Executive Team
Founders & Directors
Adrian graduated from McGill university in civil engineering and is currently working in construction project management. He is very passionate about equity and diversity, and the overall support of compassionate whole person care in medicine. When he is not working or volunteering, you can find Adrian in the pool or at the gym.
Adrian Goin
Director
(01/2023 - Present)
JGH Coordinator
(07/2018 - 06/2021)
Happiness Coordinator
(06/2021 - 12/2022)
Adamo is a PhD student in Experimental medicine studying diaphragm muscle in COPD and is the founder of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Portraits Canada (www.ppeportraits.ca).
He is an avid runner/marathoner and enjoys commuting by bike to school or for daily errands. He keeps in touch with his Italian roots by gardening with his nonna and family.
Adamo Anthony Donovan
Co-Founder & Director
(12/2015 - 06/2021)
Consultant & Advisor
(06/2021 - Present)
Milanka (Miki) is a McGill graduate with an honours Undergraduate degree and Master's degree in Anatomy & Cell Biology. She is currently a resident physician in the field of Ophthalmology in New York.
Milanka is from New York and enjoys playing the cello and playing tennis with her three siblings.
Milanka Stevanovic
Co-Founder & Co-Director
(12/2015 - 12/2017)
Volunteer & Hospital Management (VHM)
My name is Tarek, I have an undergraduate degree in Biology. Currently I’m pursuing a master’s degree in Biochemistry at the Goodman Cancer research center (McGill) studying the role of the transcription factor Stat3 in immune suppression during breast cancer progression. I’m a new member of the applications team. For fun, I love to play sports including tennis and soccer.
Tarek Taifour
Head of VHM
&
RVH Coordinator
(05/2019 - Present)
Cynthia holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Experimental Surgery from McGill. She currently works as a laboratory technician at a pharmacy and is interested in pursuing medicine. She has a passion for volleyball, adventuring and says she reads wayyy too many books/comics.
Cynthia Ventrella
Head of VHM
&
JGH Volunteer Representative
(05/2019 - Present)
Diana is a Master's student in Experimental Medicine at McGill, with a previous Bachelors degree in Honours Physiology. She is currently researching the role that sex hormones play in carotid atherosclerotic plaque development. She hopes to pursue her interest in science and public health in the form of a career in medicine.On her downtime, she enjoys to paint, play tennis, and play the saxophone.
Diana Di Iorio
MCH Coordinator
(05/2020 - Present)
Hi, my name is Matthew. I am an MSc student in the department of Experimental Medicine at McGill University. I absolutely love coding so you can imagine my interests are within genomics and bioinformatics. In my free time, I work on art installations with a collective, record music and repair vintage synthesizers.
Matthew Salaciak
JGH Volunteer Representative
(06/2021 - Present)
Alyssa returned to McGill University to pursue a second Bachelor's degree in Social Work. Her experience being a cancer caregiver and also a family member of an ICU patient is what lead her to becoming involved in the ICU Bridge Program. In her previous life, Alyssa was a research assistant at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute where she worked in aging and Alzheimer's disease research. In her free time, Alyssa tends to her plants, hangs with her cats, loses in chess, and plans her next trip back to India.
Alyssa Salaciak
RVH Volunteer Representative
(12/2020 - Present)
My name is Rosa and I am a 2nd year student in physiology at McGill. I joined the ICU Bridge Program in January of 2020 as a volunteer at the Jewish General Hospital. I am passionate about justice and my activist work. In my spare time, you can usually find me with my nose buried in a book or listening to a podcast. I hope to one day own a very fat cat with a funny name.
Rosa Sundar-Maccagno
MCH Volunteer Representative
(12/2020 - Present)
Amanda is a BSc student at Concordia University studying psychology with a specialization in Behavioural Neuroscience. Following her degree, she hopes to start medical school. Amanda is a proud dog mom to her sweet golden retriever, Huxley.
Amanda Gross
MGH Volunteer Representative
(09/2022 - Present)
Happiness Coordinators
Sofia grew up in Calgary, Alberta. She came to Montreal to complete her BSc at McGill University. Shortly after, she pursued her Masters (Experimental Surgery, Innovations) under the supervision of Dr. Hamdy and Dr. Tsimicalis at the Shriners Hospitals for Children-Canada. She is interested in bringing innovations into the healthcare settings to help improve patient health outcomes and as a result co-founded a MedTech startup where she serves as the Clinical Chief Officer. When she is not writing manuscripts or jumping onto the next ZOOM meeting, she is at the park with friends enjoying Montreal food and sunsets.
Sofia Addab
Happiness Coordinator
(06/2021 - Present)
Hi all! My name is Ava and I’m a U4 Mechanical Engineering student at McGill. I enjoy learning, particularly about astrophysics! Pleasure to meet you!
Ava Ghods
Projects and Development Coordinator
(09/2022 - Present)
Marketing, Fundraising, and Socials (MFS)
My name is Jammy and I am currently a Master's Trainee at UBC. I am interested in preventing and managing chronic diseases by understanding the process of changing and maintaining health-related lifestyle behaviours. I'm always excited for any type of outdoor activity, but I also enjoy spending time in the swimming pool.
Jammy Zou
Head of MFS
&
Website Designer
(05/2020-Present)
I am a 5th year student in immunology at McGill University. I am passionate biomedical research, particularly in respiratory diseases and in Type 1 Diabetes. I love the outdoors and like to go on hiking trips around the world.
Laura Rendon
Head of MFS
&
Photography and HOTH Coordinator
(12/2020 - Present)
Andrea has recently graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Physiology. She will now be subsequently pursuing a Master's degree in Neuroscience at McGill University, for which she will be studying the effects of cerebral palsy and spinal muscular atrophy in children. She hopes to later apply this knowledge and experience with a career in medicine as a neurologist. In her free time, Andrea enjoys volunteering, reading, singing and playing sports.
Andrea Oliveira-Carneiro
Outreach Coordinator
(06/2021 - Present)
My name is Danielle, and I’m a 2nd year student in Microbiology & Immunology at McGill. I’m originally from Toronto, and I joined the ICU Bridge Program in September 2020 as a volunteer at the MGH. I love music & musical theatre, particularly playing piano and trombone, and I’m a member of the Symphonic Band Club at McGill. In my free time I like to read poetry and stay active through yoga and kickboxing.
Danielle Fox
Outreach Coordinator
(06/2021 - Present)
Yu completed her undergraduate studies in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of British Columbia and is currently a graduate student in Biochemistry at McGill University studying breast cancer tumour dormancy. She likes learning new words and speaks almost four languages. She enjoys travelling, reading, and finding icicles during winter.
Yu Gu
Outreach Coordinator
(06/2021 - Present)
Hi ! I'm JN I'm a 3rd year nursing student at the Université de Montréal.
I'm passionate about physiology, pharmacology and how sciences can benefit human heath.
In my free time I like to read, play chess and sleep 😉.
Jean-Nicolas Foucault
Udem Outreach Coordinator
(09/2022 - Present)
My name is Janeva Shahi and I am from Richmond, British Columbia. I am a U1 student majoring in pharmacology and minoring in sociology at McGill University. I have been a volunteer with the ICUBP at MGH since Fall 2021. I am interested in Indo-Western fashion and biotech!
Janeva Shahi
CONT(ED)I
(Continuing Education and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion)
(09/2022 - Present)
I am Jiarui Ao (Olivia), a McGill undergraduate in Honours Neuroscience. I joined ICUBP in January 2021. In my spare time, I am also a reader and a freelance writer, and I love to visit national parks with friends.
Jiarui Ao
Finance Coordinator
(06/2021 - Present)
If you want to get involved in our executive team, applications are open in the Winter semester (~March/April)
Hospital Staff
Montreal General Hospital
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Dr. Hornstein started the Lauren Alexander Foundation in 2013 and came up with the groundbreaking concept of a shadowing and volunteering program, now called the ICU Bridge Program. He continues to develop new ways to make the ICU a more welcoming place for both patients and visitors.
Dr. David Hornstein
Internist/intensivist
Bita helps us organize our orientation sessions and welcomes our volunteers to the ICU. She is responsible for supporting visitors and facilitating the interactions between staff, volunteers, and visitors.
Bita Danechi
Family nurse clinician
The volunteer services manager and administrative assistant, respectively, who help us get our volunteers officially registered at the MGH, RVH, Lachine and Neuro, and able to begin volunteering and shadowing in the ICU.
Rita Giulione & Mattia Angerillo
Volunteer services manager & Administrative assistant
Jewish General Hospital
Pina is available to support patients and families who are dealing with serious illness, disability, end of life, or under situations of stress, isolation, lack of resources, youth protection and family violence. She provides informational support and practical help to patients and their families who may require this assistance.
Pina D'Orve
Social Worker
Susan suggests and incorporates clinical programs improving medical practices for patients’ safety and well-being. She is also responsible for coordinating the multidisciplinary team and for training fellow nurses, ensuring the most up-to-date health services to patients.
Susan Cameron
Nurse Educator
Thank you to the JGH staff and Dr. Céline Gélinas (nurse researcher) in particular, for their input and expertise that were crucial in creating and refining the volunteer, staff, and family surveys.
Royal Victoria Hospital
As head nurse, Sylvie has numerous administrative responsibilities and ensures that the optimal nursing care is provided in the ICU. She is constantly working with the ICU Bridge Program to provide new shadowing and learning opportunities for our volunteers.
Sylvie Ampleman
Head Nurse
Ruth helps volunteers interact with family members. In the ICU, she is an important liaison between the ICU staff and the families’ loved ones. As the Family nurse clinician in the ICU, she is an important resource person for the families and volunteers alike.
Ruth Guselle
Family Nurse Clinician
Montreal Children's Hospital
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Sarah Shea
Assistant Nurse Manager
(Second from left)
Jennifer Bourque
Spiritual Care Specialist
(Centre)
Judith Le Gallais
Psychologist
(Second from Right)
Dr. Samara Zavalkoff
Pediatric Intensivist
Thank you!
Thank you to the Montreal General, Jewish General, Royal Victoria Hospital and Montreal Children's Hospital staffs for their commitment towards setting up the ICU Bridge Program in their Intensive Care Units as well as their enthusiasm and creative inputs, which will help increase the impact of our program and the variety of experiences that our students are exposed to.
Partners
Hospital:
Lauren Alexander Foundation (LAF): https://www.laurenalexander.ca/
The ICU Bridge Program was inspired and created through the Lauren Alexander Foundation which provides financial support to the ICUBP.
Montreal General Hospital Foundation (MGHF): https://www.mghfoundation.com/en/
The Montreal General Hospital Foundation hosts the ICU Bridge Program’s fund to which individuals can donate to support the program’s mission.
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Corporate:
Zapier: https://zapier.com/
Zapier donated a free subscription to allow the ICUBP to automate many of of its day-to-day operations.
Quality Sport: http://qualitysport.ca/home
Provides free garment printing/embroidery custom services to the ICUBP.
Rubiks Solutions: https://www.facebook.com/rubiksmontreal/
Provides printing services to the ICUBP at a reduced rate.
Business Box: https://www.thebusinessbox.ca/
Provides printing and laminating services to the ICUBP at a reduced rate to support the PPE Portrait Project.
University:
Concordia MedSpecs (CMS): https://www.facebook.com/MedSpecsCU
CMS helps promote the ICUBP to the Concordia community and helps conduct interviews for ICUBP applicants.
McGill Medical Direction (MD): https://www.facebook.com/medicaldirection
MD helps promote the ICUBP to the McGill community and helps conduct interviews for ICUBP applicants.
