Our Expert Council
A Special Thanks to Our Expert Steering Committee and Advisors
The Health and Bone website was developed to provide a reliable source of education and information for Canadians interested in learning about osteoporosis and bone health. The content of this website has been approved and reviewed by SIGMA (Special Interest Group on Menopause and Aging), an independent, multidisciplinary group of family physicians and specialists dedicated to advancing women's health during and after menopause by providing women with comprehensive, up-to-date information. Visit the website at www.sigmamenopause.com. Many thanks to Dr. Chui Kin Yuen, Dr. Christine Derzko, Dr. Elaine Jolly, Dr. David Kendler, Dr. Brent Kvern and Dr. Marla Shapiro. Special thanks to Dr. Shapiro for contributing her expertise and authoring our Bone Matters column.
We would also like to thank Erin Billowits, Certified Older Fitness Expert and owner of Toronto's Vintage Fitness; Dr. Keri-Leigh Cassidy, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University; Margaret Martin, Registered Physiotherapist and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Nicole Shuckett, Registered Dietician.
SIGMA's Current Board of Directors
                        
                            
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            Dr. Elaine Jolly, OC, MD, FRCSC, Medical Director, Women's Health Program,
                                            The Ottawa Hospital President and Founder Ottawa, Ontario
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                    
                                
                                
                                    Dr. Jolly has been a leader in the community and a dedicated advocate of Women's
                                        Health. As an educator, she has been recognized by the University of Ottawa,
                                        received the Faculty Award of Excellence, has given over
                                        450 scholarly presentations to her peers and physicians at all levels, and was
                                        invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada, in recognition of her
                                        achievements in women's health. She has an active clinical research
                                        program focusing on menopause issues, hormonal therapies, osteoporosis, uterine
                                        bleeding, and fibroids. She is also a strong advocate for the vital nursing role
                                        in patient care and strongly supports nursing research
                                        in women's health.
                                
                            
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            Dr. Chui Kin Yuen, MD, FRCS(C), FACOG, MBA Executive Director
                                            Winnipeg, Manitoba
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                    
                                
                                
                                    Dr. Chui Kin Yuen has completed a Canadian Fellowship in Obstetrics and
                                        Gynecology (FRCSC) and is board certified (ABOG) with an American Fellowship in
                                        Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FACOG). He is also a certified clinical
                                        densitometrist (CCD). Dr. Yuen currently serves on the Scientific Advisory
                                        Council of Osteoporosis Canada and is a founding member and treasurer of Western
                                        Osteoporosis Alliance.
                                
                            
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            Dr. Christine Derzko, MD, FRCS(C) Vice-President Toronto,
                                                Ontario
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                    
                                
                                
                                    Dr. Christine Derzko is a member of U of T's Bone and Mineral Group and of the
                                        Scientific Advisory Board of Osteoporosis Canada. Two of her major research
                                        interests include menopause and osteoporosis. She has been a
                                        member, author, co-chair, and senior editor of a number of Guidelines
                                        Development and Consensus Committees, including SOGC Canadian Consensus
                                        Conference on Menopause and Osteoporosis (1998 and 2001); Consensus Committee
                                        to Determine the Level of Evidence Required for Regulatory Approval of New
                                        Hormonal Therapies for the Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer in Canada
                                        (2003); and National Consensus Guidelines for the Obstetrical
                                        and Gynecological Management of Women with Inherited Bleeding Disorders (2005).
                                    
                                
                            
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            Dr. David Kendler, MD, FRCP(C), ABIM Treasurer and Associate Executive
                                            Director Vancouver, British Columbia
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                    
                                
                                
                                    Dr. David Kendler is the director of the Prohealth Clinical Research Centre and
                                        the Osteoporosis Program at Providence Health Care in Vancouver, British
                                        Columbia. He serves on the Scientific Advisory Council of the
                                        Osteoporosis Society of Canada, is Medical Advisor to the Thyroid Foundation of
                                        Canada, and chairs the Western Osteoporosis Alliance. He is Past President of
                                        the International Society for Clinical Densitometry.
                                        Dr. Kendler has published and presented research on osteoporosis therapies,
                                        osteoporosis risk assessment technologies, and autoimmune thyroid disease.
                                
                            
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            Dr. Brent Kvern, MD, CFPC, FCFP Board Member at Large Winnipeg,
                                                Manitoba
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                    
                                
                                
                                    Dr. Kvern is a family physician with special interest in continuing medical
                                        education (CME). He is the past associate dean of CME at the University of
                                        Manitoba. He was instrumental in developing the "Quality Circle"
                                        project, a successful CME program in Osteoporosis in Canada.
                                
                            
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            Dr. Marla Shapiro, MDCM, CCFP, MHSc, FRCP(C), FCFP Secretary Toronto,
                                                Ontario
                                        
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                    
                                
                                
                                    Dr. Shapiro is the recipient of the 2005 Media Award from the North American
                                        Menopause Society for her work in expanding the understanding of menopause, and
                                        won the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada/Canadian
                                        Foundation for Women's Health Award for Excellence in Women's Health Journalism
                                        in 2006 for her documentary "Run Your Own Race." She is a member of several
                                        advisory boards and stakeholder committees including Cancer
                                        Care Ontario and the newly formed Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. Dr.
                                        Shapiro received an Award of Excellence from the College of Family Physicians of
                                        Canada for her lifelong commitment and dedication to family
                                        medicine
                                    
                                
                            
                        
            
Dr. Elaine Jolly, OC, MD, FRCSC, Medical Director, Women's Health Program, The Ottawa Hospital President and Founder Ottawa, Ontario
Dr. Jolly has been a leader in the community and a dedicated advocate of Women's Health. As an educator, she has been recognized by the University of Ottawa, received the Faculty Award of Excellence, has given over 450 scholarly presentations to her peers and physicians at all levels, and was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada, in recognition of her achievements in women's health. She has an active clinical research program focusing on menopause issues, hormonal therapies, osteoporosis, uterine bleeding, and fibroids. She is also a strong advocate for the vital nursing role in patient care and strongly supports nursing research in women's health.
Dr. Chui Kin Yuen, MD, FRCS(C), FACOG, MBA Executive Director Winnipeg, Manitoba
Dr. Chui Kin Yuen has completed a Canadian Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology (FRCSC) and is board certified (ABOG) with an American Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FACOG). He is also a certified clinical densitometrist (CCD). Dr. Yuen currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Council of Osteoporosis Canada and is a founding member and treasurer of Western Osteoporosis Alliance.
Dr. Christine Derzko, MD, FRCS(C) Vice-President Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Christine Derzko is a member of U of T's Bone and Mineral Group and of the Scientific Advisory Board of Osteoporosis Canada. Two of her major research interests include menopause and osteoporosis. She has been a member, author, co-chair, and senior editor of a number of Guidelines Development and Consensus Committees, including SOGC Canadian Consensus Conference on Menopause and Osteoporosis (1998 and 2001); Consensus Committee to Determine the Level of Evidence Required for Regulatory Approval of New Hormonal Therapies for the Adjuvant Treatment of Early Breast Cancer in Canada (2003); and National Consensus Guidelines for the Obstetrical and Gynecological Management of Women with Inherited Bleeding Disorders (2005).
Dr. David Kendler, MD, FRCP(C), ABIM Treasurer and Associate Executive Director Vancouver, British Columbia
Dr. David Kendler is the director of the Prohealth Clinical Research Centre and the Osteoporosis Program at Providence Health Care in Vancouver, British Columbia. He serves on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Osteoporosis Society of Canada, is Medical Advisor to the Thyroid Foundation of Canada, and chairs the Western Osteoporosis Alliance. He is Past President of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry. Dr. Kendler has published and presented research on osteoporosis therapies, osteoporosis risk assessment technologies, and autoimmune thyroid disease.
Dr. Brent Kvern, MD, CFPC, FCFP Board Member at Large Winnipeg, Manitoba
Dr. Kvern is a family physician with special interest in continuing medical education (CME). He is the past associate dean of CME at the University of Manitoba. He was instrumental in developing the "Quality Circle" project, a successful CME program in Osteoporosis in Canada.
Dr. Marla Shapiro, MDCM, CCFP, MHSc, FRCP(C), FCFP Secretary Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Shapiro is the recipient of the 2005 Media Award from the North American Menopause Society for her work in expanding the understanding of menopause, and won the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada/Canadian Foundation for Women's Health Award for Excellence in Women's Health Journalism in 2006 for her documentary "Run Your Own Race." She is a member of several advisory boards and stakeholder committees including Cancer Care Ontario and the newly formed Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. Dr. Shapiro received an Award of Excellence from the College of Family Physicians of Canada for her lifelong commitment and dedication to family medicine