The Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada (CANet) is pleased to welcome two new members to the Board of Directors. Michael Gilbert, president and CEO of Synergiq Solutions and Dr. Katherine Allan, post-doctoral fellow, School of Nursing at McMaster University.
“We are thrilled to have Michael Gilbert join our board as a patient representative. His wealth of experience will be invaluable at the board level,” said Dr. Pierre Boyle, Chair of the Board of Directors for CANet. “And we are also very pleased to welcome Dr. Katherine Allan to the board. Dr. Allan is representing CHAT, CANet’s trainee association and will bring that very important perspective to the board table.”
CANet is also pleased to welcome 30 new investigators to our Network. Being a Network Investigator with CANet entitles members to various benefits, including: integrated, multi-disciplinary research collaborations; access to funding for research projects; opportunities to share commercialization and IP revenues; and funding to support HQP, among others.
Dr. Katherine Allan
Currently a post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Allan specializes in arrhythmia research with a focus on atrial fibrillation, decision aid methodology, meta-analyses, health-related quality of life, machine learning and dynamic algorithms.
With an extensive background with both in-hospital and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and resuscitation, Dr. Allan recently completed a PhD at the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto in collaboration with the Electrophysiology Research Department at St. Michael’s Hospital.
Dr. Allan’s project work assessed the incidence, etiology and familial risk for sudden cardiac arrest in young individuals (ages 2-45) and their family members within the Greater Toronto Area. As part of her in-hospital cardiac arrest research, she used simulation as an educational tool. With an interest in using different training modalities to achieve best practice for BLS and ACLS, Dr. Allan helped develop an innovative BLS training program for healthcare providers and evaluated the effect of mock arrests carried out on the wards to optimize the quality and timing of response to in-hospital emergencies.
Michael Gilbert
Michael initially gained business-building and general management experience through 12 formative years in the food industry, including various HR and marketing roles in five operating divisions at Canada Packers (Maple Leaf Foods). He then founded and ran a fresh food manufacturing and distribution business.
For the past 25 years, Michael has worked the agency side in his own marketing and communications business. He has led work for over 150 clients in various areas of marketing, advertising, design and business planning.
Three years ago, he merged Gilbert + Davis Communications with Citadel Rock, online community experts. Together they formed Synergiq Solutions, a strategic, digital communications company. Synergiq’s focus is to redefine innovation and to create solutions that ensure internal and external collaboration.
As President and CEO, Michael leads the ideation, development and management of very interesting projects for various clients from start-ups to well-established organizations. Categories include consumer packaged goods, health, home and office services, languages, First Nations, non-profits and different levels of government.
Michael has an Hons. BComm from Queen’s University. As Permanent Co-President of his class, he has continued to provide leadership in fundraising, mentorship and class events. His class continues to set new high-water marks for alumni donations and participation as a result. In addition, Michael has been very active in minor sports through coaching, managing and fundraising for over 40 teams on which his three sons have played.
New CANet Network Investigators
