar Fellowship at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Forte is a clinician educator and Associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine where she serves as the Maternity Care Lead as well as the Postgraduate Lead for the Office of Education Scholarship. Her areas of research include Health Professions Education and Maternal Newborn Care. She has authored several articles, two book chapters and is the creator and lead editor of the recently published anthology entitled: Full Circle, A Collection of Family Medicine Birth Stories.

Dr. Mayura Loganathan earned his medical degree at the University of Ottawa and completed his family medicine residency at Mount Sinai Hospital through the University of Toronto.

Dr. Loganathan is currently a staff physician at the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team. He is the lead physician for the family health team’s home visiting program for homebound frail elderly. He also teaches undergraduate medical students and family medicine residents at the Mount Sinai Hospital’s Granovsky Gluskin Family Medicine Centre. He is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science Community Health at the University of Toronto through the Department of Family and Community Medicine.

Dr. Natalie Morson is a staff physician practicing comprehensive family medicine including obstetrics at the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team.

Dr. Morson earned her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario in 2006 and then completed her Family Medicine residency, followed by a Low Risk Obstetrics Fellowship, at the University of Toronto in 2008. After practicing in a group practice in midtown Toronto for 2 years, she relocated to Boston in 2011 where she worked as a family physician in a Community Health Center for four years. Since returning to Toronto and joining the Family Health Team, Dr Morson has worked as a clinician teacher and is the Director of the Maternity Care and Women’s Health Program for the family medicine residents at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Melissa Nutik is a family physician practicing comprehensive Family Medicine in the Mount Sinai Academic Family Heath Team. She sees patients of all ages and also provides full scope maternity care. She is a clinician educator and holds a faculty appointment as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. She is actively involved in teaching learners of all levels.

Dr. Nutik completed her medical degree and Family Medicine residency training at the University of Toronto. Subsequently she completed a one year academic fellowship in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and a Masters of Education Degree in Health Professional Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

Dr. Nutik is the undergraduate educate scholarship lead for the Office of Education Scholarship of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. Her area of academic interest is medical education, with a focus on clinical and communication skills and evaluation.

Dr. Naimer is a staff family physician and Clinical Director of the Ray D. Wolfe Department of Family Medicine at Sinai Health. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and teaches family medicine residents and medical students. Dr. Naimer earned her medical degree at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario and completed her Family Medicine Residency training at McMaster University. She also completed a Master’s of Health Science Degree in Health Administration from the University of Toronto. Dr. Naimer’s academic interests are in the areas of quality improvement, health systems research and collaborative care.

Dr. David Tannenbaum is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. He has an active clinical practice and he teaches family medicine residents and medical students in the Granovsky Gluskin Family Medicine Centre. His academic interests include curriculum design and implementation.

Dr. Tannenbaum received his medical degree from McGill University in 1977, and completed residency training in Family Medicine at McGill and at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is the recipient of several awards for teaching and contributions to postgraduate medical education. In 2007 Dr. Tannenbaum was named one of two Family Physicians of the Year for Metro Toronto by the OCFP. He held the D. I. Rice Award from the College of Family Physicians of Canada from 2008 to 2010. In 2012 he held the position of President of the Ontario College of Family Physicians. He is currently Deputy Chair, partnerships, in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto, and Chair of the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee at Health Quality Ontario.

Dr. Sakina Walji is a family physician practicing in the Ray D. Wolfe Department of Family Medicine at Sinai Health. She practices comprehensive family medicine and maternity care. She earned her medical degree at Imperial College London and received her Family Medicine training at Mount Sinai Hospital under the University of Toronto. She currently teaches family medicine in the Granovsky Gluskin Family Medicine Centre and is the lead physician for quality improvement. She has completed a Masters of Public Health.

Dr. Sabrina Kolker is a staff physician practicing comprehensive family medicine including maternity care in both French and English at the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team.

Dr. Kolker completed her medical degree at the University of British Columbia and completed her residency at the University of Toronto in family medicine. During her residency Dr. Kolker also completed a Masters of Science from the University of Toronto in Clinical Epidemiology.

Prior to her training as a family doctor, Dr. Kolker attended Stanford University where she completed a BA in English and a Masters in French. Dr. Kolker went on to represent Canada in women’s rowing at the 2004 Athens and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. While training and travelling abroad, Dr. Kolker developed a passion for global health and has spent time volunteering in Uganda and Bolivia.

Since joining the Family Health Team, Dr Kolker has worked as a clinician teacher. Her academic interests include the role of exercise as medicine including the role of exercise in pregnancy, sex and gender differences in medical outcomes and qualitative research exploring resident education.

Haley Blumenfeld is a Registered Social Worker in the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team. Haley graduated with a Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto with a specialization in mental health. Prior to joining the Family Health Team in 2020, she worked in perinatal and women’s mental health programs at two other Toronto hospitals.

Haley provides individual and group therapy to adults experiencing diverse challenges, such as symptoms related to a mental health concern, low self-esteem, role transition challenges, and relationship difficulties. As a social worker in an academic setting, Haley is involved in research and facilitates mental health education seminars for medical clerks, residents, and other learners.

She offers a trauma-responsive and anti-oppressive approach that is individualized to each of her client's unique goals and strengths. Her process aims to support clients in reducing painful emotional symptoms by developing coping strategies and empowering them to foster change. Haley appreciates that the therapy journey is a courageous undertaking and aims to create a space that is warm, non-judgmental, and collaborative so that clients feel safe to engage in healing and self-exploration.

Michelle Holzapfel is a Registered Social Worker providing Counselling and Therapy for patients of the Sinai Family Health Team.

She received her Masters degree in Social Work with a Child Welfare Practice certificate at Yeshiva University, New York City and her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Studies from Ryerson University, Toronto.

Michelle's role as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare professionals in the Family Health Team is to provide support and therapy to individuals of all ages facing challenges with their mental health, as well as providing caregiver support for families with children experiencing emotional regulation difficulties. In her role, Michelle also educates Medical Students and Residents regarding Mental Health and Social Work topics. 

Lauren Rose is a Registered Dietitian in the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team.

Lauren provides nutrition education, counseling and support to all ages across the lifespan, in both individual and group settings, with a primary focus on behavior change strategies towards achieving health goals. As a dietitian in an academic setting, Lauren participates in nutrition education for medical clerks, residents, dietetic interns and medical staff. She has been trained in media communications and has shared her expertise with The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Global TV, CBC, Parenting and Flare Magazines. She also speaks regularly on health and nutrition related topics of interest.

Lauren is a member of the College of Dietitians of Ontario, Dietitians of Canada, and the Consulting, Diabetes, Obesity and Cardiovascular Networks.

Lisa Satira is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. She offers nutritional counselling and facilitates group programs within the Family Health Team. Lisa received her undergraduate degree from The University of Western Ontario and completed her post-graduate internship at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto.

The Family Health Team Pharmacist provides medication assessments and education to ensure medications are necessary, safe and effective. Our pharmacist collaborates with patients, family physicians, and health care team to help identify and address medication concerns. To learn more about the services offered by our pharmacist, please visit Pharmacist Services

Natalie Tregaskiss worked as a Labour and Delivery nurse for five years before pursuing a career in midwifery. She was the first graduate from the Post-Baccalaureate Program for Health Professionals and obtained her Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery (with honours) from Ryerson University in 2011. Natalie has been the Group Perinatal Care Coordinator at the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team (MSAFHT) since its inception in 2016. Natalie participates in ongoing evaluation of the Group Perinatal Care program and is the chair of the Group Perinatal Care Committee. She is also a member of the MSAFHT Maternity Care Committee and the Baby Friendly Initiative Committee at Mount Sinai Hospital. She is currently pursuing her lactation consultant certification and lives in the Kensington Market area of Toronto with her three kids. Contact: [email protected].

Nelia started her career at Mount Sinai 1995 working in Family Medicine. Over the years, she had held many administrative roles, most recently Nelia has assumed the role of Site Manager.

Nelia has been responsible for many projects within the unit and is always looking for ways to bring the best patient experience to Family Medicine. Nelia is involved in many committees within the department and hospital, and is responsible for the day to day operations of the clinic including staffing and department wide organizational procedures.

Nelia is also a recipient of the 2013 Karen McGibbon Awards of Excellence for Interprofessional Team Participation as well as the 2019 Family Medicine Excellence award.

Claudia is our EMR, Data Support and Accounts Support Coordinator and has been part of our team for four years. Claudia is one of our two super-users responsible for the maintenance of our EMR system as well as training of all new staff members. Claudia is also an active member of various department committees. Prior to her current position she held previous roles of a Medical Secretary in the Family Medicine Department. Claudia joined the Mount Sinai Hospital team in 2011 with ten years of experience in the business sector.

Paula Da Rocha is the Mount Sinai Hospital Academic Health Team’s Education Program Assistant. She coordinates schedules, evaluations and learning experiences for our medical students and Family Medicine Residents. She also assists in the coordination of weekly clinical and multi-disciplinary rounds which provide ongoing professional development and education to our physicians and staff.

The Chart Room Team, Sandy Daniel and Juna Salillas, provides document management to support the effective use of our electronic medical record. They process information to ensure that records are complete and accurate and available to clinic staff in a timely way.

Our team of Clinic Assistants, Mara Paredes, Rosalie Cabrera and Chivlen Quimpang, support clinical staff with patient flow and assist in minor clinical procedures. As the initial contact, Clinic Assistants play a key role in creating a positive experience for patients and families.

Members of our administrative support team are the first people you see when you visit the office.

They answer the phone when you call and book all your appointments, handle your referrals, forward your messages and answer many questions you have.

The Administrative Team plays a major and vital role in maintaining the clinic, improving patient access, coordinating services and ensuring quality patient care.

Ronit is a graduate of York University, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Her Nursing career started at Baycrest Hospital in 2010, in the medical rehabilitation unit, with experience in the Acute Care Geriatric Unit.

Ronit has worked at Mount Sinai Hospital since 2012 and has recently joined the Mount Sinai Family Health team as a clinic nurse. Her clinical background includes working in departments of Cardiology, Medicine, Coronary Care and Emergency. During her career, she had completed Coronary Care courses 1-4, and the Trauma Nursing Core Course.

Sheena Luck earned her Masters of Science (MScN) and post graduate Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Diploma from York University in 2011.

Sheena Luck is currently a full-time Nurse Practitioner at the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team. She is the co-lead for the family health team’s home visiting program for homebound frail elderly, which provides primary care and palliative care at home. She also teaches graduate students in the nurse practitioner program through the University of Toronto and the Ontario consortium nurse practitioner program at the Mount Sinai Hospital’s Granovsky Gluskin Family Medicine Centre.

Prior to working at the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team, she spent time practicing in the territory of Nunavut in various remote communities.

She is currently pursuing a faculty appointment as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Toronto in the Faculty of Nursing, and the Department of Community and Family Medicine. She is the recipient of the Local Health Integrated Network "Hero in the Home" award in 2015 and the distinguished Educator Award from Sinai Health in 2018. In 2018 she was nominated for the Florence Nightingale nurse of the year award.

During the 2019 Covid-19 pandemic she was interviewed by Dr. Howard Ovens in a podcast that highlighted her work with providing home-visits and end of life care during a pandemic.

Susannah McGeachy holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Toronto (2008) and Master of Nursing/Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification from Toronto Metropolitan University (2014). Her nursing background includes pediatrics, haematology/oncology and internal medicine. As a nurse practitioner, she has worked in a variety of primary care settings in Ontario including community health centre, nurse practitioner-led clinic, artists’ health, and family health teams. She leads the preventive care program and is privileged to work with the supportive and passionate team at Mount Sinai Hospital's Academic Family Health Team.

Alison has been a Registered Nurse with the Family Health Team since 2012.

As the Maternity Care Coordinator Alison provides education and is dedicated to caring for patients and their families during the pregnancy and the postpartum journey in collaboration with other members of the health-care team. Alison is interested in supporting those women accessing prenatal care by family physicians, residents and midwives at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Alison’s clinical background includes working in the Emergency Department at Mount Sinai Hospital as well as numerous medical – surgical departments, Emergency Research, and Informatics. Alison is also a Registered Massage Therapist in private practice.