Meet Our Team
At the South Island Division of Family Practice, we are proud to introduce our dedicated team, whose expertise and dedication drive our success.
Our team is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can reach us by phone at 250-658-3303 or contact us via the specific email addresses provided below.
If you are uncertain about whom to contact, please email info@sidfp.com, and we will ensure your inquiry is directed to the appropriate team member.
Paul Gudaitis
Executive Director
E: executive.director@sidfp.com C: 778-584-0723Available: Monday - Friday
Niki Bouchard
Family Physician Recruitment and Retention Lead
E: recruitment@sidfp.com Available: Monday - Friday
Julia Hunter
PCN Change Manager - Western Communities
E: julia.hunter@sidfp.com Available: Monday - Friday
Merlyn Maleschuk
PCN Change Manager - Saanich Peninsula
E: merlyn.maleschuk@sidfp.com Available: Monday - Friday
Crystal Gibson
PCN Attachment Coordinator
E: crystal.gibson@sidfp.com E: attachment@sidfp.com C: 778-966-6791Available: Monday - Friday
John Bayaca
PCN Attachment Coordinator
E: john.bayaca@sidfp.com E: attachment@sidfp.com Available: Monday - Friday
Our Board of Directors
Contact the Board
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Dr. Alex Kilpatrick
Co-Chair
Dr. Mark Sherman
Co-Chair
Dr. Erik Haensel
Vice Chair
Mr. Robert Wicks
Treasurer
Mr. Eric Holden
Secretary
Dr. Randal Mason
Board Member at Large
Dr. Brianna Creelman
Board Member at Large
Dr. Manya Sadouski
Board Member at Large
Dr. Jordyn Heal
Board Member at Large
Dr. Alex Kilpatrick
Co-Chair
Alexander Kilpatrick is the co-chair of the South Island Division of Family Practice and a passionate advocate for transforming the landscape of family medicine. Known for his innovative approach and as a positive disruptor, Dr. Kilpatrick embraces his role in challenging conventional norms and driving meaningful change within the community. His commitment to reform is underpinned by experience from previous leadership roles on the Victoria Medical Society.
Although Dr. Kilpatrick is a new family physician, his journey into medicine is marked by a rich and varied background. Prior to his transition into healthcare, he pursued a Masters in Public Health and Social Policy and enjoyed a career within the provincial government, where he honed his skills in policy-making and public service. This combination of experience has enriched his approach to family medicine, enabling him to address systemic issues with a fresh and pragmatic outlook.
In his personal life, Dr. Kilpatrick is devoted to his wife and three sons, balancing his professional pursuits with meaningful time at home. He is also a coach, channeling his energy and leadership skills into mentoring young athletes. This dual commitment to family and sport reflects his belief in the importance of nurturing both personal and professional growth.
Dr. Kilpatrick's journey exemplifies a dedication to improving the healthcare system and making a tangible difference in the community. His blend of experience, innovation, and personal dedication continues to inspire those around him and drives his mission to reshape family medicine for the better.
Dr. Mark Sherman
Co-Chair
Mark is a proud husband and father to two amazing teenagers, living and working on the traditional, unceded territory of the Tsartlip First Nation, on what is commonly referred to as the Saanich Peninsula.
Mark is a Family Physician in Greater Victoria for the past 22 years. He has worked in several team-based care and compensation models, as well as hospital based, walk-in and long term care. He currently works at the Shoreline Medical Clinic in Brentwood Bay, in Long Term Care facilities and at the Peninsula After Hours Clinic. In addition, Mark is the founder, and one of the senior facilitators, at the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCALM), as well as spending half of his work time dedicated to Physician Wellness through teaching and facilitating workshops and retreats in mindfulness and meditation to health professionals across the country.
Mark is passionate about health care reform through advocacy, collaboration and a positive disruption of the status quo. He has been instrumental in founding BCALM and the Victoria Health Co-op and, as a medical leader, has advocated for improved communication amongst physician organizations and health care leaders. Mark believes that collaboration, physician wellness, cultural safety and planetary health as the foundations for health care transformation.
As Co-Chair of the South Island Division of Family Practice Mark is committed to representing his Family Medicine colleagues and friends towards creating real, tangible changes in primary care in our region. He welcomes each challenge as an opportunity for growth and relationship, and each success as a testimonial to the power of people coming together towards a shared vision.
When not working, Mark enjoys hiking in the backcountry, playing music, running on forest trails, and spending time with friends and family.
Dr. Erik Haensel
Vice Chair
Mr. Robert Wicks
Treasurer
Mr. Eric Holden
Secretary
Eric is a retired lawyer. For a number of years, he was a Senior Partner at a national law firm where he was also the National Leader of Employment and Labour Law Practice Group comprised of a collaborative team of lawyers from the firm's offices across the country.
As part of his community involvement, Eric has served on the Boards of various not-for-profit organizations in Calgary and Victoria including participation in Governance, Human Resources, and Risk Management Committees.
Eric grew up in the Montreal area. He has a B. Ed from McGill University where he played varsity football and a BA from Dalhousie. His law degree was attained at the University of Windsor Law School.
Following law school, Eric and his wife Dorothy moved to Calgary where they raised their two children. They now love being on the coast where they enjoy cycling, running, hiking, tennis, and meditation and the joys of herding two rambunctious grandkids.
Eric hopes to be able to provide whatever support he can to the Division and Family Physicians who are the bedrock of our healthcare system.
Dr. Randal Mason
Board Member at Large
Dr. Brianna Creelman
Board Member at Large
Dr. Brianna Creelman (she/her) is a resident in the Indigenous Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of British Columbia. Coming from the Okanagan, Brianna completed her medical degree at UBC’s Southern Medical Program in Kelowna, BC. She is grateful to be currently completing her training on the traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) and WSÁNEĆ (Saanich) people, also known as Victoria, BC. Brianna is looking forward to building a medical practice that focuses on reducing barriers to care, including gender affirming care, reproductive and sexual health, and addictions medicine. When not at work, she can be found keeping active at her local CrossFit gym, exploring the outdoors with her partner, and searching for the best pastries in town.
Dr. Manya Sadouski
Board Member at Large
Dr. Jordyn Heal
Board Member at Large
Nomination & Election for the Board of Directors
The South Island Division Board of Director consists of 5 family physician members, 2 family medicine residents, and 4 non-members who are appointed by the Board.
Nominations for the South Island Division Board of Directors are now closed. Successful candidates will be announced at the Annual General Meeting, which takes place on October 17, 2024.
Strategic Priorities
The South Island Division of Family Practice is thrilled to launch the first part of our new Strategic Plan. This phase identifies our strategic priorities and key goals designed to drive impactful success.
Mission
The Division provides strategic leadership that influences and advocates for cultures and systems to improve patient care delivery, improve physician satisfaction and well-being, and support sustainability.
Vision
Empowered Family Physicians engaged in meaningful change to health care delivery resulting in improved health, well-being, and satisfaction for physicians, individuals, and communities. All our work is informed by principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The Values We Live
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Collaboration
We believe in respectful, mutually beneficial, and effective relationships and partnerships.
Strategic Leadership
Physician Health
Accountability
Organizational Culture
Discover our new strategic priorities and see how the South Island Division will monitor progress toward our goals using Key Performance Indicators.
Annual Reports
View Our Most Recent Annual Report Video (2023-2024)
View Past Annual Reports
Dr. Tom Bailey Award
The Dr. Thomas M. Bailey Award was created in honour of a wonderful man and physician, Tom Bailey.
This award recognizes some of Tom’s greatest qualities: excellence in leadership, care, consideration, and kindness shown to all.
Nominations for the 2024 Tom Bailey Award recipient are now closed. The recipient will be acknowledged at the Annual General Meeting on October 17, 2024.
Dr. Thomas M. Bailey Memorial Award Recipients:
- 2023 – Dr. Vanessa Young
- 2022 – Dr. Michele Fretz
- 2021 – Dr. Robin Saunders
- 2020 – Dr. Margaret Manville
Cultural Safety Resources
Indigenous Cultural Safety Resources
Supporting you in providing culturally safe care
Access a range of resources tailored to support your cultural safety learning journey, curated with our community in mind.
LGBTQ2SIA+ Resources & Services
Culturally competent care
We are committed to building awareness of the health concerns and issues facing the LGBTQ2SIA+ communities.