Meet The Team
Founder/President
Founder & President
Sonia Whyte-Croasdaile
Sonia Whyte-Croasdaile RPN, RSW is a wife, mother, nurse, Registered Social Worker, a trained Relaxation/Life Coach, and the Founder and President of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Canada. She is experienced in ...
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Board of Directors
Financial Officer
Frank Linhart (Jr)
Frank has been a qualified accountant (CMA, CPA) since 1992. He has been a Vice-President of Finance, Director of Finance & Corporate Controller in several industries including the Marketing Industry, Retail, Telephone Analytics, and ...
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Co-Chair
Sanjay Kumar
Sanjay Kumar is a Sariel Entpreneure. His expertise includes Digital Marketing, IT Consulting Services, and Managing cross-functional teams. Sanjay helps enterprises ...
Member at Large
Coleen Lambert
Coleen Lambert is a licenced Financial Broker and Coach. Prior to building her own Financial Services and Financial Coaching company in 2020, Coleen worked as a Legal Professional for more than 16 years in various areas...
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Board Secretary
Justina Melkis
Justina Melkis is a first-generation Canadian born and raised in Toronto. She completed her Honours Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto and her Masters of Science at McMaster University. Currently, Justina is a third year...
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Patient Representative
Jeremy Falk
My name is Jeremy Falk and I live in Los Angeles. In 2005 I had a bacteria staph infection. After taking two weeks of a 21-day supply of Bactrim (a Sulfa-based antibiotic), my eyes and throat started to feel inflamed and irritated. I went to ...
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Board Member | Medical Advisor
Dr. Bruce CarletonPharmD, FCP, FISPE
Dr. Bruce Carleton has over 30 years of experience in clinical pharmacology and investigating the safety and effectiveness of drugs used in both children and adults. He is the founder and CEO...
Board Member
Phatay Waraich
Phatay is a Vendor Manager with TD Bank within the technology team. He has had various roles within the financial industry from procurement and third party risk management to...
Board Member
Dr. Michele Ramien
Dr. Ramien is a hospital-based academic dermatologist at the Alberta Children’s Hospital
who is board-certified in both Canada and the United States. A first-generation...
Medical Advisors
Dr. Bruce Carleton
PharmD, FCP, FISPE
Professor and Chair
Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics
Faculty of Medicine
University of British Columbia
Director
Pharmaceutical Outcomes Programme
BC Children’s Hospital
Senior Clinician Scientist
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Vancouver
Dr. Bruce Carleton has over 30 years of experience in clinical pharmacology and investigating the safety and effectiveness of drugs used in both children and adults. He is the founder and CEO...
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Dr. Elizabeth J. Phillips MD, FRCPC, FRACP, FIDSA, FAAAAI
Professor of Medicine, Dermatology, Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology
John A. Oates Chair in Clinical Research
Director, Center for Drug Safety and Immunology
Director, Personalized Immunology, John A. Oates Institute for Experimental Therapeutics
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Professor of Pharmacology
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Dr. Elizabeth Phillips is a physician-scientist clinically trained in infectious diseases, immunology, and clinical pharmacology who has established new clinical and research programs in drug hypersensitivity...
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Coordinators
Francene Francis
Administrative Assistant to the President of SJS Canada and has served in this capacity since 2022. She has a personal stake in the organization as a close family member has persevered and survived the onslaught of the illnesses and still continues to live with the aftereffects. Alongside the President, Francene is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the organization and ensuring that the President's visions for SJS Canada are carried out to the best of our volunteer capacity.
Kevin Kim
Patient Support Coordinator
Since March 2023, he has been organizing monthly support group meetings for SJS/TEN survivors and loved ones affected. He also organizes expert guest speakers who present on, and answer questions about, the long-term challenges faced by the patient support group members. He has also spearheaded writing and producing a SJS/TEN Patient Handbook with input from SJS survivor and experts in the field. He hopes to continue expanding the role of Patient Support Coordinator. Outside of SJS Canada, Kevin is a MD/PhD student at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario aspiring to be a physician-scientist caring for those affected by complex dermatologic conditions and improving their care.
Taivana Cobalchini Guratti
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Since July 2023, where she plays a vital role in enhancing the organization's online presence and outreach efforts. With a background in social media management and digital strategy, Taivana is dedicated to raising awareness about Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) through various social media platforms.
Felipe Cayres
Web Developer | Team Lead
Manage web development at SJS Canada. Lead a team, ensure compliance, and improve user experience. Using technology for better health outcomes.
Aiesha Ahmad
Volunteer Coordinator
Responsible for recruiting and managing volunteers, providing ongoing support to volunteers throughout their journey with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Canada. Also supports related committees, spreading awareness, networking, and coordinating volunteers for SJSC events. Aiesha enjoys volunteering in the non-profit sector and is passionate about promoting the well-being of others, including minorities and individuals with disabilities.
Sabrina Hundal
Fundraising Coordinator
Sabrina is an MD/MBA candidate at the University of Toronto and holds a Graduate Diploma in Health Research and a Bachelor of Health Sciences from Western University. She has particular interests in patient education, healthcare strategy, and systems-level change. Sabrina currently sits on the Board of Directors at both Lupus Ontario and the Halton-Peel Community Aphasia Programs. She also serves on the Academic Board at the University of Toronto.
Sabina Maharjan
Community Outreach Coordinator
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Advisory Committee
Karen Worthy PhD, MPH, RN, CNE
Dr. Karen Worthy is an Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina College of
Nursing. Dr. Worthy has a 26-year history in professional nursing and has been a nurse educator
for 17 years. She received...
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Vincent Cornish
Vincent Cornish, FICB. Vincent is a “Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers”. He obtained his FICB designation through extensive studies at: York University, TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University – formally Ryerson University)...
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Lorna Baker
Lorna has been a Registered Nurse since 1996 and served as a Community Health Nurse from 1997 to 2010. Following this, she held the position of Certified Diabetes Educator at Unison Health and Community Services from...
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