The 2022-2023 board of directors

Dr Jessica Ruel-Laliberté, the fourth woman to be FMRQ President, is currently in her second year in that post, and is undertaking subspecialty training in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine, having previously completed an Obstetric and Gynecology residency at the University of Sherbrooke. Since she first started her undergraduate medical studies, she was involved with her colleagues, as President of Laval University’s medical students group (RÉMUL) and President of the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec. She also sat on the CaRMS Board, and the Standing Advisory Panel on Physician Resource Planning in Quebec. Since entering residency, she has sat on the FMRQ’s Academic Affairs Committee – Specialties, where she developed a passion for research and health management. Following two terms as chair of the Physician Resource Planning Committee (CPEM), she continued to defend her colleagues’ interests as FMRQ Vice-President in 2020-2021, on the Executive Committee and as chair of both the CPEM and the Resident Wellness Committee (CBER), before becoming President in July 2021.

Dr Alex Vignola is currently an R6 in Cardiology at the University of Sherbrooke, having earned his MD in 2016 from the University of Montreal, Mauricie Campus. On entering residency, he became involved as an AMRM delegate, going on at the Association des médecins résidents de Sherbrooke (AMReS) as Vice-President for Union Affairs from 2017 to 2019, then at the FMRQ for the next two years as Director responsible for Union Affairs. He was primarily responsible for local mobilization during the most recent collective agreement negotiations, and for following up on issues relating to resident doctors’ work conditions. In 2021-2022, he was elected FMRQ Vice-President, and was re-elected in 2022-2023. Last year, this position enabled him to continue defending his colleagues’ interests in all areas of FMRQ activity, and contributing to advancing major issues at the Federation, while following up on the work of the FMRQ Resident Wellness Committee (CBER) and Physician Resource Planning Committee (CPEM)—responsibilities he will continue to fulfil in 2022-2023. As such, he sits on the Board of Directors of the QPHP, and on the Standing Advisory Panel on Physician Resource Planning in Quebec, and its Monitoring Committee.

Dr Bouchard-Boivin is an R3 in Internal Medicine at the Laval University Faculty of Medicine, where he earned his MD, as well as a Master of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences. Over the years, he has shown great interest in research, receiving a number of awards in that regard during his academic career, notably the 2020-2021 Research Award from the Laval University association of medical clinician teachers, as well as scholarships. Over the past two years, Dr Bouchard-Boivin sat on the Laval University Faculty of Medicine interdepartmental advisory committee and Department of Medicine intellectual independence committee, and the McLaughlin Fellowship review committee. He was also AMReQ Treasurer from July 2020 to June 2022. In 2022-2023, as FMRQ Secretary-Treasurer, he intends to contribute to managing the Federation’s budget and investing in the FMRQ’s different areas of activity, while fostering sustainable development and socially responsible investment.

Dr Gabriel Lavoie is an R5 in Respirology at the University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine, where he also earned his MD. He has been involved in his training environment since Cegep. Having worked in the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec (FMEQ), he became involved in his Association and the Federation as soon as he entered residency. Starting out as a delegate, he was then for two years Vice-President, Union Affairs with the Association des médecins résidents de Montréal (AMRM), also sitting on the FMRQ’s Union Affairs Committee. Last year, he was AMRM President. In 2022-2023, he will act as Director responsible for Union Affairs, and intends to play an active role in discussions concerning renewal of our collective agreement. He is also interested in projects relating to resident doctors’ health and wellness, having take part in setting up and maintaining the AMRM’s Résident Sentinelle committee, a project for which he received the FMRQ’s Excelsior Award. During his undergraduate medical studies, he held various positions on the FMEQ, the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), and the University of Montreal’s medical student association (AÉÉMUM).

Dr Achtoutal is an R4 in General Internal Medicine at the University of Sherbrooke Faculty of Medicine, where she also earned her MD. Since 2020, she has been involved with the FMRQ at various levels, in particular on the Royal College’s Assessment Committee and Residency Accreditation Committee. At the AMReS, she was Vice-President, Competency by Design (CBD) and Deputy Vice-President, Academic Affairs – Specialties in 2020-2021, then Vice-President, Academic Affairs – Specialties and a member of the FMRQ’s CAP-S in 2021-2022. As Director responsible for Academic Affairs – Specialties in 2022-2023, Dr Achtoutal, along with her colleagues from the four affiliated associations, will conduct follow-up on the many academic matters, and on issues facing resident doctors. In April 2022, she received a Rising Star Certificate of Excellence Award from the Canadian Association for Medical Education. She is fluent in four languages: English, French, Arabic, and Spanish.

Dr Chartrand is an R2 in Family Medicine at Jacques-Cartier UFMG, completing his residency in the University of Sherbrooke Faculty of Medicine, where he also earned his MD. During the past year, he sat on the FMRQ Academic Affairs Committee – Family Medicine as Vice-President representing the AMReS. From 2018 to 2021, he was co-lead for the Emergency Medicine Interest Group. Dr Chartrand has always been active in his environment. In 2020, he set up a scholarly project involving collaboration among clinical clerks, resident doctors, and supervisors for the drafting of articles on family medicine-related themes, for integration in the Wikimedica platform. In 2018-2019, he notably organized workshops to raise medical students’ awareness of the issues promoted by the Choosing Wisely campaigns, and took part in workshops run by L’Éveil, a community resource promoting maintenance and reintegration of individuals with mental health disorders.

Dr Maxime Morin-Lavoie, an R3 in Internal Medicine at the University of Sherbrooke, is renewing his mandate this year as FMRQ Director from AMReS. He completed his MD at the University of Montreal Mauricie campus, after studying bioinformatics and biomedical sciences. He became involved with his colleagues from the outset of his medical studies, notably as President of the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec in 2019-2020, then joined the FMRQ’s Physician Resource Planning Committee (CPEM) from his first year of residency. Since enrolling in medicine, he has fulfilled several roles representing his fellow students and residents on Quebec and Canada-wide healthcare and education bodies. He has a strong interest in research. Since 2021-2022, he has been the FMRQ’s representative on the CaRMS Board of Directors.

For 2022-2023, Dr Soufi is President of the Association of Residents of McGill (ARM), with a seat on the FMRQ Board as Director from ARM. An R3 in Psychiatry at the McGill University Faculty of Medicine, where he also earned his MD, he was an ARM delegate from August 2021. In that capacity, he was active on the subcommittee responsible for updating the Association’s statutes and by-laws, and the subcommittee reviewing resident doctors’ work conditions in his Faculty ahead of negotiations for renewal of the FMRQ-MSSS collective agreement. He is a member of the McGill Psychiatry Residents’ Association (MPRA), and of the Conseil jeunesse de Montréal, an official body that advises the City of Montreal on issues of concern to young people aged 12-30. Dr Soufi is also interested in environmental matters, and is involved in his community. In addition, he has received different awards, including the McGill Global Health Scholarship and the Lieutenant Governor’s Youth Medal. In his free time, he enjoys sports and theatre.

For 2022-2023, Dr Cédric Lacombe is President of the Association des médecins résidents de Montréal (AMRM), with a seat on the FMRQ Board. An R4 in Psychiatry at the University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine, he is also enrolled in the Master of Biomedical Sciences program, Psychiatric Science option. Since he began his medical studies at Laval University, where he earned his MD, Dr Lacombe has been involved at different levels: initially in community (sexual health, mental health) settings, then as a director and a member of different committees of the Confédération des associations des étudiants et étudiantes de l’Université Laval (CADEUL) from 2016 to 2018, a member of the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec (FMEQ) Board from 2017 to 2019, including one year as Secretary General, and a member of the Laval University Board of Directors from 2018 to 2019. On starting his residency, he joined the Association des médecins résidents de Montréal (AMRM), first as a delegate, then as Treasurer; during that time, he has also sat on the Credentials Committee of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

Dr Gabriel Châteauneuf is an R6 in Cardiology at Laval University, where he completed his training in Internal Medicine after earning his MD at the University of Sherbrooke. As Co-president of the Association des médecins résidents de Québec (AMReQ), he sits on the FMRQ Board as Director for AMReQ. He is Assistant Chief Resident in the Adult Cardiology Program at the Quebec University Institute for Cardiology and Respirology (IUCPQ). In his academic career, he has received several awards, including the 2020-2021 Research Award from the Laval University Department of Medicine, and scholarships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Société des médecins de l’Université de Sherbrooke, and Heenan Blaikie. Dr Châteauneuf is also involved in teaching, running clinical sessions at Laval University, and sometimes consults in Internal Medicine in regions with physician resource shortages. In his free time, he follows provincial politics, enjoys downhill skiing, and appreciates fine food.

Patrice Savignac Dufour has been Executive Director of the FMRQ since 2016, having joined the Federation in 2013, first as Director, Legal Affairs, then as Deputy Executive Director. A manager and lawyer by training, Me Savignac Dufour previously worked as an executive, advisor, attorney, or director with different socio-political and labour union groups. A member of the Quebec Bar, he holds a postgraduate diploma (DESS) in management from HEC Montréal. He maintains a constant watch on issues that have or could have an impact on our members.