The 2023-2024 Board of directors

On June 10, 2023, Dr Cédric Lacombe was elected President of the Fédération des médecins résidents du Québec by the FMRQ Delegates’ Assembly. He was appointed to this position following extensive involvement on the Association des médecins résidents de Montréal (AMRM), starting his residency first as a delegate (2019-2020), then as Treasurer (2020-2021 and 2021-2022), and finally last year as President (2022-2023). Holding an MD from Laval University, Dr Lacombe is currently an R5 in Psychiatry at the University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine, as well as being enrolled in the Master of Biomedical Sciences program, Psychiatric Science option. Since he began his medical studies, he 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. During his residency, he has also sat on the Credentials Committee of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

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 Heithem Joober is an R5 in General Psychiatry at the University of Sherbrooke, also training in Geriatric Psychiatry at McGill University. He earned his MD from the University of Sherbrooke. In 2023-2024, he is taking on the responsibilities of FMRQ Secretary-Treasurer, having sat on the Federation’s Union Affairs Committee (CAS) from July 2021 to June 2023. In 2020-2021, he was also Psychiatry residents’ representative on the Association des médecins résidents de Sherbrooke (AMReS). Awards received since he began his medical studies include the University of Sherbrooke Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Research Bursary in 2016, and the Bioinformatics Research Bursary in 2015. Dr Joober is actively involved in his community, too. In particular, he was joint initiator of a partnership between Le Phare high school and the University of Sherbrooke Faculty of Medicine in 2017-2018 to help interested teens prepare for and take part free of charge in the Défi Pierre-Lavoie sporting challenge.

Dr Xiao is an R4 in Anesthesiology at McGill University, where he also earned his MD. He became involved in the FMRQ from the start of his residency, as a delegate in 2021-2022, then as Vice-President representing the Association of Residents of McGill (ARM) on the Federation’s Union Affairs Committee in 2022-2023. He previously sat on the McGill Medical Students’ Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee and was on the Board of Directors of the MQRP (Médecins québécois pour un régime public, or Quebec Doctors for Medicare). Dr Xiao loves movies, vegan cuisine, sports, and cultural travel.

Dr Achtoutal is an R5 in General Internal Medicine at the University of Sherbrooke, where she also earned her MD. Since 2020, she has been involved with the FMRQ at various levels, in particular as the Federation’s representative on the Royal College’s Assessment Committee and Residency Accreditation Committee. At the AMReS, she was Vice-President, Competency by Design (CBD) Affairs and Deputy Vice-President in 2020-2021, then in 2021-2022 Vice-President, Academic Affairs – Specialties and a member of the FMRQ’s CAP-S. Now in her second year as Director responsible for Academic Affairs – Specialties, Dr Achtoutal, along with her colleagues from the four affiliated associations, has conducted follow-up on the many matters of a pedagogical nature, and the issues facing resident doctors. In April 2022, she received a Rising Star Certificate of Excellence Award from the Canadian Association for Medical Education. In June 2023, Dr Achtoutal was awarded the Prix Jean-de-L.-Mignault from the University of Sherbrooke Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, for her academic excellence and outstanding achievements, for her performance and involvement in different fields. She is fluent in four languages: English, French, Arabic, and Spanish.

Dr Charron is an R2 in Family Medicine at GMF-U de Chicoutimi (Chicoutimi University Family Medicine Group) – University of Sherbrooke, having earned his MD from University of Montreal. Prior to residency, he chaired the 2022 cohort of the University of Montreal’s medical student association (AÉÉMUM) and was Student Life Co-ordinator, presiding over numerous sociocultural activities and events aimed at his colleagues, as well as introducing an eco-responsible event policy. In 2022, he was recognized by the Dean of the University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine for his contribution to the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS), and received a Rising Star Certificate of Excellence from the Canadian Association for Medical Education. Always ready to push his physical limits, he spends his free time running (year-round), cycling, and cross-country skiing.

 For the 2^nd consecutive year, Dr Soufi is President of the Association of Residents of McGill (ARM), with a seat on the FMRQ Board as Director from ARM. An R4 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). 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.

Dr Bouchard-Boivin is an R4 in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Laval University, where he earned his MD and 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. In 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, 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. Last year, he was FMRQ Secretary-Treasurer. As a director from AMReQ, Dr Bouchard-Boivin will continue his involvement, contributing his expertise in reviewing issues in the different areas of association and FMRQ activity.

Dr Arielle Jalbert is an R4 in Medical Oncology at the University of Sherbrooke, where she also earned her MD, following two years in the Bachelor/Master of Physiotherapy program. She was elected President of AMReS after two years on the Association board as Secretary General. In 2019 she was honoured for dynamism as part of the University of Sherbrooke’s challenge for student engagement in the university community (Défi de l’engagement étudiant). Her involvement over the years has also included volunteering with various organizations, including Operation Red Nose (Opération Nez rouge) and Sweet Treat Donations (Bonbons Bons Dons, raising awareness of organ donation on Halloween night), as a scout leader, and more besides. She enjoys learning languages, and is a travel, winter and summer sport, and team sport enthusiast.

Patrice Savignac Dufour has been Executive Director of the FMRQ since 2016, after having first acted 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.