Our Coaches
Cecile Andreas, MB, ChB, GCEC, ACCP, PCC
Cecile Andreas, MB, ChB, CEC, PCC Since starting her coaching practice in 2014, Cecile is known to bring her deep experience as a physician leader and service provider to her coaching work, with a focus on unlocking the potential in people, teams and organizations. She uses a strengths-based approach with her clients and believes that our best opportunities lie in developing from the places in ourselves in which we already have strong ability.
Geographic Location: Cranbrook, British Columbia, also available on Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts or Skype
Certification/Years as a coach: Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching (Royal Roads University) 2014
Advanced Certificate in Group and Team Coaching (Royal Roads University) 2017
Advanced Coaching Psychology Certificate (Royal Roads University) 2018
Certified Daring Way™ and Dare to Lead™ Facilitator
Certified LEADS Coach
ICF Professional Certified Coach 2018 - present
Phone number and/or email: cecile@cruxcoaching.ca • 250-919-6529
Website: cruxcoaching.ca
Expertise: Leadership, Women in Leadership, Groups and Teams, Managing Stress and Burnout, Resilience for Physicians and Physician Leaders, Daring Leadership
Mantra: "Who you are is how you lead." – -Brené Brown
As a Certified Daring Way™ and Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, Cecile brings a values-based approach to life and leadership, based on the belief that courage and vulnerability is inextricably linked, and that we can only truly rise from our challenges if we are willing to walk through our stories and integrate the lessons in them.
When not working with individual clients, Cecile works as a team coach and associate faculty member in the Advanced Certificate in Group and Team Coaching and Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching Programs at Royal Roads University.
Cecile holds a medical degree from the University of Stellenbosch. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching, and Advanced Certificates in Group and Team Coaching and Coaching Psychology from Royal Roads University. Cecile is a Certified Daring Way™ and Dare to Lead™ Facilitator and a certified LEADS™ coach. She is certified to use the TotalSDI™, EQi 2.0™ and EQ360™ Emotional Intelligence Assessments, and Integrative Enneagram (iEQ9)™ tools.
Amanda (Mandy) Brisebois MSc, MD, FRCPC, FACP, AoADI, CEC
Amanda (Mandy) Brisebois MSc, MD, FRCPC, FACP, AoADI, CEC DrB Free Conflict Coaching for Physicians
Geographic Location: Location not significant factor for conflict coaching. However, I am in Edmonton, AB and have also practiced in Calgary AB, and Victoria BC.
Certification/Years as a coach: 7 years as a Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach, and 1 year as a certified executive coach.
Phone number and/or email: drbfreecoaching@gmail.com
Website: https://amandabriseboismd.com/
https://www.albertadoctors.org/app/forms/EZMSA/IntakeForm.aspx
AMA Website: : https://albertazmsa.com/physician-advisor
Expertise: Dr. Brisebois is a certified Wellness and Executive Coach (with specialization in healthcare exp. July 2022), a General Internal Medicine and Palliative Medicine Specialist, as well as having extensive training in conflict, negotiation, mediation, equity, diversity and inclusion. She has served as the Medical Director for a large 360 bed hospital, the Medical Director of the Covenant Palliative Care Institute, as well as an Associate Chief Medical Officer of Covenant Health. She is completing her Masters of International Health Leadership through McGill University and has trained at multiple world renowned organizations including the Mayo Clinic, Berkeley, Oxford, UBC, London School of Economics, University of Alberta, and the Justice Institute of British Columbia. Her leadership specialty is helping practitioners and teams find success through conflict, and learn from these successes to create happier, more efficient, and more effective healthcare teams. She has spoken at many international events, and she is a published author in her fields of expertise.
Mantra: YOU CAN BE FREE TO PRACTICE MEDICINE BY MASTERING THE ART OF TURNING CONFLICT INTO OPPORTUNITY
I am a passionate physician who has worked tirelessly on the front lines caring for patients since 2000. Throughout my career, I have seen changes that have degraded physician autonomy and have negatively impacted our outlook. Health system culture changes and operational pressures have forced physicians to alter how they are practicing medicine, ultimately impacting our ability to focus on patient care. I have concerns regarding the sustainability of the profession and want to help.
Having been through conflict myself in my medical career, I have experienced too many situations in which little attention was paid to consistency and process. A lack of process and transparency can lead to the perception of unsatisfactory outcomes for many practitioners when facing conflict. Seeing this lack of process firsthand drove me into leadership, hoping to impact change and to support physicians facing issues in their practices.
The formal leadership journey that I embarked upon started in 2014 and ended up in my leading a team of 350 physicians through Covid pandemic. During the Covid pandemic, it became apparent that conflict for practitioners and their teams was at an all-time high, and little resource was available to support these physicians. Physicians were losing sleep, sacrificing personal relationships, and removing themselves from their workplaces due to a lack of capacity to achieve satisfactory resolution to conflict. I spent 100s of hours coaching colleagues and teams during this time, but still saw a lack of process in the system to deal with physicians’ issues.
It was clear to me in my coaching that physicians are not trained to handle conflict, leadership, or equity and inclusion. I undertook over 2 years of intense education in these areas to become a respected advocate and teacher in these areas. As society entered summer 2022, and the new generation of the pandemic met us, I made a goal to ensure that practitioners have the skills to create professional success out of conflict. These skills can support practitioners to love their careers once again by freeing time to focus on the field of medicine that they strove so hard to enter.
Eve Gaudet, BA, CEC, PCC
Eve Gaudet, BA, CEC, PCC is an Executive and Leadership Coach for individuals and teams. After a lengthy career in public service, Eve brings her senior leadership experience in supporting others to achieve their career and leadership potential.
Geographic Location: Victoria, BC. I provide the option of coaching through phone, Zoom or face to face.
Certification/Years as a coach: Since 2014
Phone number and/or email: evegaudet@eveofchange.ca • 778-679-3152
Website: eveofchange.ca
Expertise: Leadership, Systemic Team Coaching, coaching through change, on-boarding to executive positions, coaching with physicians, public service and private sector leaders.
Mantra: The Possibilities Are Infinite. The Results Definite.
In this increasingly complex world, Eve is devoted to helping professionals and managers become exceptional leaders. She has worked in senior and executive levels in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Her professional experience spans small business to global initiatives. Clients come from a range of sectors including healthcare, education, telecommunications, hospitality and governments. Known for her professional, caring and direct approach to coaching, Eve inspires her clients to make the changes they seek and reach their highest leadership potential.
As a coach facilitator, Eve inspires participants to deepen their self-awareness and improve their communication and performance. Her public speaking experience ranges from hosting Town Halls and public engagement symposiums to speaking at and hosting conferences.
Eve is certified as an Executive Coach through Royal Roads University and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation. She is certified as a Systemic Team Coach, a Facilitator of Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team, and a Practitioner of psychometric assessments including Lumina Spark, Leader, Leader 360 and Emotion, and DiSC Management.
Mamta Gautam, MD, MBA, FRCPC, CCPE, CPE
Dr. Mamta Gautam, MD, MBA, FRCPC, CPDC, CCPE, CPE is a psychiatrist at The Ottawa Hospital and in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa; and President and CEO of PEAK MD. Dr. Gautam is an internationally renowned clinician, consultant, certified coach, researcher, speaker and author in the areas of Professional Health and Professional Leadership.
Geographic Location: Ottawa, Ontario. I am happy to provide coaching via Skype or Zoom regardless of your location.
Certification/Years as a coach: Since 2009
Phone number and/or email: mgautam@peakmd.ca; mgautam@rogers.com
Website: www.peakmd.ca
Expertise: Physician health, physician leadership, Physician executive coach, Coaching through leading change, career change, applying for an executive position
Mantra: “Who, exactly, seeks out a coach? Winners, who want even more out of life.” – Chicago Tribune
She is a pioneer in the area of physician health and well-being, and has been hailed as “The Doctor’s Doctor”. She is the founding director of the University Of Ottawa Faculty Of Medicine Wellness Program; as well as the Canadian Medical Association Centre for Physician Health and Wellbeing, where she served as the Chair of the Expert Advisory Group. She created the Canadian Psychiatric Association Section on Physician Health; and in 2008, she founded the International Alliance on Physician Health, bringing together experts worldwide to collaborate on work in this area. She currently serves as the Chair of the Ontario Medical Association Burnout Working Group. She has written two bestsellers – Irondoc: Practical Stress Management Tools for Physicians and The Tarzan Rule: Tips for a Healthy life in Medicine. She brings this knowledge and expertise to PEAK MD, through which she consults to organizations and corporations; and coaches senior leaders internationally. She is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards for her innovative work in professional health, and has been awarded Distinguished Fellowships in both the Canadian and American Psychiatric Associations
An experienced leader, she is a Past President of the Ontario Psychiatric Association and the Federation of Medical Women of Canada. She is a faculty member at the American Association of Physician Leaders, and Joule’s Physician Leadership Institutes, and serves on the Board of the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders. Her key area of interest is in developing women leaders, and she has just launched a national Think Tank to promote and support women in medicine.
Anne McNamara, MD, MB ChB (NZ), FRACP, FRCP(C), CEC
Dr. Anne McNamara MB ChB (NZ), FRACP, FRCP(C), CEC As a Respirologist, Intensivist and Physician Leader, during the last 25 years I have successfully coached Leaders and teams through times of radical change and growth. I have seen fatigue, frustration and burnout in my “work family” of Physicians. I have now fully refocused, serving Physicians and Physician Leaders as an Executive Coach. With wholehearted compassion and courage, I partner with you as you find clarity, design actions and see new perspectives. You find your path toward your "impossible" future.
Geographic Location: New Westminster, BC and available for telephone, Zoom, Facetime or other virtual contact.
Certification/Years as a coach: Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching, Royal Roads University, 2019. Experience as a Coach: 10 years, prior to certification
Phone number and/or email: anne_mcnamara@telus.net or +1-604-802-2334
Website:N/A
Expertise: Leadership Development, Career Transitions: starting out, career planning, retirement, Effective Communication, Wellbeing and Resilience
Mantra: Know yourself and build your awesome future, one conversation at a time
Nancy M. Merrow, MD, CCFP(PC), FCFP, G(CEC)
Nancy M. Merrow, MD, CCFP(PC), FCFP, G(CEC) is a Certified Executive Coach with a career in senior medical leader roles, having served as Chief of Department, Chief of Staff and VP Medical with experience at small, medium and large sized community hospitals. Nancy is a Family Physician by training, with a focus in Palliative Medicine over many years. Nancy is recognized as a mentor and a role model among her peers and trainees, and constantly acts to learn and grow with them.
Phone number and/or email: drnancymerrow@gmail.com
Website: www.mdchoicecoaching.com
Expertise: Known for her direct approach and compassionate nature, Nancy’s current career focus is on physician success, and the advancement of medical practitioners in leadership roles. With extensive knowledge of regulatory college and hospital matters when careers and reputations are at stake, Nancy is also well positioned to coach physicians who want to recover and grow from adverse experiences in their professional lives.
Mantra: Coaching will advance your ability to move thoughts into goals and goals into actions that achieve what you want.
Rollie Nichol, MD, MBA, FCFP, CEC, CCPE
Dr Rollie Nichol, MD, MBA, FCFP, CEC, CCPE a family physician for 40 years, is focused on the evolution of our healthcare system to one characterized by its friendliness, effectiveness, and sustainability. Dr. Nichol wishes to leverage his experience in leadership (AMA president, Mental Health executive), management (MBA and progressive roles), collaboration (AMA, CPSA, AH) and coaching (CEC from Royal Roads U) to assist the next generation of health leaders. Although a linear thinker, a current interest is the use of narrative in professional and leadership development. His coaching presence has been characterized as creating a safe, thoughtful and creative atmosphere.
Geographic Location: Calgary and halo communities
Certification/Years as a coach: Certified through Royal Roads with the ICF (8 years)
Contact: Phone: 403.943.1282, Fax: 403.943.1174 email: rollie.nichol@albertahealthservices.ca
Website: TBA
Expertise: Leadership development, Design thinking, Systems thinking, Playing with the future (Strategic thinking)
Mantra: Equal opportunity is a myth but each of us has a piece of stardust at our core and focusing on what that might mean is our opportunity.
Malcolm Ogborn, MD, MBBS, FRCPC, CCPE, COC, PCC
Malcolm Ogborn, MD, MBBS, FRCPC, CCPE, COC, PCC
Certificate of Organizational Coaching, University of British Columbia
Professional Certified Coach, International Coaching Federation.
Graduate, CINERGY Conflict Coaching Program
Certified EQi 2.0 Emotional Intelligence Assessment and Coaching
Coached professionally since 2016
Phone number and/or email: 250 681 0684; coach@optimisticdoc.com
Website: www.optimisticdoc.com
Expertise: Leadership; Engagement; Career development, sustainability and change; Professionalism and professional conduct; Interpersonal and intraorganizational conflict; Team leadership and development; Meeting skills
Mantra: “The only person we can change is ourselves; the only world we can change is the one around us.”
Elizabeth Pedersen, MD, FRCS(C), CCE, ACC
Phone number and/or email: melizabethpedersen@gmail.com (preferred), 780 863-8524
Website: accessvita.com
Expertise: EQ2.0 and EQ360 certified, LEADS Canada Coach certified
Mantra: I believe that physicians are often thrust into leadership positions without any leadership training and coaching is a powerful way to help them navigate their roles, learning needs, and the stressors that are related not only to a career in medicine but also leadership positions within healthcare
As both a surgeon and an executive coach, Beth can relate to the unique working environment of medical professionals and leaders. Beth understands the satisfaction and privilege of patient care as well as the stress of working with limited resources; the challenges of time management and work-life balance; and how fragile confidence can feel and yet how decisive physicians and leaders need to be. Beth has used her own coach to work through leadership challenges, burnout, building effective teams and knows the power of coaching!
Beth trained as a coach to help physicians and medical professionals identify the clutter in their lives and make room for what counts. She helps physicians interested in leadership to manage work so it doesn’t take over life, to mitigate feelings of overwhelm, to overcome burnout, to move into and out of leadership roles, to find the confidence within themselves to be the best leaders and physicians they can be, and to achieve work-life balance.
Coaching will help you to realign your work and personal life with your values and your own needs. This will make you a better physician and medical leader as well as happier in your personal life. I am motivated to improve patient care by empowering medical professionals to have a better working environment as well as work-life balance.
Beth trained in Toronto and Calgary to become an orthopaedic surgeon and practicse as an adult and paediatric foot and ankle surgeon in Edmonton. Beth studied coaching at Royal Roads University and completed her ICF certification (ACC). She has deepened her understanding of emotional intelligence through EQ certification, and leadership training through LEADS Canada coach certification. Although busy with clinical practice and coaching, she maintains her own wellness by spending time with her family, reading, riding her bike, walking her dogs, and cooking with her husband
Wendy Pentland, BSc(OT) MEd PhD PCC
Wendy Pentland BSc(OT) MEd PhD PCC As an ICF certified Professional Coach (PCC) Wendy has provided life and executive coaching services since 2004 to over 600 individuals including professionals, academics and executives internationally in both the public and private sectors. A particular focus has been coaching physicians.
Geographic Location: Kingston, Ontario (services are offered in-person and nationally/internationally via telephone/Skype/Zoom)
Certification/Years as a coach: Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation (ICF). 18 years coaching experience.
Phone number and/or email: Inquiries are welcome by phone (613-542-8998) or email wendypentland@gmail.com
Website: www.wendypentland.com LinkedIn – Wendy Pentland
Expertise: Coaching physicians in areas including:
Mantra: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom” – Victor Frankl
Wendy completed coaching training in 2004 through the Adler School of Professional Coaching (Toronto) and previously obtained occupational therapy and graduate degrees in Canada and Australia. She maintains ongoing certification with the International Coach Federation (ICF) and draws on additional trainings including Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) with Jon Kabat-Zinn, Mind-Body Centred Somatic coaching, Narrative Coaching, Retirement Coaching certification, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and am a LEADS Certified Coach with LEADS Canada/Canadian College of Health Leaders.
Wendy brings to coaching over 35 years of experience in healthcare and academia; as an occupational therapy clinician in Ontario, British Columbia and Australia, health care administrator, tenured university professor, researcher on the relationships between time use, health and well-being and consultant. She has taught, mentored in, presented and published about coaching internationally.
Wendy’s coaching approach is grounded in the belief that people are motivated primarily by two desires: to fulfill their own potential and to make a meaningful contribution to the world; to make a difference. People frequently have difficulty fulfilling these desires because we govern ourselves with beliefs and fictions that hold us back and blind us to what may be greater possibilities.
Wendy has coached physicians on a variety of issues including career transitions, leadership development, managing interpersonal workplace conflict, transitioning through mid-life as well as into retirement, completing book manuscripts, time management, stress reduction, work-life balance, setting and achieving strategic goals, and managing professional and personal relationships. She enjoys and has coached many physician clients who have been advised or mandated by a third party to engage a professional coach to address communication, interpersonal and/or professional conduct issues.
Sarah Smith, CFPC, MBBS, FRACGP
is a Rural Family Physician and the Charting Coach for Physicians. Sarah specialises in helping Physicians improve their office efficiency, particularly in the area of completing charting same day and assisting with strategies for getting today's work done today. Within her program, Sarah also helps Physician business owners with team management and leadership with improvement in office systems and processes.
In addition to coaching, Sarah is a Physician Champion and Improvement Facilitator for her Primary Care Clinic and within the McLeod River Primary Care Network. Sarah is active in her role as Medical Educator and Site Coordinator for the Longitudinal Clerkship Students in her community and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Alberta.
Phone number and/or email: ceo@reachcareercoaching.ca
Website: www.ChartingCoach.ca
Expertise: Sarah is the Charting Coach for Physicians, with a comprehensive program Charting Champions exclusively for Physicians. Physicians within the Charting Champions program get online modules, a supportive community and individual specific help with weekly group coaching calls. Additionally, the Charting Champions Program is a Lifetime access program.
Sarah also has the Beat the Backlog Mastermind 12 week program designed to help Physicians who have a large and worrisome Backlog of unfinished charts and tasks.
From a Leadership perspective, you may have Physicians within your organisation who are struggling with completing charting, forms, inboxes or a large backlog. Charting Coaching provides the skills and tools these struggling Physicians need to become effective in getting their work done, with the outcome of satisfied and more productive Physicians.
Mantra: Physician Coaches show you how you are getting in your own way, help you find solutions to your obstacles and walk you into transformation. Prepare for Amazing!
Shayne Taback, MD FRCPC
Shayne Taback, MD FRCPC Certified Executive Coach Associate Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Child Health;
Community Health Sciences; and Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba Faculty of Health Sciences
Geographic Location: Canada-only
Certification/Years as a coach: 2016 (Royal Roads University)
Phone number and/or email: 204-792-0960 / shayne.taback@physiciansupport.ca
Website: www.physiciansupport.ca
Expertise: Developing female and male physician leaders (there's a difference); experience supporting both new physician leaders and senior executives
Mantra: Our vision — vibrant physicians thriving in a strong health care system. Our mission — support Canadian physicians to lead significant positive change. Our belief — physician leadership, physician wellness, and quality of care are intrinsically linked
Dr. Shayne P. Taback, MD, FRCP, CEC is Director of the University of Manitoba Clinician Investigator Program, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health, and President and CEO of The Canadian Physician Support Company Inc. He has over twenty years of experience in academic medicine including as a physician-scientist and as a physician-leader.
Shayne's coaching combines his strong orientation to supporting others with his enjoyment of conceptual thinking in areas such as mental models, teamwork, collaboration, and systems thinking. His coaching is non-directive and systematic using leadership models that link your leadership development goals with the changes you need in team culture to achieve your real world targets.
Shayne graduated from the Royal Roads University Faculty of Management as a Certified Executive Coach in 2016 and completed the Royal Roads University Coaching with LEADS course in 2017. He is a member of the International Coaching Federation and the Institute of Coaching (McLean Hospital / Harvard Medical School affiliate).
Mark C Taylor, MD, MSc, MHCM, FRCSC, CHE, CPCC, ACC
Mark C Taylor, MD, MSc, MHCM, FRCSC, CHE, CPCC, ACC
Geographic Location: Sarnia, Ontario and I do most of my coaching via Zoom with the video off, or by phone. Open to any other arrangements.
Certification/Years as a coach: CPCC through CTI, ACC through ICF. I have been coaching since early 2020, and mentoring for many years before that.
Phone number and/or email: 519-328-5583, mctaylor531@gmail.com
Expertise: I work primarily with young physicians who are considering career options and wondering what they really want.
Debrah Wirtzfeld, MD CEC CCPE ICD.D MBA
Debrah Wirtzfeld MD CEC CCPE ICD.D MBA
Geographic Location: In person (post-COVID!). Currently by Zoom or phone as per your preference.
Certification/Years as a coach: 2014 Royal Roads University/Seven years as a coach
Phone number and/or email: debrahwirtzfeld@gmail.com , (preferred), 780-819-8031
Website: sheknowsshift.com
Expertise: Physician career transitions (especially into executive positions), women physician leaders, building resilience and confidence
Mantra: Coaching is meant to develop our individual strengths and bring us from good to great and great to excellent!
Debrah Wirtzfeld is an Executive coach and communications expert with extensive experience in assisting individuals and teams empower their performance, gain confidence, and achieve success! Her multidisciplinary background in psychology, medicine, and leadership development, allows her to assist clients in building and leading teams that can have significant impact in the healthcare sector. Her strongest asset is a deep understanding of the critical importance of effective communications in building successful relationships and teams.
My passion is in supporting professional transitions and assisting clients in adapting to new roles where their relationships and responsibilities have changed. I will work with you to build new relationships and strategic networks, define novel communications pathways, and develop and achieve important goals. I will support you in building a team where your influence will be greater because you have a focus on fostering the development and advancement of others.
As an ICF certified coach, I have extensive experience with the Myers-Briggs Type Indictor, Insights, the Emotional Quotient Inventory and Crucial Conversations. I have a strong background in fostering diversity and building inclusive leaders who want to bring all voices to the table.
I am the co-founder of Inspire Mindset MD (www.empoweringwomenprofessionals.com) where I work to foster empowered performance through a focus on building professional competence and confidence. I am also the founder and CEO of MD Confidence Consulting (www.sheknowsshift.com), an organization dedicated to supporting leaders through professional transitions. I provide consulting and coaching from the moment you are thinking about a change, including how to write an appropriate resume and approach a senior leadership interview, to leaving a position and re-establishing previous relationships and accountabilities.
I have coached Executive leaders, CMOs, Department/Section leads, Provincial Program leads and other administrators in the healthcare environment at the Health Authority and University level. I also have experience in assisting CEOs within the private sector to build teams and recognize required return on investment. I work as a group coach in supporting communication skills and empowering performance.
If you are thinking about a transition, leading from your strengths, or building teams where there is successful communication and a vision for success, I would love to follow along with you in this journey!
External Coaching Resources
CJPL Articles on Coaching
Coaching Competencies for Physicians – Part 1
Coaching competencies for physicians: listening at the next level – Part 2
Coaching competencies for physicians: the artful question – Part 3
Coaching competencies for physicians: change the conversation, change everything
Cognitive Coaching: a leadership essential?
CSPL Coaching Resources