Board of Advisors

Gulrose Jiwani, PhD, RN
President & CEO

Dr. Gulrose Jiwani is the founder of HPSC Health Policy & Strategies Consultants Inc. She is an outstanding, respected scholar who exemplifies the ideals of excellence in service and lifelong learning. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honours) from the University of Windsor, Ontario, and Master of Nursing from Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. She holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD, Nursing Science) and is a Magnuson Scholar from the prestigious Warren G. Magnuson Institute for Biomedical Research and Health Professions Training, University of Washington, USA. She has held executive leadership positions in government and health sciences settings, and practiced as a clinical nurse specialist in mental health, addictions, forensic and oncology settings. She brings extensive experience in health and social policy development, strategic planning, grant writing, system redesign and managing complex projects. In addition to providing policy advice to ministers and senior executives, she has produced several government strategy documents to guide the planning of comprehensive health services and social supports for populations in the millions. She brings strong expertise in organizational/sector-specific assessments, developing performance monitoring and evaluation frameworks, logic models, benchmarking and results-based management (RBM). She has expertise in the application of equity monitoring frameworks to improve quality of services and outcomes. She is Affiliate Assistant Professor, Psychosocial and Community Health Department, School of Nursing, University of Washington. She brings teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate level studies, and lectures internationally in the areas of policy decision making, leadership development, research and poverty reduction. She is a sought after, compelling speaker who inspires hope and empowers delegates to move out of their comfort zone to take action. She has expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods, with specific expertise in multiple case-study, mixed methods research and community-based participatory research.

Dr. Jiwani works tirelessly in service of humanity and is noted for her work with marginalized, at-risk and vulnerable populations. A relentless visionary and strategic thinker, she builds critical capacity through collaboration, transformative leadership and co-development of sustainable indigenous best practices, with partners in Canada, USA, Africa and Asia. She has received nineteen fellowship and scholarship awards for academic excellence and research, including the Top Scholar Award for Excellence and Innovation from the University of Washington Graduate Studies Program, and the Magnuson Scholar Award being one of six recipients selected every year for exemplary scholarship and potential for making significant contributions in research and impact on society. She has been recognized for her contributions to public service and is the recipient of the Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Health’s Celebrating our Successes, Service Orientation Award which recognizes outstanding achievement in service orientation. She gives generously of her time and knowledge, volunteering on a number of local, national, regional and international committees and initiatives. She has served as Canadian Development Exchange program consultant with Aga Khan Foundation Canada. She is fluent in English and has a working knowledge of French, Spanish, Swahili, Urdu, Hindi, Gujarati and Kutchi (Indo-Aryan languages).

Angela Cooper Brathwaite, PhD, RN, CHE
Consultant

Dr. Angela Cooper Brathwaite brings extensive experience in leadership, health care systems administration, education, policy advocacy, research and cultural competence consulting. She has a Bachelor of Nursing from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and Masters of Nursing from the University of Manitoba. She holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD in Nursing) from the University of Toronto, Canada. She is a Certified Health Executive (CHE) from the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL). She has held executive leadership positions in acute care and public health settings, and practiced as a clinical nurse specialist in mental health settings in Canada. She brings nurse-midwifery experience from the Caribbean and the outpost nursing program in Canada. She is Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, and Associate in Nursing, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Sessional Instructor, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto. She teaches undergraduate and graduate students in maternal-child nursing, mental health, cultural competence, research and global health. She brings extensive grant writing and research background, has published several peer-reviewed papers, and is a rater for the McMaster Online Rating of Evidence (MORE).

Dr. Cooper Brathwaite is well respected amongst her peers and is known to be a strong advocate for public health safety and global health. She has collaborated with local and provincial governments in Canada in facilitating changes to policy in public health, safety and injury prevention. She is active in the Global Health Mentorship Program of the Canadian Society for International Health, and has volunteered in Ethiopia. She has received fifteen academic and service awards including the Registered Nurses of Ontario (RNAO) Leadership Award in Nursing Administration, the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) Award of Excellence for leadership in Public Health, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto. She has been profiled as a Nurse to Know in The Canadian Nurse journal, and was instrumental in establishing the International Nurses Interest Group in Ontario, Canada. She is proficient in English and has a working knowledge of the Spanish language.

Ira Kantrowitz-Gordon, PhD, CNM, ARNP
Consultant

Dr. Ira Kantrowitz-Gordon brings extensive experience in nursing and nurse-midwifery education and practice. He has a Bachelor of Science (Biology) from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. His Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master in Nursing (Nurse-Midwifery) is from the University of Washington. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD in Nursing) from Washington State University, Spokane. He has held leadership positions in education and practice. He is a certified nurse-midwife and advanced registered nurse practitioner in the USA, and brings many years of hands-on experience in clinic and hospital settings. He is also Assistant Professor, Family and Child Nursing Department, and Program Director for advanced nursing practice (DNP Nurse-Midwifery), School of Nursing, University of Washington. He has expertise in curriculum development and teaches graduate students in maternal childbearing, diagnostic health assessment, advanced practicum in family and child nursing and pharmacotherapeutics. He brings extensive grant writing and research background, and has published several peer-reviewed papers in maternity and mental health journals. He is an early adopter of technology and known for his creative approaches to leveraging scarce resources and strengthening systems through collaborative ventures.

Dr. Kantrowitz-Gordon gives generously of his knowledge and expertise in service to the community. He is well respected amongst his peers and is known to be a strong advocate for those who are marginalized in society. He has received numerous academic and service awards including the American College of Nurse-Midwives Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award, Sigma Theta Tau International Rising Stars of Research and Scholarship, and the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Foundation/Frances T. Thacher Leadership Endowment Award. He is fluent in English and has a working knowledge of the Spanish language.

Fred Wekesa Laisa, MD, MBBS, DRH
Consultant

Dr. Fred Wekesa Laisa brings extensive experience in rural medicine and surgery, and health services administration. He received his Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery from Moi University, Eldoret, and Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery from the School of Clinical Medicine, Nakuru, Kenya. He has a Diploma in Reproductive Health from the Kenya Medical Training College, Kisumu. His medical practice spans rural health services and public health, with sub-specialty expertise in HIV/AIDs prevention and management, and reproductive health in developing countries. He has held leadership positions as senior medical officer in charge of hospital facility and clinics. He brings experience in clinical mentoring, program development, monitoring and evaluation. He teaches and supervises medical residents, interns and nursing students. He has mentored fellow clinicians in HIV/AIDs management, and was a clinical mentor in the Provincial Rural Health Training Centre, Western Province of Kenya.

Dr. Laisa is well respected amongst his peers and is known for his strong collaboration with governments and stakeholders, including advocacy to strengthen rural health systems. He has successfully facilitated changes to public health and community medicine, including health screening in children, developing an epilepsy clinic, HIV/AIDs clinic, and expanding reproductive health services in Western Kenya. He serves on a number of committees and remains very active volunteering his time and knowledge to several community organizations. He has received recognition in HIV/AIDS care programmes sponsored by USAID Kenya’s AIDS Population and Health Integrated Assistance Program (APHIA), and from the Government of Kenya, Ministry of Health for HIV/AIDs and reproductive health service delivery. He is proficient in English, Swahili and Luhya (Kenyan language).

Michèle Tomasino, BAA (Journalism), BEd, MA (Cand.)
Consultant

Michèle Tomasino is a professor of French language and education, and educator of French Immersion in Social and Environmental Studies. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism from Ryerson University, Toronto, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia, Canada. Her graduate studies at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, are focused on Environmental Indigenous Studies and Program Development. She has worked as a journalist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) across Canada including the Arctic. She is a visionary educator with a gift for inspiring learners to be the best that they can be at any age. She brings a strong background in grant writing and has successfully acquired funding from federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments including school districts programs for disenfranchised and gifted youth. She has advised governments on ways to improve education in rural and urban communities, and has been instrumental in developing curriculum and implementing unique programs for French Immersion, Inuit and First Nations students including a culturally based alternate school. She has led numerous workshops on technology in the classroom, and implemented a cutting edge program on working with elders in the classroom in Northern Canada.

Mme. Tomasino is a strong advocate for community development, gender equality, Indigenous culture, human rights and environmental sustainability. She shares her time and knowledge generously and volunteers with several community organizations. She is proficient in French, English and Spanish and has a working understanding of Indigenous protocols in Iroquois, Inuit, Dene, Anishnabe and Pacific Coast communities.

All populations and communities are thriving with good health and social well being.

Le leadership est un privilège avec lequel viennent des obligations, dont l’une est que les dirigeants ont besoin d’instiller la confiance dans les gens qu’ils vont faire de leur mieux pour tous.

L’inégalité globale entre les peuples fondée sur la santé et le statut social, le sexe, l’ethnicité, la culture au sein et entre les nations est l’un des plus grands défis de notre temps. De graves disparités existent dans les domaines de la santé, de l’éducation, des opportunités économiques, et de la sécurité humaine. Malgré son importance et l’urgence, nous devons comprendre les forces derrières ces disparités et les solutions équitables qui continuent à mériter une attention critique. Nous avons besoin de chemins pour un monde équitable et juste. HPSC Health Policy & Strategies Consultants Inc. l’un des principaux cabinets de conseil international s’est engagé à réduire les disparités sanitaires et sociales, la marginalisation et la pauvreté par le biais de la recherche appliquée, l’inclusivité et des transformations pertinentes.

• • Nous croyons que toutes les actions ont des répercussions mondiales et nous respectons cette philosophie dans tous ce que nous faisons.
  • Nous sommes animés par une passion de bonté – nos dirigeants altruistes et nos chercheurs praticiens sont dédiés à faire des différences significatives dans la vie des gens grâce à la compassion, l’excellence et le service aux autres, où et quand il compte vraiment.
  • Nous vous aidons à créer des solutions pertinentes et durables aux défis complexes de santé et sociales à travers la compréhension, des conseils stratégiques experts et des dialogues, la traduction des connaissances, le renforcement des capacités de leadership et sous l’étreinte de nouvelles possibilités.
  • Nous nous engageons à promouvoir la justice sociale et le renforcement des collectivités grâce à des talents de levier et de ressources pour effectuer un changement significatif.
  • Nous nous tenons aux plus hautes normes de transparences, d’intégrité et de responsabilité, reconnaissant que la façon dont nous menons nos affaires est aussi importante que pourquoi nous faisons des affaires.
  • Notre travail est ancré dans les valeurs de la responsabilité sociale des entreprises – nous aidons les organisations à améliorer leurs performance dirigée vers la durabilité environnementale, le développement des relations positives avec les intervenants tout en respectant les droits humains universels.

Nous nous engageons à traiter vos mots en tant que monnaie précieuse et nous savons que nos conversations vont changer le monde !