Our Staff

Melanie Osmack

Executive Director

Melanie Osmack is a 3rd generation settler of Northern European descent with Cree ancestry on her mother’s side. She lives with her family as a guest on the unceded and continuously occupied territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, also known as Vancouver, B.C. With a deep commitment to improving health outcomes for Indigenous communities across Canada, Melanie brings extensive experience and expertise to her role in the areas of policy development, advocacy, and community engagement. She believes in fostering meaningful relationships and partnerships which in turn allows IPAC to increase capacity and better serve its members. Melanie represents IPAC at the national level, while ensuring that our work is in line with our values and strategic priorities. On a personal level, she has a strong connection to her family and nature, spending her free time connecting with her loved ones and exploring the outdoors.
 
You can contact Melanie at Melanie.Osmack@ipacamic.ca.

 

Learn More

Kayla Knelsen

Finance and HR Manager

Kayla is Métis from Manitoba. She grew up in a small rural community 35 minutes south of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She now lives in St. Malo, Manitoba, which is located on Treaty 1 Territory, in the rural municipality of De Salaberry with her husband, two children and two dogs.
Kayla has worked in the health care field as a health care aide and as a support worker to adults with intellectual disabilities. For the last 9 years she has worked in finance for both a non-profit organization and a for-profit company. She is excited to join the IPAC team as Administrative and Finance Coordinator.
In her free time she enjoys watching racing, camping and participating in ATV derby’s with friends and family.

Learn More

Rochelle Mathieu

Event and Administrative Coordinator

Rochelle is mixed European descent from Calgary, Alberta. After several moves around British Columbia and Alberta, she currently resides with her partner in Strathmore, Alberta where she is grateful to live, work and play as a guest on unceded Treaty 7 Territories and Region 3 Métis land of Southern Alberta. Rochelle has a certificate in Medical Office Administration; Social Work: Policy, Practice and Procedure; and Event Planning and Management. She has a background in caregiving, and as a family service support worker for both adults and children with diverse needs. In the past several years she has gained both experience and education in event planning and coordination, as well as general management and event management. In her spare time Rochelle likes to travel, cook, and spend time with family.

Learn More

Stacey Chicoine

Communications & Administrative Coordinator

Stacey (she/her) is Métis on her father’s side and mixed white settler on her mother’s side. Additionally, her family roots extend to the Māori, the Indigenous people of Mainland New Zealand. She is a mother of four—two children and two cats.
With over a decade of administrative expertise in non-profit administration and engagement with settler organizations, she actively amplifies the Indigenous voice, emphasizing healing and justice.

Learn More
This November, we recognize Indigenous Disability Awareness Month, a meaningful time to honour the resilience, strength, and vibrant diversity within Indigenous communities across Canada.  We’re thrilled to highlight the impactful work of the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS), which continues to advocate for inclusivity and support for Indigenous people with disabilities. https://www.bcands.bc.ca/indigenous-disability-awareness-month-idam/  Join us this month in celebrating and learning more about how we can foster a more united, understanding, and accessible world. 💙 #IDAM #IndigenousDisabilityAwarenessMonth #UnityInDiversity #BCANDS
We are just TWO WEEKS away from the IPAC Board & Staff In-Person Gathering in Quebec City!  During this gathering, we will:
🌿 Cultural Sharing: Engage in enriching discussions that honor our diverse Indigenous cultures through tradition, teaching, learning, and kinship.
🔍 Governance Review: Initiate the process of an IPAC governance review to strengthen our organizational mission and impact.
🤝 Relationship Building: Cultivate partnerships with the four medical schools in Quebec to foster collaboration and support.
💖 Wellness Integration: Embed principles of wellness and joy into our programming, benefiting the mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical health of our Board and Staff.  @cma_docs (CMA), @mdfinancial (MD) and @scotiabank are firmly committed to supporting the medical profession and advancing health in Canada and are investing $115 million over 10 years to support physicians and the communities they serve across Canada. The IPAC Board and Staff Development Gathering is made possible by this investment.  #IndigenousHealth #CulturalConnection #WellnessInHealthcare #BuildingBridges  #IndigenousLeadership #HealthcareEquity
What an inspiring week at #COP16Colombia! Dr. Ojistoh Horn, IPAC President, joined Dr. Joss Reimer, President of @cma_docs , and Dr. Melissa Lem, President of @cape_doctors, to elevate the conversation on the powerful connections between health, biodiversity, and nature-based solutions. Their work at COP16 highlights how protecting biodiversity supports healthier communities and a more resilient planet. 🌍🌿💪 
(Photo courtesy of Dr. Melissa Lem)
#HealthAndBiodiversity #NatureBasedSolutions #COP16
🚨 We're excited to announce that the @royalcollegecanada is recruiting individuals to join their governing committees for terms beginning in February 2025!  Committees play a vital role in guiding and directing the Royal College, making a lasting impact on residents, fellows, and the communities they serve.  Interested in making a difference? A list of available positions and the application form can be found on their website. The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.  https://www.royalcollege.ca/en/about/committee-structure/committee-recruitment  For any questions, feel free to contact governance@royalcollege.ca.
#royalcollege #committee #specialist #MedEd
Calling all Health Professional Educators!  Are you interested in exploring ways to address bias as a leader, ally, and co-disruptor? Join CAME's Canadian Leadership Institute for Medical Education (CLIME) 2.0 for a three-day intensive in Toronto, November 18-20, 2024! Designed for professionals at every career stage, this in-person event provides tools and insights for educators committed to fostering meaningful change in healthcare.  Registration is open! https://www.came-acem.ca/professional-development/clime2/
#HealthcareEducation #Leadership #BiasInHealthcare #Allyship #ProfessionalDevelopment #CLIME
📅 Today marks the start of Canadian Patient Safety Week 2024! This week, let’s focus on reducing healthcare harm and building safer, more compassionate care environments—including for Indigenous Peoples, who often face unique challenges in the healthcare system.  What does healthcare harm mean to you? How is your organization working to create a safer, more inclusive experience?  Looking for inspiration? Explore what @he_es_canada has planned and find out how you can get involved: https://tinyurl.com/2wazas8t.  Together, let’s make healthcare safe and respectful for all. 💙 #CPSW2024 #PatientSafety #UnderstandHarm
That's a wrap on IPAC Mentorship Events for 2024! 🎉  We closed out the year in Thunder Bay at @thenosm sharing a memorable evening with Indigenous medical learners and physicians. Thank you all for joining us and making it a night of connection and inspiration!  Keep an eye out for our Mentorship and other IPAC events here. https://ipacamic.ca/mentorship-events/  See you in March @ubcmedicine to kick off the 2025 events!  #IPACMentorship #IndigenousHealth #NOSM #MedicalCommunity #UBC #thunderbay
The Mentorship event at @thenosm in Sudbury was a tremendous success! Next stop: NOSM Thunder Bay!  A heartfelt thank you for welcoming us on the traditional lands of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. We had meaningful moments of connection and collaboration with Indigenous medical learners and physicians.  Looking forward to continuing the journey in Thunder Bay! 🙌🏽 
#MentorshipMatters #IndigenousHealth #NOSM  #IndigenousMedicine
We're thrilled to share more moments from #ICPH2024! It’s been an incredible experience connecting over meaningful conversations about physician health and well-being, all while on the traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq people. A big thank you to the conference sponsors: @amermedicalassn, @thebma, and @cma_docs.
 #ICPH #Halifax #IndigenousHealing #physicianwellbeing
The Canadian Paediatric Society's foundation, Healthy Generations, offers a $2,500 bursary each year to encourage First Nations, Inuit, and Métis medical students to pursue a career in paediatrics. This bursary is named in honour of Dr. Kent Saylor (Mohawk, Kahnawake), the first Indigenous paediatrician in Canada and a former chair of the CPS First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Health Committee.  🗓️ The deadline to apply is October 31. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to support your journey in medicine!  Learn more and apply here: https://healthygenerations.ca/about-details/kent-saylor-bursary-for-indigenous-medical-students
#SupportIndigenousStudents #IndigenousHealth #Paediatrics #IndigenousMedicalStudents