Alumni Association Board

2021-22 Board of Directors

Dr. Terry Zlipko (MD'74) 
President
Dr. Terry Zlipko

Dr. Terry Zlipko is a devoted primary care physician currently practicing at the Saskatoon City Hospital in Saskatoon. Prior to assuming his current role, Dr. Zlipko held numerous high-level positions including Chief of Staff at La Ronge Hospital, Chief of Staff at Holy Family Hospital in Prince Albert, and Medical Department Head of Emergency Medicine for the Saskatoon Health Region. He was recently recognized by the College of Physicians and Surgeons for 40 years of service and longstanding commitment to medicine in Saskatchewan. 

Dr. Zlipko joined the College of Medicine Alumni Association in 2020 and currently serves as President.  He believes strongly in preserving the honoured heritage of the College of Medicine and is passionate about supporting medical students and young physicians. To him, all College of Medicine alumni have a role to play in supporting the next generation of medical doctors and to pay forward the opportunities that were bestowed upon them. 


Dr. Charlie Simpson (MD'71) 
Interim Vice-President,
Director and Highlights Reunion Consultant
Dr. Charlie SimpsonDr. Charlie Simpson graduated from the College of Medicine in 1971 before embarking on a long and rewarding career in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive endocrinology. His professional career has taken him around the world, as far away as Saudi Arabia. Although he is now comfortably retired from active medical practice in Saskatoon, he continues to find value in passing along his knowledge and expertise to medical students in the College of Medicine, as a Clinical Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 

Dr. Simpson is an ardent supporter of the College of Medicine Alumni Association, having served numerous roles advocating for the alumni community. Currently, he serves as a consultant for the Highlights in Medicine Conference and Reunion, providing sound advice and guidance to the board.  He lives an active lifestyle and is creative at finding novel ways of keeping fit, even cycling throughout the cold Saskatchewan winters.  


Dr. Stella Blackshaw
Director
Dr. Stella Blackshaw

Dr. Stella Blackshaw joined the College of Medicine in 1985, completing her residency before accepting a faculty position in the Department of Psychiatry. The College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan quickly became her adopted home institution, working closely with medical students, and retaining a clinical practice at the Student Health Centre. During her career, Dr. Blackshaw focused her teaching and scholarly research on eating disorders, psychotherapy, gender issues in mental health and the need for professional boundaries. She eventually became Director of the Psychiatry Residency Program, a position she held for 10 years. Dr. Blackshaw officially retired in 2014 but maintains Emerita Professor status in the Department of Psychiatry.

Despite not receiving her Doctor of Medicine from the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Blackshaw has a strong sense of commitment and loyalty to the college, students and alumni. She believes that alumni engagement, whether that be reunions or social activities, is critical in developing collegiality amongst the alumni community. Moving forward, she aspires to increase participation of the medical graduates from residency programs into alumni engagement endeavours.   


Dr. Del Haug (MD'69) 
DirectorDr. Del Haug

Dr. Del Haug is a highly respected family physician in Saskatoon. After a successful career, he retired from active family practice at the end of 2014. Despite retiring, Dr. Haug continues to tutor first- and second-year medical students in the College of Medicine. He was a principal speaker at the 2020 MED Talks, delivering key knowledge and expertise on the process of aging and the role of living an active lifestyle. 

Dr. Haug is an active member of the College of Medicine Alumni Association and has served on the Board of Directors since 2019. Prior to joining the board, he served as class representative and helped to organize several alumni class reunions. Dr. Haug enjoys connecting with fellow alumni and believes strongly in the role they play in the evolution of the College of Medicine. 


Dr. Craig Hubbard (MD'68)
Director and Past President
Dr. Craig Hubbard

Dr. Craig Hubbard, now retired, spent much of his professional career in General Surgery in Regina.   Despite a long and successful medical practice, Dr. Craig Hubbard knew his opportunity to give back had only just begun. Dr. Hubbard joined the College of Medicine Alumni Association with the goal of reuniting alumni with each other and with their alma mater. He recently completed a term as President of the Alumni Association and transitioned into a supportive role, particularly for the recruitment of class reunion representatives.    

In addition to providing unwavering support for the Alumni Association, Dr. Hubbard has also served on a multitude of other hospital, collegial and professional committees. He is especially proud of having served as President of the Saskatchewan Medical Association, of which he has many fond memories. Although Dr. Hubbard is now fully retired from the medical profession, he still finds time to hone his surgical skills while carving and painting artificial skulls with the Prairie River Artists.   


 

 

Dr. Karen Shaw (MD'83)
Director 
Dr. Karen Shaw

Dr. Karen Shaw is a leading medical administrator in the province, currently serving as the Registrar and CEO for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan. Although trained as a general practitioner, Dr. Shaw left clinical practice to pursue a career in medical regulation, allowing her to focus on physician health, wellness and competency. She sits on a number of prominent Canadian and provincial boards including the College of Physicians and Surgeons Council, Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada, Medical Council of Canada, Medical Benevolent Society, the CFPC Examination Board and the YWCA. In 2020, Dr. Shaw was awarded the Dr. Chris Carruthers Excellence in Medical Leadership Award (Canadian Society of Physician Leaders) and the Dr. Louis Levasseur Distinguished Service Award (Medical Council of Canada). 

Dr. Shaw is a proud two-time alumna of the University of Saskatchewan, receiving her Bachelor of Science in 1978 and her Doctor of Medicine in 1983. She believes that a strong and diverse College of Medicine is critical in the training of high-quality physicians, capable of providing exceptional care for the people of Saskatchewan. 


 

Dr. Donna Skwarchuk (MD'93)
Director 

Dr. Donna Skwarchuk joined the Alumni Association board in 2017, after a positive experience as a class representative for the Highlights in Medicine Conference and Reunion. She has a strong sense of commitment to the alumni community and credits her world-class education and training to the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. During medical school and post-graduation, Dr. Skwarchuk has been eager to form long-lasting relationships with colleagues, residents and students. She believes in the responsibility that alumni hold in passing along their knowledge and experience to the next generation of physicians, for the betterment of all.      

Dr. Skwarchuk has a passion for providing care to newborns. She currently serves as the Medical Director of Newborn Care at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan. Dr. Skwarchuk also serves on a number of committees including the Maternal/Child Operations Board, the Area Division Leads Committee, Pandemic Planning (Lead) for Newborn Care and the Jaundice Working Group. Although her professional career in medicine consumes most of her time and energy, she also loves to bake, take photos and travel.


Dr. Wendy Vogel (MD'89)
Director

wendy-vogel-web.jpg

Bio to come.


Dr. Preston Smith
Dean, College of Medicine
Dr. Preston SmithDr. Preston Smith became the Dean of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan on July 1, 2014. Prior to that, he spent five years as the senior associate dean of education at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine, a role that encompassed a range of medical education portfolios including undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional development, as well as medical education, research and scholarship.

He is a highly regarded medical administrator, having served as chief of family medicine and chief of medical staff and vice-president, medicine for the South-East Regional Health Authority in Nova Scotia, where he was responsible for physician services and risk management. He is recognized for his strengths in developing relationships, collaboration, consensus building and change management, and has a lifelong excitement about innovation and change. 

Dr. Smith brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the College of Medicine Alumni Association board; and is an invaluable resource for the board in realizing its strategic goals. His relentless support for the College of Medicine’s alumni, through his engagement with the board, is critical to its success. 


Dr. Palak Suryavanshi (MD’19)
Director 
Dr. Palak Suryavanshi

Dr. Palak Suryavanshi graduated from the USask College of Medicine in 2019, and is currently a PGY-3 Otolaryngology Resident in London, Ontario.  Prior to her pursuing a medical degree, Dr. Suryavanshi completed a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in 2013, also completed at the University of Saskatchewan.  As a medical student and resident, she has been actively involved in leading positive change through volunteerism.  Dr. Suryavanshi has held positions at a number of organizations including the Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Council on Aging, Canadian Light Source, Resident Doctors of Canada, Youth Advisory Council, and the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology.  

During medical school, Dr. Suryavanshi discovered her passion for medical education. In 2017 she was one of the medical students who played a role in assisting the College of Medicine receive full accreditation. Then in 2020, she offered her assistance as a resident surveyor for the accreditation process at the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto.  

Dr. Suryavanshi joined the Alumni Association’s board of directors in 2022, bringing with her a new perspective on alumni engagement, particularly with recent graduates.  


Mr. Mohamed Saber Omar (Class of 2024)
Representative, Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan (SMSS)
Mohamed Saber Omar

Mr. Mohamed Saber Omar began his formal medical education with the College of Medicine in August 2020. He was inspired to pursue a career in medicine out of his desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives through the alleviation of pain and suffering. Despite a long journey ahead of him, Mr. Omar already has altruistic aspirations of being an exemplary doctor and using that influential position for the betterment of the people of Canada and the world. His upbringing will serve him well in this capacity; having grown up in Germany prior to moving to Ontario at the age of nine before establishing roots in Saskatchewan as a teenager. 

Mr. Omar is the current representative on the Alumni Association board for the Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan (SMSS).  He believes that ongoing alumni engagement is critical for the continued support of medical students by the alumni community. He provides a strong voice for all medical students in the College of Medicine to advance student wellness initiatives. In addition to this role, Mr. Omar is also the Communications Coordinator for the Black Medical Students’ Association and the co-lead for the USask Chapter of the Muslim Medical Students Association of Canada. 


Mr. Yousef Omar  
Representative, Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan (SMSS)

Bio to come.