Regional Program Co-Leaders Program Management at Horizon As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care, we are implementing a Program Management model organization-wide, effective April 1. This dyad model involves combined oversight from clinical and administrative leaders and has already been successfully implemented in key areas including Emergency Medicine, Surgery, Addiction and Mental Health, and Primary Care. By implementing Program Management in all areas, we will have a comprehensive, centralized oversight structure in place, leading to consistency and standardization of clinical services, greater collaboration among teams and effective alignment of organization-wide priorities. Our Programs Addiction and Mental Health Cancer and Renal Care Cardiac Care Community Health Emergency Medicine and Critical Care Medicine and Neurosciences Operations, Patient Flow and Ambulatory Care Primary Care Seniors Health Surgery Women and Children’s Health Lab and Medical Imaging – will be launched at a later date. To support these efforts, each program has co-leaders: a Clinical Executive Director – who is responsible for the operational planning, management, and leadership of the regional program while ensuring the best use of resources to provide quality patient care that meets established standards across all health zones. a Physician Program Lead – who oversees daily operations of the regional program in all Horizon facilities relating to the quality of medical care, professional development, and medical staff issues according to by-laws, regulations, and policies. Addiction and Mental Health Dr. Dinesh Bhalla Physician Program Lead, Addiction and Mental Health Dr. Bhalla received his Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada certification in 1999 after completing his psychiatry training in the United Kingdom. He also completed two clinical fellowships in Ontario and was the Chief of Psychiatric Services at The Moncton Hospital from 2009 to 2018 where he has since continued his busy practice and research pursuits. Dr. Bhalla is also an associate professor at the Dalhousie School of Medicine. Read More Kathleen Buchanan Clinical Executive Director, Addiction and Mental Health Kathleen Buchanan is the Clinical Executive Director for Horizon Health Network’s Addiction and Mental Health Program. Kathleen joined Horizon in 2011 as a Patient Safety Consultant and in 2015 moved into a leadership role with Addiction and Mental Health Services where she managed ER Mental Health, Mobile Crisis Units, Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (FACT), and the Intake team. In this work, Kathleen formed a formal partnership with the RCMP and Mobile Crisis and co-led a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt process improvement project for ER Mental Health. In 2018 Kathleen assumed the role of Director for Primary Health Care overseeing all Moncton-area community health centres and health clinics. In 2020, she co-led the development and implementation of the area’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre with Dr. Jody Enright and Dr. Ken Gillespie. Kathleen then moved to Saint John where she supported local shelters in the development of their COVID-19 operational plans and co-led the COVID-19 monitoring and contract tracing teams and the development of vaccination clinics as a Public Health manager. In 2022, Kathleen returned to Moncton where she has been managing the Moncton Primary Health Care clinic (refugee clinic), Salvus Clinic, Port Elgin Health Centre, Tantramar Primary Health Care clinic, the Nurse Practitioner (NP) Horizon Hub, NPs in Collaborative Practice, and the Health Care Coordination Team.Kathleen holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion from Dalhousie University, has obtained her Certified Health Executive from the Canadian College of Health Leaders, and has a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare from Northern Arizona University. Read More Cancer and Renal Care Dr. Nessa Gogan Physician Program Lead, Cancer and Renal Care Program Dr. Nessa Gogan is the Physician Program Lead for Horizon Health Network’s Cancer and Renal Care Program. A practicing nephrologist at Horizon since 1997, Dr. Gogan is the Division Head of Nephrology and Hypertension at Saint John Regional Hospital and is passionate about improving the lives of people living with kidney disease and increasing access to kidney transplantation. Dr. Gogan is a member of the NBOTP Advisory Committee, the national Kidney Transplant Advisory Committee, the Organ Donation and Transplantation Expert Advisory Committee, and sits on the Board of the Atlantic Branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada. She previously held the role of Director of the New Brunswick Organ and Tissue Program. Dr. Gogan earned her medical degree from Memorial University in Newfoundland and then completed Internal Medicine and Nephrology training from the University of Western Ontario. She is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University and an Assistant Professor of Medicine with Dalhousie University. Read More Amarpreet Gujral Clinical Executive Director, Cancer and Renal Care Amarpreet Gujral is the Clinical Executive Director for Horizon Health Network’s Cancer and Renal Care Program. Prior to her Clinical Executive Director role, Amarpreet was the Director of Family Medicine at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, and also held various past leadership roles in Ambulatory Surgery, Transitional Care Units (TCUs), and Home and Community Care. As the Clinical Executive Director for the Cancer and Renal Health Program, Amarpreet leads a program committed to delivering high-quality care to individuals affected by cancer of kidney disease across a network of regional and satellite facilities bringing connected, people-centred to communities across New Brunswick. Amarpreet is responsible for the strategic planning, operational execution, and oversight of the program while collaborating with administrative and clinical teams to develop evidence-based care models, improve access to services, standardize outcomes and drive continuous quality improvement. A proud recipient of the 2024 Quality Quest Award as part of the “Door to CT” project team, Amarpreet holds a Master of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Atlanta, a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Mumbai University and is certified in Change Management and LEADS. Read More Cardiac Care Dr. Jean-François Légaré Physician Program Lead, Cardiac Care Program Dr. Jean-François Légaré is the Physician Program Lead for Horizon Health Network’s Cardiac Care Program. After 14 years of practice in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dr. Légaré joined Horizon in 2016 as the Division Head of Cardiac Surgery at the Saint John Regional Hospital before assuming the role of Medical Director of the New Brunswick Heart Centre in 2022 where he implemented major governance changes, including the creation of a Department of Cardiac Sciences. Dr. Légaré is a proud graduate of McGill University in Montreal where he earned his Doctor of Medicine in 1995 and is excited to find new ways to address New Brunswick’s current health care issues and to promote health for all its residents through teamwork, collaboration, and innovation. Read More Bridget Stack Clinical Executive Director, Cardiac Care Bridget Stack is the Clinical Executive Director for Horizon Health Network’s Cardiac Care Program. Bridget began her career with Horizon as a registered nurse in Rehabilitation Medicine, where she worked in inpatient and outpatient case management supporting patients and teams. In 2015, she became the Clinical Director for the Medicine, Neurosciences and Discharge Planning Program, while developing her leadership and technical skill set via projects and initiatives in the Saint John area and across Horizon. Bridget received her Master of Nursing in Health Policy from Dalhousie University in 2013, as well as a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Saint John (2007) and a Bachelor of Arts from UNB Fredericton (2004). During her education, she received the Nurses Association of New Brunswick Award from the Canadian Nurses Foundation and the inaugural Leadership through Advocacy Award from UNB Saint John. As a lifelong learner she has continued to seek designations in clinical care, such as Canadian Nurses Association Rehabilitation Certification and Leadership designations. Read More Community Health Corinne Saulnier Clinical Executive Director, Community Health Corinne Saulnier is the Clinical Executive Director for Horizon Health Network’s Community Health Program. Corinne began her career as an educator in a large provincial tertiary hospital and grew in various system leadership categories throughout Canada before joining Horizon in 2017, first in Process Improvement followed by manager/director roles in Primary Health Care, Palliative Care, Strategic Alignment, and Population Health. As the Clinical Executive Director for the Community Health Program, and through a combination of evidence-based clinical care approaches, community engagement, and a focus on health equity and improved population health outcomes, Corinne oversees improved service to our communities and help them move toward better health outcomes. Corinne holds a Bachelor of Arts Advanced degree in Education, a Master of Arts, is a Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt, and is a Canadian College of Health Leaders CHE candidate. Read More Recruitment Underway Physician Program Lead, Community Health Read More Emergency Medicine and Critical care Dr. Tushar Pishe Physician Program Lead, Emergency Medicine DrDr. Tushar Pishe is the Physician Program Lead for Horizon Health Network’s Emergency Medicine Program. Dr. Pishe has been an emergency physician at the Saint John Regional Hospital and Urgent Care Centre since completing his Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine residencies at Dalhousie University in 2002. He has also held various positions including Medical Education Coordinator, and Director of Emergency Ultrasound. Dr. Pishe served as Medical Director for Trauma NB from 2016 until 2025, is the Provincial Medical Director of Ambulance and Transport Services and has been associated with the ambulance system for more than 20 years in various roles, including as the local Medical Director for several ambulance services prior to Ambulance New Brunswick. Dr. Pishe has contributed greatly to New Brunswick’s EMS System in his roles as Medical Oversight Physician, and the lead for the Air Ambulance Program, as well as acting as a Trauma Control Physician within Trauma NB. Dr Pishe is an Assistant Professor with Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS and a Clinical Assistant Professor with Memorial University in Newfoundland. He also earned the Canadian Certified Physician Executive (CCPE) credential, which recognizes and advances physician leadership and excellence through a national, peer-generated, standards-based assessment process based on the tenets of the LEADS in a Caring Environment Capabilities Framework Read More Pam Power Clinical Executive Director, Emergency Medicine and Critical Care Pamela (Pam) Power is the Clinical Executive Director for the Emergency Medicine and Critical Care Program. Following completion of her Bachelor of Nursing degree from her home province of Newfoundland, Pam started her career at a small hospital on Prince Edward Island. Over the next decade, she worked as a clinician with a focus in emergency care in Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Alberta, and Saudi Arabia. She practiced outpost nursing in northern Alberta and Manitoba and was a nursing instructor for Mount Royal University in Alberta. Pam returned to her home province of Newfoundland and in 2014, moved into management roles. She was Manager of Clinical Practice and then Site Clinical Manager of three tertiary centres in St. John’s. Five years ago, Pam and her family moved to Miramichi where she joined Horizon as Emergency Department Nurse Manager. Since then, she completed a Master of Health Studies from Athabasca University, attained her Canadian Health Executive designation from the Canadian College of Health Leaders and was part of the 2021 class of Leading One Horizon. Read More Medicine and Neurosciences Trish Murray Clinical Executive Director, Medicine and Neurosciences Trish Murray is the Clinical Executive Director for Horizon Health Network’s Medicine and Neurosciences Program. With over 25 years of health care leadership experience across Emergency, Acute, and Primary Care, she began her career in emergency nursing at Carleton Memorial Hospital in Woodstock after earning her Bachelor of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick. She then spent 20 years in progressive leadership roles in the United States before joining Horizon in 2018 as the Clinical Director for the Upper River Valley Hospital and Hotel Dieu of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Perth Andover. Before assuming the role of Clinical Executive Director, Trish held the position of Clinical Director for Primary Care for the Fredericton and Upper River Valley area, overseeing 17 community health centres. As the Clinical Executive Director, Trish provides strategic leadership for Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Palliative Care, Rehabilitation, Stroke Care, and Neuroscience Services. Trish holds a Master of Nursing in Health Systems Administration, maintains certification in emergency nursing, and is completing the Canadian Health Executive certification through the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL). Read More Dr. Mark Tutschka Physician Program Lead, Medicine and Neurosciences Read More Operations, Patient Flow and Ambulatory Care Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) McCaw Physician Program Lead, Operations, Patient Flow, and Ambulatory Care Program Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) McCaw is the Physician Program Lead for Horizon Health Network’s Operations, Patient Flow, and Ambulatory Care Program. Based in the Moncton area, Dr. McCaw has cared for many patients as a community family physician and hospitalist since 2009, has led Program Management for the Department of Family Medicine at The Moncton Hospital since 2016, and is an assistant professor at Dalhousie University. Through the course of her work, Dr. McCaw partnered with The Moncton Hospital’s Patient Flow team leading to her interest in understanding how hospital and community systems impact patient flow and aims to optimize patient flow at all Horizon facilities. Dr. McCaw earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from Dalhousie University. Read More David Arbeau Clinical Executive Director, Operations, Patient Flow and Ambulatory Care David Arbeau is the Clinical Executive Director for Horizon Health Network’s Operations, Patient Flow and Ambulatory Care Program. With over 20 years of health care experience, David began his career as a registered respiratory therapist (RRT) in Prince Edward Island and worked as an RRT until 2007 when he moved into management and leadership roles. David holds a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Memorial University and a master’s in health studies from Athabasca University, which he completed in 2016. He obtained his Prosci Certification in Change Management in 2020. His leadership experience includes more than10 years in director roles with the NB Extra-Mural Program, Public Health and, most recently, Primary Health Care. Read More Primary Care Dr. Ravneet Comstock Physician Program Lead, Primary Care Dr. Ravneet Comstock is responsible for the development of strategic directions with the local departments of Family and Community Medicine in partnership with Ms. Lockhart, who is responsible for the planning, administration, budget, and evaluation for primary health care programming across Horizon. Together, they will guide the transformation of primary health care and oversee matters related to the service design, quality of medical care, and professional development of its members. Dr. Comstock also collaborates with Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine to effectively integrate clinical and academic responsibilities in alignment with the strategic operational activities of the Faculty and Horizon Health Network. Read More Maily Lockhart Clinical Executive Director, Primary Care Maily Lockhart is the Clinical Executive Director for Horizon Health Network’s Primary Care Program. Over the last 15 years, she has worked with health system leaders to support the transformation of health systems by bringing in and implementing innovative solutions. Maily’s various leadership roles within the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Horizon Health Network involved developing and delivering provincial health programs, supporting health and human resource planning, engaging with national health care innovators, and facilitating the development of organizational, strategic, and operational plans with health care leaders. Maily also has extensive experience working with physicians, having supported physician recruitment and retention strategy development with the Physician Recruitment Agency of Saskatchewan and helping Saskatchewan-area physicians transition from paper-based practices to electronic medical records in team-based practices with the Saskatchewan Medical Association. Maily holds a Bachelor of Science with a specialization in Physiology and Development Biology from the University of Alberta and a Master of Public Health with advanced training in Community Health and Epidemiology from the University of Saskatchewan. She is a certified Prosci change management practitioner, health care Lean Improvement Leader and has a Professional Leadership Certification from the University of Saskatchewan’s Edwards School of Business. Read More Senior Health Dr. Patrick Feltmate Physician Program Lead, Seniors Care Program Dr. Patrick Feltmate is the Physician Program Lead for Horizon Health Network’s Seniors Care Program. Based in Fredericton, Dr. Feltmate held numerous leadership roles related to seniors care, most recently as the Medical Director for Horizon’s Collaborative Care Seniors Health and as Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital. Dr. Feltmate earned his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of New Brunswick and completed his medical and residence programs, in both Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine, at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Dr. Feltmate has been a full time Geriatrician in Fredericton since 2008. Read More Kathleen Montague Clinical Executive Director, Seniors Health Kathleen Montague is the Clinical Executive Director for Horizon Health Network’s Seniors Health Program. Kathleen began her nursing career in pediatrics at the Saint John Regional Hospital before moving to the hospital’s emergency department, followed by a move to Alberta Health Services at the Stollery Children’s Hospital. In 2020, Kathleen returned to Saint John in the role of Director of Women and Children’s Health and Ambulatory Health in the Saint John area.As the Clinical Executive Director for the Seniors Health Program, Kathleen leads a team of dedicated health care leaders in shaping the strategic direction of senior care at Horizon. This work involves Transitional Care Units (TCUs), outpatient and community-based senior services, inpatient assessment units, and Veteran’s Long-Term Care (LTC) while ensuring all organizational decisions are made with a focus on enhancing the well-being and needs of our senior population.Kathleen earned a Bachelor of Nursing degree from the University of New Brunswick in Saint John in 2010 and an Executive MBA from St. Mary University’s Sobey School of Business in 2023. Read More Surgery Dr. Patricia Bryden Physician Program Lead, Surgery Dr. Patricia Bryden is the Physician Program Lead for Horizon Health Network’s Surgery Program. Dr. Bryden retired from her general surgery practice of 30 years in June 2022. During her career, she was a member of the Adult Critical Care Service, completed a master’s degree in Adult Education for Health Care Providers and was the local Chief of Staff from August 2014 She continues to be a member of the Fredericton medical staff in the Department of General Surgery. Read More Amy McCavour Clinical Executive Director, Surgery Amy McCavour is the Clinical Executive Director for Horizon Health Network’s Surgery Program. Amy joined Horizon in 2015 working in progressive leadership roles as registered nurse in the surgical and coronary care units. In 2019, Amy held the position of Medical and Surgical ICU Nurse Manager becoming the Administrative Director of Surgical Services and Critical Care in 2021. In 2022, Amy was appointed as the Executive Director and Co-Leader of Regional Surgical Services, and in 2024 was appointed as the Clinical Executive Director of Surgery. Read More Women and Children’s Health Dr. Ken Gillespie Physician Program Lead, Women and Children’s Health Program Dr. Ken Gillespie is the Physician Program Lead for Horizon Health Network’s Women and Children’s Health Program. Based in Moncton, Dr. Gillespie is an obstetrician-gynecologist who has held several key leadership roles within Horizon including Interim Regional Chief of Staff, as well as Local Chief of Staff positions in Moncton, Miramichi, and Upper River Valley. He also served as Clinical Department Head and Medical Director for the Women and Children’s Health Program at The Moncton Hospital. Dr. Gillespie is currently Horizon’s Regional Medical Education Director. Dr. Gillespie opened his medical practice at The Moncton Hospital in 1999, has been a Board member of the Moncton Hospital Foundation since September 2022, and is actively involved in community service. Dr. Gillespie earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Dalhousie University where he also completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He was honoured as a ‘Moncton Hospital Hero’ for his dedication to patient care and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022. Read More Christa Wheeler-Thorne Clinical Executive Director, Women and Children’s Health Christa Wheeler-Thorne is the Clinical Executive Director for Horizon Health Network’s Women and Children’s Health Program. Based in Moncton, Christa has over 30 years of nursing experience within maternal and child health programs, primarily in paediatrics, and has held vital roles in novel clinic development, quality improvement initiatives, and the construction of a new Maternal Newborn Building at The Moncton Hospital to help better serve both the Moncton community and families from around New Brunswick. As the former Administrative Director of Women and Children’s Health, Breast Health, and Neurological Rehabilitation (Neuro Rehab) Programs at The Moncton Hospital, Christa gained extensive experience in relationship and team building to create an environment that supports creativity and innovation in the delivery of patient care while empowering others. Read More