Dr. Marla Shapiro, MDCM CCFP MHSc FRCP(C) FCFP, is a family physician and the Health and Medical Contributor for CTV's Canada AM as well as the editor of Parents Canada magazine, launched in March 2007.
She completed medical school at McGill University and trained at the University of Toronto for her Masters of Health Science in Community Health and Epidemiology. She holds a Fellowship in Family Medicine and is a NAMS credentialed menopause specialist. She is an associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto, where she recently won an award for Creative Professional Activity.
Dr. Shapiro won the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 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." Her book, "Life in the Balance: My Journey with Breast Cancer" was released in the fall of 2006 and is a national bestseller.
For her lifelong commitment to family medicine, Shapiro was awarded the College of Family Physicians of Canada's Award of Excellence for 2008.
Angela Mulholland is the editor of CTV News' semi-weekly health newsletter MedNews Express as well as the MedNews Express Blog.
She has been a journalist for CTV News since 2000, covering current affairs, health and entertainment for CTV.ca. Before CTV, she worked for CBC.ca for two years.
She has a degree from St. Jerome's University in Waterloo, ON, and studied journalism at Sheridan College in Oakville. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.
Monica Matys has been the health and wellness reporter for CTV News Toronto since 2001. Her feature health report, Lifetime, can be seen on CTV Toronto's News at Noon and at 6 p.m.
Her interest in the medical field began while working for a medical publishing company as the editor of a monthly magazine. One of Monica's favourite days on the job was the time she got to spend a day in Credit Valley Hospital's Emergency unit. "It really opened my eyes to the strains on our system," Monica explains.
Matys grew up in Scarborough, and has an honours degree in Journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.
Avis Favaro has been with CTV News since 1992, producing stories for CTV National and CTV News Channel - Newsnet- as well as for CTV affiliate stations across the country.
Avis and producer Elizabeth St. Philip won the 2008 Media Awards for Excellence in Health Reporting handed out by the Canadian Nurses Association and the Canadian Medical association for a story on BPA found in food cans.
She has been nominated for an impressive 12 Geminis, winning once for a unique story on an experimental cancer treatment developed in Winnipeg in the 1940's.
Avis has a masters in journalism from UWO and a Bachelor's degree in History, and launched her journalism career as a writer/reporter at Global in 1982.
Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, MD CCFP Dip ABBM, is the founder and Medical Director of the Bariatric Medical Institute in Ottawa, a multi-disciplinary behavioural weight management program. Formally trained in family medicine, since 2004 his practice has been exclusively dedicated to the treatment of overweight and obesity.
Dr. Freedhoff has been referred to as a "nutritional watchdog" by the Canadian Medical Association Journal and a national "obesity expert" by the Canadian Obesity Network. His advocacy efforts for improved public policies regarding nutrition and obesity have found him testifying in front of the Canadian House of Commons, giving press conferences with the Ontario Medical Association, commenting regularly in the national media, and as a sought after lecturer.
Dr. Freedhoff explores issues pertinent to nutrition, obesity, public policy and advocacy in his daily blog Weighty Matters which is ranked among the world's top health blogs and was voted the top Canadian health blog of 2008 by the Canadian Blog Awards.
Dr. Lum is a sports medicine physician. He is the medical director and founder of Athletic Edge Sports Medicine, a multidisciplinary sports medicine organization offering services to the athletic and active public.
He is involved in the care of recreational, elite amateur and professional athletes, including players in the NHL, NFL and NBA. He is also involved in the performing arts medical community, taking care of musicians, vocalists, dancers and other performing artists.
Dr. Lum studied medicine at the University of Toronto, where he graduated in 1992. He completed a two-year residency in Family Medicine, and then specialty training in Sports Medicine.
He is a lecturer at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine, an adjunct professor at York University's Faculty of Fine Arts, and medical director of George Brown College's Fitness and Lifestyle Management Program.
A senior oncologist at CancerCare Manitoba, Dr. Brandes received his MD from the University of Western Ontario in 1968.
Following post-graduate training at the Royal Marsden Hospital (London) and the University of Manitoba, he joined the faculty at U. Of M. in 1975, where he is a professor in the Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology.
He is also affiliated with the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology.
Dr. Katy Kamkar, Ph.D., C. Psych., is a Clinical Psychologist at the Work, Stress and Health Program/Psychological Trauma Program, at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). She also provides private practice at the CBT Associates of Toronto and is a lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.
She completed her Honours Degree in Psychology and Mathematics at York University and her Masters and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Concordia University. She also completed a Clinical/Research Postdoctoral Fellowship at CAMH. She has received numerous academic awards and distinctions.
Kamkar provides consultation, comprehensive assessments, and evidence-based Cognitive-Behavioural treatment for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, including psychological distress related to stress and anxiety in the workplace. She also provides training, education, and supervision as well as various educational seminars and workshops. She adheres to a scientist-practitioner model of practice and integrates research and science with practice.
One of Dr. Kamkar's greatest interests has been to provide education to enhance public awareness of mental health/illness in general and of psychological distress in the workplace. She has written articles for comprehensive public resources and provided numerous public relations - media work.
Dr. Neil Rau grew up in Ottawa. He initially studied mathematics at the University of Waterloo before completing his MD at the University of Toronto in 1991. He completed training in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at McGill University in 1996, before establishing a busy private practice in Oakville. He is currently the medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at Halton Healthcare Services.
In 1998, he completed his training in medical microbiology at the University of Toronto and he now serves as the medical microbiologist and chair of the patient safety steering committee at his hospital.
He is a lecturer at the University of Toronto. He also the newly elected Section Head for Infectious Diseases with the Association for Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada. He is also a frequent contributor to CTV News.
He lives in Toronto with his wife and two children, and is an avid amateur concert pianist.