Our Team

Our highly specialized and motivated team work together in a vibrant corporate culture to improve health care delivery. CDIC has attracted a new generation of millennial scientists – a world-class group of curious, talented, and inspired young professionals.

Carrie Solmundson, MSW, President and Chief Executive Officer of CDIC, holds a MSW in Organization Policy and Administration from the University of Manitoba. Prior to the CDIC, Carrie served as President and COO of Seven Oaks Hospital (SOGH) for over ten years, and in this role was responsible for several regional and provincial clinical programs. Carrie began her career at Seven Oaks General Hospital as Executive Director of the Wellness Institute. Under Carrie’s leadership, the Wellness Institute expanded its model of chronic disease prevention and management to hospitals in China. In 2018, Carrie led the development of a joint venture to bring a new model of preventive healthcare to China. Carrie is a recipient of the Manitoba Woman of Distinction Award for her leadership and achievements in health and wellness.

Michelle Di Nella, MA, Executive Director, holds a Master of Arts Degree in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Manitoba. She has been with the CDIC for 10 years and provides overall leadership and operational management for the entire program. She plays a key role in establishing the corporation’s strategic direction, as well as business development and commercial activities.

Sara Anderson, Administrative Assistant, completed the Legal Administrative Assistant Program at CDI College, and is a current student at the University of Manitoba. She is also a Registered Yoga Teacher (200H training) and holds a Prenatal Yoga Teacher Certificate (85H training). As the Administrative Personnel for CDIC, she is responsible for providing effective and efficient administrative support for the GFT Physicians and the CDIC research staff.

Ryan Bamforth, MSc, Data Analyst, holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master of Science in Community Health Sciences from the University of Manitoba. He works as a data analyst at the CDIC with a focus on cost-effectiveness analyses.

Ranveer Brar, MSc, Statistician and Research Coordinator, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biopsychology, and a Master of Science degree in Community Health Sciences. He works on a longitudinal prospective cohort study exploring trajectories of physical activity, physical function, and mental health in people with late-stage Chronic Kidney Disease. He is also working on multiple other projects that utilize administrative health data to assess long-term health outcomes and patterns of healthcare utilization at the population-level.

Katrina Cachero, BSc RD MSc, Research Coordinator, completed her Bachelor of Science in Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba in May 2017, the Manitoba Partnership Dietetic Education Program in June 2018, and her Master of Science in Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba in June 2021. As a practicing Registered Dietitian, she is passionate about weight management interventions. The main focus of her Master’s thesis involved conducting an evaluation of a weight loss program at the Wellness Institute, aiming to ensure the program is based upon the most current scientific literature in addition to providing data for future research applications.

Kathy Cherepak, BSc, Research Coordinator, holds a Bachelor of Science in Statistics and comes to CDIC with many years of experience as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the areas of gynecology, rheumatology, dermatology, and oncology. As a Research Coordinator at CDIC she is involved in multiple studies with a focus on nutrition, healthy aging, and diabetes.

Dianna Dandeneau, MSc, Research Coordinator, completed her Master of Science degree in Human Nutritional Science at the University of Manitoba. The main focus of her Master’s thesis was extruded pulse flour and fractions effects on glycemic response, satiety and exercise endurance. She previously worked in Patient Engagement before coming to CDIC. She believes greater involvement of patients in health research will lead to better outcomes and an improved healthcare system. Dianna works on various nutrition-related studies.

Thomas Ferguson, MSc, Health Economist and Biostatistician, completed his Master of Science at the University of Manitoba, Department of Community Health Sciences. His role at CDIC is to supply expert advice on cost effectiveness and biostatistics for various academic projects and commercial collaborations.

Emilie Ford, MPH, Research Coordinator, completed her Masters of Public Health at the University College of Dublin in Ireland with a focus on chronic disease in older adults. As a Research Coordinator, she is involved with multiple studies evaluating the effects of exercise rehabilitation programs in adults on hemodialysis.

Ruth Getachew, Research Assistant, is currently working towards her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Manitoba. As a Research Assistant, she is involved with various studies at the CDIC, with a focus on examining how exercise affects symptom burden in adults on hemodialysis.

Oksana Harasemiw, MSc, Project Manager, completed her Master of Science in Community Health Sciences with a graduate specialization in aging from the University of Manitoba. In her current role as a Project Manager, she is responsible for tracking project milestones and budgets, and implementing policies and procedures to ensure the company achieves their strategic objectives.

Yasmin Iman, BSc, Research Coordinator, has a degree in Human Nutritional Sciences from the University of Manitoba. As a Research Coordinator she is involved in leading multiple nutritional studies that look at the benefits of dietary interventions in relation to chronic diseases.

Silvia Leon, MD, MSc, Data Decision and Support Analyst, has a medical degree from Rosario University in Colombia, where she worked as an emergency department physician, as well as a graduate diploma in Clinical Epidemiology from McMaster University. She completed her Masters of Science in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. For her Masters, she evaluated the impact of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) prescription discontinuation after an episode of hyperkalemia in people with chronic kidney disease. Her current research is focused on pharmacoepidemiology using administrative health databases.

Sepideh Mahboobi, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, holds a PhD in Nutrition from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Since November 2022 she has been working at the CDIC as a postdoctoral research fellow contributing to the ReDACKD trial, a dual center feasibility trial evaluating the feasibility of delivering fruits and vegetables to people living with chronic kidney disease and metabolic acidosis as a treatment. 

Hazel Manacsa, BSc, Research Assistant, holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with Honours from the University of Winnipeg. Hazel works as a Research Assistant on various prospective and retrospective studies in CKD and dialysis. Prior to starting with the CDIC, she worked as a Quality Control Analyst at Genvion Corporation.

Tess Peter, DHRM, Business Office Manager, completed the Human Resource Management program at Red River College and brings three years of industry experience to her position at CDIC. Her role includes the management of financial and human resource activities for the Research Division.

Kate Polecina, BSc, CORR Coordinator, completed a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Psychology with a minor in Biological Sciences. Kate’s role at CDIC is to collect and update patient information to the Electronic Kidney Health Record (eKHR) and Canadian Organ Replacement Registry (CORR) to improve access to patient records at Health Sciences Hospital (HSC) and various local centres in Manitoba.

Kathrine Polecina, BSc, Research Clerk, completed a Bachelor of Science with a Major in Psychology from the University of Manitoba. Her role at CDIC is to collect and update patient information to the Electronic Kidney Health Record (eKHR) and Canadian Organ Replacement Registry (CORR) to improve access to patient records at Seven Oaks General Hospital (SOGH). She is also involved in assisting with other active research studies.

Zahra Solati, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, holds a PhD degree in Physiology and Pathophysiology from the University of Manitoba. She works on a clinical trial evaluating the effects of a tele-monitoring platform on minimizing adverse outcomes in high risk Chronic Kidney Disease patients (VIEWER study). She is also involved in another clinical trial that is looking at the effects of polyphenols on glycemic index and gut microbiota in prediabetic patients.

Melanie Talson, MA, Research Project Coordinator, is a medical anthropologist with a background in the social determinants of health research. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Victoria. Melanie is an experienced qualitative researcher who has a passion for patient engagement and participatory research, ensuring patients are co-creators of knowledge. Melanie has spent the past two years working in the field of kidney health research as the Coordinator for Triple I: Improving Information, Interactions and Individualization to improve in-centre hemodialysis care, as a qualitative research consultant and as an independent research consultant for the National Kidney Foundation of Canada.

Haizhou Wang, BSc, Research Coordinator, completed his Bachelor of Science in Food Science at the University of Manitoba. Previously, he has worked on several human nutritional acute studies focusing on glycaemia and insulin response, and projects exploring potential treatments for people with genetic disorders. Currently, he is working on the remote ischemic conditioning study at CIDC.

Reid Whitlock, MSc, Research Manager, holds a Master of Science in Community Health Sciences from the University of Manitoba. He has authored and co-authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and prospective and retrospective cohort studies. As the Research Manager, he provides general administrative oversight and management of the overall program, including research projects, contracts, finances, and CDIC personnel.

Mentoring the next generation of researchers

We have a successful mentorship program focused on providing a supportive environment for students at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels. Our objectives are to provide students with tailored, hands-on training in research methods, epidemiology, and biostatistics. This allows students to obtain the skills necessary to become successful in their future research careers or to work in related industry positions.

Mackenzie Alexiuk, BSc, received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Manitoba, previously researching mitochondrial evolution using lepidoptera as model species. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba under the supervision of Dr. Navdeep Tangri, and her thesis will investigate the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia). Beyond chronic disease research, care, and management, she is particularly interested in primary care and women’s health and wishes to pursue the Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Manitoba in the future.

Heba Elgubtan, BHSc, obtained a Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Manitoba. Her capstone project examined cardiovascular disease susceptibility in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant therapy. Currently, she is enrolled in the Masters of Science program in the Department of Community Health Sciences, under the supervision of Dr. Navdeep Tangri. Her thesis aims to examine cardiovascular disease risk in patients with primary glomerular disease.  

Haley Farion, BSc, holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Manitoba. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba under the supervision of Dr. Clara Bohm. Her thesis is evaluating a feasibility checklist to assess site readiness for a cycling during hemodialysis program, and determine whether it can be used on a broader scale. The study proposes intradialytic cycling as an intervention for patients that experience myocardial stunning. 

Priscila Ferreira da Silva, BA, holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Indigenous Studies from the University of Saskatchewan and is currently pursuing a Masters in Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. She currently works with Dr. Clara Bohm in the Can-SOLVE CKD Network Triple I project. Her involvement with the project has led her to conduct an ethnographic study for her thesis to identify the constellation of barriers and facilitators particularly influencing the wellbeing and quality of life of Indigenous patients on hemodialysis in Winnipeg. This proposed study also seeks to understand how the structural barriers that Indigenous patients face are connected to a broader history of settler colonialism in Canada.

Russell Malabanan, BSc, completed his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Winnipeg. He is currently enrolled in the Master of Science program in the department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. He is also working as a Research Assistant at the CDIC primarily on the Can-SOLVE CKD Mind the Gap study, which aims to improve the provision of mental health services for people receiving in-centre hemodialysis across Canada.

Tahmina Rahman, BSc, graduated from the Govt. College of Applied Human Science (GCAHS), University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, with a BSc in Food and Nutrition. She is now pursuing her MSc at the University of Manitoba in Food and Human Nutritional Sciences under the supervision of Dr. Dylan MacKay. Her thesis is primarily focused on Type 2 Diabetes Remission (T2DRENu), where she studies different remission strategies and dietary patterns through the experiences of people who have achieved remission. In addition to that, she is also working on the ReDACKD study, which seeks to reduce metabolic acidosis in chronic kidney disease through nutritional intervention. She is committed to applying nutrition to address complex health issues and enhance the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses.

Maryam Samsamikor, MSc, is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba. Her Ph.D. thesis focuses on the effects of hemp seed protein and bioactive peptides produced through enzymatic hydrolysis on 24hr ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensive patients. In her role as a Research Coordinator at the CDIC, she is working on a clinical trial looking at the resistant starch prebiotic effects in chronic kidney disease (ReSPECKD). She also assists with a couple of other studies including a clinical trial evaluating the effect of oat beta-glucan in managing blood pressure.

Davide Verrelli, BA, BSc, is currently enrolled in the MD/MSc program at the University of Manitoba. His Master’s thesis is focused on understanding how patients’ uptake and dropout from home dialysis modalities shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the intent of gaining insight into barriers to home dialysis uptake and potential areas for expansion of eligibility, and to inform adaptation to home dialysis training and community care supports in Canada moving forward.

Dr. Sean Armstrong, MD is the Medical Director of Hemodialysis at Seven Oaks General Hospital, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Manitoba Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Chair of the North American Peritoneal Dialysis University and Medical Director, Interventional Nephrologists. Dr. Armstrong is a leader in training physicians in bedside catheter insertion globally, a technique that has dramatically improved access to Peritoneal Dialysis and helped alleviate painful fluid buildup for certain cancer and other patients.

Dr. David Collister, MD, PhD, completed his MD at the University of Manitoba, Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Alberta, Nephrology Fellowship at the University of Manitoba, and his PhD in Health Research Methodology at McMaster University. His research focuses on symptom management in patients with kidney disease and, in particular, randomized controlled trials of therapies to alleviate symptoms in chronic kidney disease and dialysis. Learn more about Dr. Collister’s research

Dr. Ricardo Lobato de Faria, MD is the former Medical Director for the Seven Oaks Hospital Emergency Department. As a Family Physician and Process Engineer Dr. de Faria has a passion for process efficiency in Emergency Medicine. He was responsible for the innovative implementation of Patient Order Sets at Seven Oaks Hospital and has collaborated on the creation of a computer model to capture all relevant ER activity for virtual testing of improvements.