Primary Care Special Advisory Team
Skrypnek, Rob
Rob Skrypnek is currently the Executive Lead for Planning and Quality at Primary Care Alberta. Formerly, Rob was the Executive Lead for the Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Health Care Systems initiative with Alberta Health. He was previously the Senior Programs Officer, Primary Health Care and Senior Provincial Director, Primary Health Care Integration Network at Alberta Health Services. Rob holds a BSc and MPH in Health Policy and Management from the University of Alberta.
Andres, Cheryl
Cheryl Andres has been a Registered nurse in Alberta for 40 years and retired in 2021. Her nursing career has included front line work and leadership roles in palliative care, community care (home care), transitional care, seniors’ health, acute care, public health, primary health care and chronic disease. Cheryl’s roles have included Director of Chronic Disease Management and Public & Primary Health Care with Alberta Health Services in the South Zone, and board member on both the Chinook Primary Care Network and Palliser Primary Care Network boards. Finally, Cheryl was a member of the MAPS Strategic Advisory Committee.
Bailey, Allan
Dr. Bailey is a family physician and Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta. He is interested in primary care reform for Alberta and has helped facilitate the implementation of the “medical home” through his roles as a community-based family physician, Board member of the Westview Primary Care Network, and past chair of the Provincial PCN Leads Executive. Allan’s roles have also included Director of the Westview Physician Collaborative Community Teaching Site (University of Alberta – Department of Family Medicine), Medical Director of Research and Evaluation for the Westview Physician Collaborative, and Site Medical Director for Westview Health Centre in Stony Plain.
Lewanczuk, Richard
Dr. Lewanczuk is the Senior Medical Director for Health Systems Integration at Alberta Health Service. He is also a Professor Emeritus in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Alberta. He was previously the Senior Medical Director for Primary Care, Chronic Disease Management, and Community and Rural Health. Dr. Lewanczuk holds an MD and PhD in Medical Sciences from the University of Alberta.
McDonald, Karen
Karen McDonald’s career has focused almost exclusively on the field of gerontology, including a decade in seniors’ supportive housing and fifteen years with the Sage Seniors Association, with half of that time in the role of Executive Director. Karen is currently Chair of Community Leadership Council (Alberta) and Provincial Director of Healthy Aging Alberta. She also recently took on the role of Co-Chair of the Canadian CBSS Interim Community Leadership Council to advance national sector development and was a member of the MAPS Strategic Advisory Committee. Karen completed her MBA and BA at the University of Alberta, and her current volunteer work includes the Board of the Muttart Foundation.
Moores, David
Dr. David Moores is an academic family physician and Professor Emeritus of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta. In 1990 he became Professor and Chair of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta and chaired the department from 1990-2000. For 28 years his practice was based at the Royal Alexandra Family Medicine Centre. In 2018, the practice moved to the MacEwan University Health Centre. David semi-retired from clinical practice in June of this year. David is a surveyor for Accreditation Canada, and his primary research interest is the functionality and safety of health systems and health system integration. He has a special focus on primary healthcare/family practice. David’s perspective is that many of the problems in acute care are best addressed through a primary healthcare lens.
Strilchuk, Stacey
Stacey Strilchuk brings over 30 years’ experience in executive leadership and administration, government and not-for-profit, within the Alberta health system. She has strong governance and financial management comprehension and is particularly effective at developing, nurturing, and sustaining stakeholder relationships to achieve mutual outcomes. From 2008-2019 Stacey served as Executive Director for the Camrose Primary Care Network before transitioning to principal and co-owner of 143 HealthCARE Consulting Inc. In 2024 she was recruited to Archus Canada where she is Head of Strategy, Governance and Policy. Stacey is the current Chair of Finance and a Director for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’s International Board and Past Chair of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta Council. In 2023 she was appointed by the Minister to the provincial Strategic Advisory Panel for the Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Health Care System initiative.
Samis, Stephen
Stephen Samis is currently President, Samis Health Policy Consulting Inc. He was Deputy Minister, Health and Social Services, in the Yukon from 2017 to 2022. Before this, Stephen was in progressively senior roles for national health-related organizations, including the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (2010-2017), the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (2004-2010) and the Canadian Institute for Health Information (2000-2004). In addition to his consulting work, Stephen is currently Associate Scientific Director, Policy and Partnerships, and Director, Centre for Health Policy in the O’Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary; Chair, Board of Directors, Imagine Citizens Network in Alberta and Senior Policy Advisor, Canadian Health Leadership Network. Stephen holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. He is based in Edmonton, Alberta.