Our Team

We are a team of clinicians, researchers, data scientists and technical staff working to improve healthcare with hospital data.

GEMINI Executive Team

Co-Lead

Co-Lead

Director, Operations and Strategic Partnerships

Director, Strategy Partnerships and Operations — Vital

Scientific Lead

Anis Sharafoddini

Director, Data Science and Innovation

Ali Mussavi Rizi Seyed

Technical Lead — Vital

Team Members

Research Assistant II

AI/ML Investigator

General Internist

Clinical Subject Matter Expert

Senior Data Scientist

General Internist

Research Data Scientist

General Internist

Senior Scientist

Manager, Data Innovation

Manager, Research Program — Vital

General Paediatrician & Scientist

Research Data Scientist

Research Data Engineer

Research Coordinator II

Ali Mussavi Rizi Seyed

Technical Lead — Vital

Project Manager II

General Paediatrician & Scientist

Amol Verma

Co-Lead

My role with the GEMINI team:

I am an internal medicine physician and scientist at Unity Health Toronto and the Temerty Professor of AI Research and Education in Medicine at the University of Toronto.

My educational background:

I completed a BSc in Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie, medical school and residency at the University of Toronto, a Masters in Economic and Social History at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, a 1-year interdisciplinary fellowship with the Canadian Frailty Network a 2-year research fellowship studying big data and advanced analytics in the Clinician Investigator Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and a 1-year fellowship in Artificial Intelligence and Compassion with AMS Healthcare.​

My past experience and accomplishments:

I serve as a Provincial Clinical Lead for Quality Improvement in General Internal Medicine with Ontario Health, the Vice-Chair of the Researcher Council of the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, and was a member of the Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel on Health Data Sharing. I received the 2023 Canadian Society of Internal Medicine New Investigator Award, the 2022 Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Early Career Leadership Award and the 2022 Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s early career Trailblazer Award in Population and Public Health Research. 

I feel most inspired when:

I am near the ocean.​

Fahad Razak

Co-Lead

My role with the GEMINI team:

I am a general internist at St Michaels Hospital, Scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, and Canada Research Chair in Data-Informed Health Care Improvement at the University of Toronto. I co-founded GEMINI, the largest hospital research network in Canada, and have received over $210 million in funding as Principal Investigator. GEMINI is used by an active community of more than 1,000 scientists and health system leaders. I am co-leading the expansion of GEMINI to become a pan-Canadian platform called “VITAL,” that will cover 50% of the Canadian population through a $110M investment from federal and provincial sources.

My educational background:

My training includes a degree in Engineering Science (Biomedical Engineering), Medical Doctorate, Residency and Fellowship in General Internal Medicine at the University of Toronto. I was the first physician appointed as a David E. Bell Fellow at Harvard University.

My past experience and accomplishments:

I served as Scientific Director for the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, and contributed to over 50 science and policy briefs that shaped Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I was a member of the Federal Expert Panel on Science Advisory and Research convened by Health Canada, Vice President for Research at the Canadian Society of Internal Medicine, inaugural Chair of the Advisory Committee for Science at the Public Health Agency of Canada, and a member of the advisory board of the BMJ.

I have received three major mentorship awards, including the inaugural Canadian Society for Internal Medicine National Award for Mentorship, and am a two-time recipient of the Teaching Award for Excellence from the University of Toronto.

I feel most inspired when:

I can see something grow that I have nurtured and cared for. For GEMINI, I feel inspired as I see our team grow stronger and more skilled in striving to achieve the complex and broad goals we have set for ourselves.

Dan Cashen

Director, Operations and Strategic Partnerships

Educational background

I’m a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and two Master’s degrees, one in Nursing and one in Health Management. I also hold the Certified Health Executive designation with the Canadian College of Health Leaders and am completing CPA training through CPA Ontario. This blend of clinical, operational, and financial education shapes how I approach system design, performance improvement, and data-informed decision making.

My past accomplishments

I have led provincial and organizational initiatives focused on improving care quality, developing data systems, and supporting interdisciplinary teams. My work has included directing complex portfolios, overseeing large clinical datasets, building performance frameworks, and working closely with physicians, researchers, and health system leaders to implement changes that scale. Across roles, my focus has been on creating clarity, aligning teams around shared goals, and establishing structures that help people do their best work.

When I feel most inspired

I feel most inspired when working with thoughtful and curious people to solve complex issues. I enjoy the intersection of data, clinical practice, and system transformation. I am really motivated by seeing ideas translate into meaningful improvements.

A few of my favourite things

Playing recreational sports with friends, discovering great restaurants, and catching up over a good coffee.

Nicole Yada

Director, Strategy Partnerships and Operations — Vital

Director, VITAL

Surain Roberts

Scientific Lead

Educational background

I completed my PhD at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto, and my bachelors in Biological Sciences at The University of Chicago.

My past accomplishments

I am a health outcomes researcher and applied biostatistician. My research leverages data from large health networks to learn about differences in quality of inpatient care and inform health system decisions, with a focus on observational studies, prediction tools, and hospital profiling. I am the Scientific Lead of GEMINI and oversee GEMINI’s research activities, providing methodological direction across a wide range of clinical domains. I am an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto and a Scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute.

Prior to joining GEMINI in 2021, I co-led the creation of the Canadian Network for Autoimmune Liver disease (CaNAL). CaNAL is a pan-Canadian registry collecting both retrospective and prospective long-term follow-up of individual patient data. After my bachelors, I spent a year teaching, mentoring, and evaluating twelve students in a for-credit 9th grade algebra class in south Chicago.

When I feel most inspired

When I’m surrounded by people who are passionate about what they do.

A few of my favourite things

Playing 30-second online bullet chess (I can click faster than I can think)

Discovering new and interesting hot sauces

Ali Mussavi Rizi Seyed

Ali Mussavi

Technical Lead — Vital

Educational background

I hold an MD from Iran, a Master of Health Administration from the University of British Columbia, and I am currently completing a PhD in Health Information Science at the University of Victoria.

My past accomplishments

Prior to joining VITAL, I spent nearly two decades at the BC Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), advancing through progressive leadership roles that culminated in my tenure as Executive Director for Data Architecture.

During this time, I spearheaded the design and deployment of PANDA, British Columbia’s first large-scale cloud-based healthcare analytics platform, establishing a scalable architecture and governance framework that effectively balanced rapid innovation with rigorous privacy and security standards. My leadership extended to overseeing the development of provincial-scale data cohorts for critical public health priorities (COVID-19, opioid overdose, and hepatitis C), delivering secure, high-integrity solutions under urgent timelines within complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

Beyond technical infrastructure, I played a defining role in formalizing PHSA’s data governance across a fragmented landscape. I consistently invested in the growth of multidisciplinary teams by fostering a collaborative and learning-oriented culture to ensure that the province’s technological advancements were matched by the human capacity necessary for long-term sustainability and expansion.

When I feel most inspired

When I contribute to detecting and solving a problem, or building a creative solution.  

A few of my favourite things

Music, riding a bike.

Radha Koppula

Research Assistant II

Educational background

I received my Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, India. I also received a PG Diploma in Clinical Research from Oxford College of Arts, Business and Technology, Scarborough Campus, Toronto.

My past accomplishments

​As a Physician, I was involved in service to patients in a variety of healthcare settings such as primary health care centre (PHC) as a Junior Doctor, lab resident in a clinical Biochemistry lab.

When I feel most inspired

Being part of Medical Science research

A few of my favourite things

Gardening & Painting

Amrit Krishnan

AI/ML Investigator

Amrit Krishnan is a Technical Team Lead at the Vector Institute. He leads the development of open-source software tools for the responsible development and deployment of Machine Learning (ML) systems for healthcare. Specifically, his team develops tools for:

1. Evaluating and monitoring ML systems to help clinical teams adopt them into their workflows in a safe and transparent way.

2. Researching and developing federated learning systems in healthcare settings.

3. Researching and developing foundation models for clinical time-series data.

He has a master’s degree in Engineering Physics, focusing on robotics and complex adaptive systems.

Janice Kwan

General Internist

Sinai Health

Dr. Janice Kwan practices general internal medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital and is an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She completed her undergraduate, medical, and residency training all at the University of Toronto.

She was Chief Medical Resident and a fellow with the Veterans Affairs Quality Scholars program in her final year of postgraduate medical training. She went on to earn a Master of Public Health in health policy and management at Harvard University. She was awarded a research fellowship in diagnostic medicine with the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine.

Dr. Kwan’s research focuses broadly on diagnostic error, a relatively neglected topic in patient safety and quality improvement until recent years. In addition, her areas of interest include the study of missed test results, quality of care in general internal medicine, clinical decision support systems, medication reconciliation, and evidence synthesis. Her work has appeared in Annals of Internal Medicine and British Medical Journal.

Sharan Lail

Clinical Subject Matter Expert

Educational Background

I graduated from UofT’s Bachelor of Pharmacy program, which was followed by a Pharmacy Residency at SMH. To further broaden my clinical knowledge and skills, I completed a Doctor of Pharmacy degree through the University of Florida.

My past accomplishments

For more than 15 years, I have held clinical pharmacy positions at St. Michael’s Hospital (SMH), in both the ‘General Internal Medicine’ program and the ‘Infectious Diseases and Positive Care Clinic’. I also developed a pharmacy consultant role at Casey House that provides clinical pharmacy services to complex medical patients living with HIV. Currently, I am a Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner in HIV for the SMH Academic Family Health Teams. I have a life-long commitment to education, and have had the fortunate opportunity to precept numerous pharmacy students and residents, as well as lecture at the University of Toronto (UofT).

When I feel most inspired

Ingenuity in healthcare results in positive change with improved patient outcomes.

A few of my favourite things

Getting outside with my kids

Enjoying a quiet cup of afternoon tea

Phyllis Lam

Senior Data Scientist

Educational background

I received my bachelor of science from the University of Waterloo majoring in biotechnology and economics and my masters of bioinformatics from the University of Guelph.

My past accomplishments

During my masters, I had the opportunity to do research at a Toronto-based drug discovery company called Cyclica Inc. where I built a pipeline to detect and calculate statistical pathway enrichment based on proteome screening results. Prior to joining GEMINI, I worked at BMO Capital Markets as a technology analyst where I was a lead analyst on several projects like automating reconciliation between trading systems and regulatory reporting.

When I feel most inspired

I get to collaborate with people who are equally passionate about their work!

A few of my favourite things

Shopping at farmer’s markets and used bookstores

Playing board games with friends

Experimenting in the kitchen with a new recipe or trying a new restaurant

Lauren Lapointe-Shaw

General Internist

University Health Network

Lauren Lapointe-Shaw MDCM PhD is an Assistant Professor and Clinician Scientist in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Staff General Internal Medicine Physician at the University Health Network .

She was previously awarded a CIHR Fellowship Award and CIHR-IHSPR’s Rising Star Award for her work relating to the transition home from hospital. She has expertise in using health administrative data to answer questions relating to the quality of healthcare and the effects of health policy. Her research centers on the organization of and access to physician services and preventing hospital readmissions.

Research Interests:

  • Acute/hospital care
  • Internal medicine
  • Health services research
  • Health policy/reform

Rebecca Lim

Research Data Scientist

Educational background

I completed my Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia, followed by my Master of Science degree in Global Health Science & Epidemiology at the University of Oxford (Lincoln College).

My past accomplishments

Before joining GEMINI and SickKids, I worked at the National University of Singapore, conducting epidemiological research at the intersection of climate, environment, and health.  Fieldwork took me to remote regions of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, where I valued the opportunity to collect diverse types of data and to engage with local communities. In my engineering experience, I co-invented a patented feature to improve the safety of tourniquets (US Patent 10758247), while learning about both technical and human-centred design. I’ve also worked on other projects in a variety of areas, including medical device development, infectious disease modelling, and women’s hockey analytics!

When I feel most inspired

When I’m approaching challenges and unknowns as opportunities to learn, innovate, and collaborate with people driven by a shared and important goal, and anything involving a spreadsheet.

A few of my favourite things

Playing and watching hockey, making and eating sweet treats, reading and connecting over books.

Jessica Liu

General Internist

University Health Network

Dr. Jessica Liu is an Internal Medicine Physician at the University Health Network (UHN) and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, where she is a Clinician Investigator with a focus on healthcare quality improvement and innovation.In addition to her clinical practice, she has completed a research fellowship in quality improvement and patient safety with the Toronto division of the United States Veteran Affairs Quality Scholars Program (VAQS), which began as a joint collaboration between the U.S. Veterans Health Administration and the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. As of June 2016, she is also a research fellow with the Women’s College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WHIV).As part of a Mount Sinai Hospital research fellowship in quality and innovation, Dr. Liu has also worked as an Associate in the Healthcare Consulting Practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Toronto, where she applied her medical and clinical experience to clients in the healthcare sector.Dr. Liu’s research focuses on patient safety and quality of care, and optimizing clinical processes and outcomes. Specifically, her recent research and publications have focused on pharmaceutical industry-physician conflicts of interest, online physician ratings and the patient experience; quality of care of hospitalized patients; and rates and characteristics of physician disciplinary action by provincial regulatory colleges.Following her medical education at the University of Western Ontario (UWO), Dr. Liu completed her clinical fellowship in Internal Medicine at the University of Toronto. Prior to this she obtained a research-based Masters of Science (Anatomy and Cell Biology) from UWO and acted as an Oncology Research Associate for Cytochroma Inc. (now OPKO Health), a private sector biotechnology firm.

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Geoffrey Liu

Senior Scientist

University Health Network

Dr. Liu graduated sum laude from the University of Toronto medicine program, followed by residencies at the University of Toronto and a fellowship at the Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center in Boston. He was Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School before returning in 2006 to the Ontario Cancer Institute–Princess Margaret Hospital. Dr. Liu’s major research focus is in molecular prognostic factors and pharmacogenomics of lung and esophageal cancer, with additional interest in head and neck, pancreatic, ovarian and testicular cancers, mesothelioma and thymoma. Trained in clinical and molecular epidemiology, he is the principal investigator of over two dozen completed, ongoing and upcoming cancer pharmacogenomic and molecular epidemiologic analyses of cancer observational studies and clinical trials funded by the National Cancer Institute (US), National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group, Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, the Canadian Institute of Health Research, the Ontario Institute of Cancer Research, Cancer Care Ontario, Doris Duke Foundation and the Lung Cancer Foundation of America. He has research interests in epidemiological outcomes database methods, novel analyses of high dimensionality biologically rich data, pharmacogenomic analyses of conventional and molecularly targeted agents using primary human xenograft models, patient-reported outcomes in pharmacogenomics, and knowledge translation of personalized medicine and pharmacogenomic algorithms into clinical practice. 

Anne Löffler

Manager, Data Innovation

Educational background

PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience (University College London)

MSc in Neuroscience (McGill University)

BSc in Psychology (Humboldt University in Berlin)

My past accomplishments

Before joining GEMINI, I was a postdoctoral researcher in Cognitive Neuroscience at Columbia University. In my research, I investigated the dynamic brain mechanisms underlying decision-making in healthy and clinical populations, using a wide range of experimental and statistical approaches.

When I feel most inspired

I get to work with a great team of people, and together, try to tackle complex ‘real-world’ problems.

A few of my favourite things

Rock climbing

Camping/hiking

Board games

Rochelle Louis

Manager, Research Program — Vital

Educational background

I have a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Boston University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategy & Marketing from the University of Toronto.

My past accomplishments

I began my career in research at Massachusetts General Hospital working on cardiovascular imaging clinical trials. During this time, my work was published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (JAIDS). At University Health Network (UHN), I helped senior leaders leverage data to inform strategic decisions and drive improvements in quality of care. Beyond healthcare, I served on the board of the Cambridge Women’s Center, contributing to initiatives that created meaningful change for underserved women in my community.

When I feel most inspired

I feel most inspired when I am making progress toward meaningful goals, embracing continuous learning, and challenging myself to grow beyond my comfort zone.

A few of my favourite things

Spin classes, latin and ballroom dancing, solo travel, and discovering new cuisines — especially on my ongoing mission to try every restaurant in Toronto.

Sanjay Mahant

General Paediatrician & Scientist

Dr. Sanjay Mahant is a Co-Lead of GEMINI-Paediatrics. He is a Paediatric Hospitalist and Complex Care Paediatrician at SickKids, Professor and Associate Chair of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto, Senior Associate Scientist at the SickKids Research Institute, and cross-appointed in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto. He has led multi-centre trials, observational studies, and evidence syntheses on effectiveness, prognosis, patient experience, and implementation of practice in hospital care. Dr. Mahant is a Co-founder and Past Chair of the Canadian Pediatric Inpatient Research Network, Executive Council member of the US PRIS network, and Senior Deputy Editor of the Journal of Hospital Medicine. 

Kayley Marchena

Research Data Scientist

Educational background

I have a Bachelors in Physics from Queens University of Charlotte and Masters in Medical Biophysics from the University of Toronto.

My past accomplishments

My past research focused on applying novel neuroimaging techniques on a range of clinical and research cohorts to better understand cerebrovascular function. Essentially, getting people to breath in CO2 to tell us something about their brain’s “plumbing” system.

When I feel most inspired

I’m volunteering! I love spreading joy by helping others. ​

A few of my favourite things

Running with the Midnight Runners

Watching dry British comedies

Visiting Costa Rica

Rimi Mondal

Research Data Engineer

Educational background

I have a bachelor’s in Planning, along with two postgraduate degrees in Big Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (Architecture, Design, and Implementation).

My past accomplishments

I shifted from planning into the world of data (ArcGIS was the bridge), picked up new skills along the way, and worked on solving real problems across banking, retail, and more.

When I feel most inspired

I feel most inspired when I’m surrounded by positive energy, when my work can genuinely help someone, and when the team and I are bringing clarity to something that was unclear.

A few of my favourite things

Food, travel, and good stories.

Hope Morrison

Research Coordinator II

Educational background

I received my Bachelor of Arts degree with High Honors from Colgate University, with majors in Psychology and French and a minor in Linguistics. I have also completed a certificate in Data Analytics.

My past accomplishments

As a Research Coordinator since 2018 (McMaster University, University of Delaware), I have had the opportunity to contribute to research spanning topics such as aphasia, stroke, dementia, cognitive impairment, coma/disorders of consciousness, severe COVID-19, and mobility and aging. Just prior to joining GEMINI, I was the Analyst on the Strategy Team here at UHT where I performed mixed-methods research and data analysis to inform our network’s new Strategic Plan.

When I feel most inspired

I feel most inspired when research stops being abstract: when a participant’s experience or a clinician’s perspective reshapes how we think about a problem, and when my team is excited to turn what we find into help for real people.

A few of my favourite things

Yoga, trying new foods, having coffee with a little treat, travelling to new places, and anything (but ideally any of the above) with a waterfront view

Efosa Okunzuwa

Project Manager II

Educational background

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a Master’s degree with a specialization in Electrical Power and Machines.

My past accomplishments

Before joining GEMINI, I was a Project Manager within the Project Management Office at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, leading initiatives under the Business Transformation program, a system-wide effort to modernize care delivery and operations.

Previously, at IWK Health, I managed the Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) and All for One, a Genome Canada initiative focused on improving the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases. Through this work, I helped lay the groundwork for a pan-Canadian repository for the secure sharing of genomic and clinical data, enabling insights from one patient’s care to inform treatment for others across the country.

Earlier in my career, I worked as a biomedical engineer, maintaining and supporting critical medical equipment essential for safe and effective patient care.

When I feel most inspired

When an idea or plan I have helped shape becomes reality and makes a meaningful difference.

A few of my favourite things

Tennis
Running
Turning ideas into action

Julia Orkin

General Paediatrician & Scientist

Dr. Julia Orkin (MD, MSc) is the Associate Chief Medical Officer at SickKids Hospital and a hospitalist paediatrician. She is the Medical Director of the Complex Care program at SickKids. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and holds an Associate-Scientist position at the SickKids Research Institute. She is also the Paediatric Clinical Lead at Ontario Health Toronto Region and Co-Chair of the Toronto Regional Maternal Child Health Network supporting system integration and clinical partnership. Her research focuses on innovations in health care delivery for children with medical complexity and their families.