Meet our Primary Care Partner Table
Primary care is a cornerstone of the healthcare system and a critical foundation for OHTs with providers and organizations working together to be clinically and fiscally responsible for delivering a fully coordinated continuum of care to people of a defined population.
The Primary Care Partner Table informs the work and decision-making of the OHT - ÉSO with the focus to strengthen the foundation of Primary Care in Ottawa’s health system. This group works together to:
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Provide guidance, foster connections and support effective engagement of primary care providers in the work of the OHT - ÉSO
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Explore and advance options and models to evolve a strong foundation of primary health care
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Provide effective representation and leadership at the OHT - ÉSO Collaborative Leadership Group
The Primary Care Partner Table includes family doctors and nurse practitioners that work in different primary care settings with diverse patient populations. Members are systems-minded, collaborative providers who want to work with the primary care community and the 60 plus partner organizations connected to the OHT - ÉSO to influence the system changes that are needed.
The table was formed through an open call for members with a group of primary care peers supporting the selection process. A call for applicants will be made in the summer 2021 seeking three new members including two representatives from family physicians working in fee for service practices. 
Members serve a two-year term.
Dr. Alykhan Abdulla
Dr. Abdulla has three children, Adil is an articling lawyer, Iman is in in pre-med and Alim is into musical theatre. Dr. Abdulla is a badminton enthusiast, a ballroom dancer, and a movie buff. He is multi-angular in his interests and pursuits.
On a vocational angle, he is a comprehensive family doctor, palliative, sports, cosmetic and travel medicine consultant working in a FHO and FFS. He is assistant professor Department of Family Medicine and Academic Consultant Level 1 Faculty of Nursing at University of Ottawa. He was awarded the Family Physician of the Year for Eastern Ontario in 2008 and the Faculty Professionalism Award from the University of Ottawa in 2020. He mentors health sciences, medical students and family medicine residents. He was awarded the OMA Advocate for Students and Residents in 2020.
On a leadership angle, he is Chairman of the Section of General and Family Physicians. He has been President of the Academy of Medicine Ottawa and District 8 Chair. He has served on the following community boards; Eastern Ontario Regional Lab Association, Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation, Bruyère Foundation, and the Shepherds of Good Hope. He was awarded the United Way Community Builder Award in 2009.
Finally, on a community engagement angle, he is involved in organizing educational events for doctors, providing interviews to radio, newspaper and TV. He is a published poet. He used to have a TV show on Roger’s community TV called Med Talks. He was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013 and Valedictorian of the Ottawa ICD.D program in 2020.
NP, Joanna Binch
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Joanna graduated from Queen's Nursing and after a brief time working in North Carolina, moved to Northern Ontario where she thoroughly enjoyed Northern nursing.
Returning to Ottawa for more training, completing the nurse practitioner program and MScN, she met her husband and stayed. Her first job as a nurse practitioner was with the newly formed organization Inner City Health. From there, Joanna held a position at Somerset West Community Health Centre for over 15 years, providing care in an outreach capacity to rooming houses, as well as at the CHC with a practice focusing on those who had difficulty accessing traditional health care models.
Over the years Joanna has completed a fellowship in HIV care with the Ottawa Mission, has worked in an Aboriginal Health Centre and family health team model, and continues to work casually with Ottawa Public Health. Most recently Joanna has transitioned to working at Oasis, a program with Sandy Hill Community Health Centre specializing in people living with addictions and at risk of or living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C.
Joanna is in her 4th year of the PhD program in Nursing, with her research focus on the health of rooming house residents and the social determinants of health.
When not working, mentoring students, or trying to focus on her studies, Joanna enjoys time with her husband and three children, as well dreaming of when she can return to soccer, squash and travel.
Dr. Danielle Brown-Shreves
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Dr. Danielle Brown-Shreves is a family physician with a passion for serving others. She aims to touch humankind through medicine. With over a decade of experience in primary care, she has also worked in acute care and other clinical settings.
Dr. Brown-Shreves opened Restore Medical Clinics, a multidisciplinary medical clinic in the heart of Ottawa. Her practice is focused on providing comprehensive, collaborative and compassionate care to the community with an emphasis on vulnerable populations. She has a Master of Science in Global health and within that field her priorities are health equity and increasing access to care for minority groups.
In addition to her clinical accomplishments, she has various academic appointments. In 2016, she was appointed an assistant professor at Queen’s University Department of Family and Community Medicine in Kingston, ON. In this role, she is an avid preceptor and supports many students throughout their training. In 2022, she was promoted to the Health Equity Lead for the QBOL program. In 2022, she was appointed an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa Department of Family Medicine where she hopes to continue supporting medical students and future family physicians.
Dr. Brown-Shreves is also an involved community member. In 2018, she founded the Restore International Foundation (RIF), a charity supporting low- and middle-income families with limited health care access. The foundation has participated in both local and international missions. In Ottawa, particularly, RIF has collaborated on vaccine initiates, health education and providing mental health and medical care to those with no access. Lastly, in 2021, she was appointed Ottawa’s Lead Physician of the Black Health Vaccine Initiative. In collaboration with Ottawa Public Health and Black Physicians association of Ontario, she has provided accessible COVID-19 vaccinations with an emphasis on the ACB community.
Dr. Riva Levitan
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Dr. Levitan is a University of Toronto graduate and finished her Family Medicine training in 1995. After early years of practice in Toronto, she returned home to Ottawa with her young family in 1998 and has provided comprehensive family medicine care here since.
She is a member of the Holland Carling Family Health Group, working in enhanced Fee For Service. Dr. Levitan has become active in advocacy for FFS colleagues and is the current and founding Chair of the Fee-For-Service Family Physician Medical Interest Group at the Ontario Medical Association.
She also enjoys teaching University of Ottawa medical students in her varied practice. She is a waterski enthusiast and loves cottaging and cooking with her husband and sons.
NP, Hoda Mankal (Co-chair)
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Hoda Mankal is a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at Carlington Community Health Centre here in Ottawa, where she has practiced for the past 13 years. Hoda graduated from Ryerson University as an RN in 2001 and completed her Primary Care NP training in 2006, at the University of Ottawa.
In addition to her work with Carlington CHC, Hoda has also worked as Director of Communications for the Nurse Practitioner Association of Ontario (NPAO) for 4 years. During her time at NPAO, she helped spear head a successful recruitment and retention campaign that saw Ontario Nurse Practitioners receive their first wage increase in almost a decade. She was also a member of the Champlain LHIN Professional Health Advisory Committee.
In her spare time, Hoda enjoys reading anything and everything, spending time with her husband and 3 children and if all of that can be done in tandem at the cottage even better!
Dr. Benoît Robert (Co-chair)
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Dr. Benoît Robert completed his medical training at the University of Ottawa in 1986 and has been practicing at the Greenboro Family Medicine Centre since 1988. His practice has included obstetrics, surgical assisting, and working at CHEO (ER and the Palliative care team at CHEO). He continues to provide house calls for the frail elderly and those in need of home palliative care.
He has earned additional certification in Care of the Elderly and Palliative Care. In addition, he is active in teaching with the family medicine unit at the Ottawa Hospital.
He is the Medical Director at the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre, and co-medical director at the Glebe Centre.
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NP, Dana Sidney
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Dana Sidney trained and practiced as a midwife and women’s health nurse practitioner in both the UK and US before emigrating to Canada.
She studied at Kings College, University of London and obtained her master’s degree at Columbia University in New York. While completing a post-master’s certificate in Primary Care from the University of Ottawa, Dana worked at BORN Ontario, helping to drive the evaluation of Ontario’s Birth Centre Demonstration Project and assisting with data collection for the registry.
Since 2017 she has practiced at Centretown Community Health Centre, providing primary care and acting as clinical co-lead of the Trans Health Program.
Dana has sat at various regional and provincial tables including the CMNRP Expert Panel on Perinatal Mental Health, and the PCMCH Strategic Panel to develop a strategy for care in low-risk birth.
Dr. Beverly Johnson
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Dr. Beverly Johnson is an Ottawa-based family physician, an experienced physician leader, and a global health and gender equity advocate. With a wealth of experience and numerous leadership roles, she has made a significant impact in her field.
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As the Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Women in Global Health Canada Chapter, Dr. Johnson has been instrumental in promoting women's leadership and empowerment in the healthcare sector since 2019. Her dedication to this cause is further evidenced by her role as the Chair of the Canadian Women in Global Health Leadership Steering Committee whose primary project is addressing the crisis in primary care in Canada.
Recently she joined the Alliance for Gender Equity and UHC adding her voice to other passionate leaders as the critical target date of UHC by 2030 has been impacted by the COVID pandemic.
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Within her local community, Dr. Johnson is a respected leader in healthcare. She has been the President of Kanata Lakes Community Association since 2022, and a vital member of the Primary Care Partner Table- Ottawa Health Team. In 2017, she served as the President of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC) and played a key role in co-leading the Gender Equity in the Canadian Medical Profession project with Canadian Medical Association. She also led the Medical Women’s International Association, chairing a project on teenage pregnancy in adolescents from 2019-2022 as well as leading in their communication work, a role she still holds. As a community family physician, she has provided comprehensive care in Ottawa since 1988, prioritizing the overall well-being of her patients.
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Outside of her professional endeavours, Dr. Johnson finds balance through her passion for wellness. She practices yoga and meditation, emphasizing the importance of self-care. Furthermore, she cherishes quality time spent with her family and friends.
Dr. Johnson's dedication to gender equity in healthcare and her extensive leadership experience make her a highly influential figure in her field.