COA Staff

Communicating with Our Staff

The COA and its affiliate societies are dedicated to ensuring a safe and respectful workplace for our employees. We commit to communicating with you in a respectful, professional and civil manner. Similarly, we ask our callers to extend the same courtesy to our staff.

We expect that all individuals reaching out to our staff refrain from using abusive or aggressive vocabulary. This would include threats, vexatious or harassing comments or conduct, sexual harassment, intimidation, shouting, or discriminatory statements. Behaviour of this kind may result in the COA limiting or restricting future communications with you. Thank you for your cooperation with our respectful workplace practices.

Meghan Corbeil

Manager, Operations and Logistics

Meghan Corbeil (She/Her) joined the COA in the fall of 2009 as Manager Meetings and Events, and transitioned to Manager Operations and Logistics in January 2022. She continues to play an important role in planning and executing events, mainly the COA Annual Meeting and other educational offerings, as well as being responsible for the office operations in Montreal. The COA is Meghan’s second foray into non-profit, the first being a government-funded study on medical and educational access to interpreters in remote areas of Quebec for the deaf and hard-of-hearing populations.

Meghan has a degree in Political science with a minor in religious studies, speaks 3 languages, and spent 15 years in the performing arts.

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You can reach Meghan at meghan@canorth.org / 514-874-9003 x 4

 

Contact me about:

  • COA Annual Meeting
  • Financial / Institutional
  • Organization matters
  • Operational matters

Dana Miller

Manager, Communication

Dana Miller (she/her), who joined the Canadian Orthopaedic Association in November 2021 as Manager, Communication, oversees all aspects of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association’s public relations, media and communication initiatives, in addition to executing digital and creative strategies to achieve Association objectives.

Dana has over ten years of expertise in communication, media, public relations and government affairs.

Prior to joining the COA, Dana led media companies, non-profit organizations and national associations in senior communication roles on the West Coast, including designing and launching several advocacy-driven national awareness campaigns.

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You can reach Dana at dana@canorth.org or 514-874-9003 – extension 6 for all communication or media-related issues or inquiries, including interview requests.

 

Contact me about:

  • Interview Requests
  • Newsletters / Advertising
  • Press Releases
  • Social Media
  • Website Management
  • Canadian Orthopaedic Care Day (Advocacy)
  • Copywriting
  • Media and Government Relations/Engagement
  • Member Communication
  • Ortho Insider Podcast (Marketing, Media)
  • Collaborations and Partnerships for Marketing or Media Campaigns

Pearl Nasirembe

Coordinator, Member Relations and Administration

Pearl Nasirembe joined the Canadian Orthopaedic Association in December 2021 as Coordinator, Member Relations and Administration. She provides direct support to Canadian Orthopedic Association members to increase member satisfaction, member retention, and accurate membership reporting and coordinates membership recruitment campaigns to achieve Association objectives. In addition, Pearl facilitates networking and cultivates member initiatives and new ways of working within the association through initiatives such as Travelling Fellowships.

Pearl has over 12 years of expertise in partnerships, donor relations, development and outreach communications, working with non-profit and corporate organizations in Canada and abroad.

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You can reach Pearl at pearl@canorth.org or 514-874-9003 x 1

 

Contact me about:

  • Membership Inquiries
  • Profile and career updates
  • Dues payments
  • Travelling Fellowship programs
  • General inquires

Chelsea Patriquin

Director, Strategic Initiatives

Chelsea Patriquin (She/Her) joined the COA in 2020 as Manager of Strategic Initiatives. She helps manage special projects related to the Board of Directors, Executive and COA Committees. Prior to joining COA, Chelsea worked with international and national associations for organ donation and transplantation. She has been working with non-profit associations for over 15 years in Canada and abroad.

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You can reach Chelsea at chelsea@canorth.org / 514-874-9003 x 5

 

Contact me about:

  • COA Governance
  • COA Committee Works
  • Position Statements
  • Request for Endorsements
  • Government Relations
  • Special Projects or Initiatives

Mary Smith

Coordinator, Specialty and Affiliate Societies

Mary Smith joined the Canadian Orthopaedic Association in February 2024 as Coordinator, Specialty and Affiliate Societies. Mary manages the coordination and execution of subspecialty governance, meetings, and membership activities.

Mary has over 25 years experience working with organizations in the health sector ranging from project lead with medical communications companies, administrator with health professional associations, and medical writer developing communication tools for health research. Her curiosity about the development and management of the Canadian health care system has motivated her completion of Masters in Health Policy and Public Health.

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More information:

Please reach Mary by email at mary@canorth.org.

Contact me about:

  • Subspecialty governance
  • Subspecialty meetings
  • Subspecialty membership
  • Subspecialty communication

Cynthia Vezina

CEO

Cynthia first joined the COA in March of 1999 as an administrative coordinator after working briefly in marketing and client relations in Montreal’s fashion industry.  Throughout the years, her performance excellence has earned her increasingly senior positions, becoming involved in almost every aspect of the COA’s operations, projects, and initiatives.  Her creativity, leadership, and facility to work effectively and professionally with members from coast to coast earned her the role of CEO in 2020.

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You can reach Cynthia at cynthia@canorth.org / 514-874-9003 x 3

 

Contact me about:

  • Partnerships and sponsorships
  • Strategic plans
  • COA Bylaws and policies
  • Board of Directors and Executive Committee access
  • Project and program proposals
  • Legacy and historical information
  • Data or statistical inquires

Rebecca Constant – ON PARENTAL LEAVE UNTIL JULY 2025

Manager, Education and Professional Development

Rebecca Constant joined the Canadian Orthopaedic Association in January 2023 as the Manager of Education and Professional Development. Rebecca manages the coordination and execution of COA educational and professional development initiatives. She also oversees the COA Annual Meeting program.

Prior to joining the COA, Rebecca coordinated various national educational programs for physicians and healthcare leaders. In her 13-year career, she has gained significant experience in medical education and helping physicians in crisis. Rebecca has developed a passion for physician wellness and patient safety, and hopes to use her knowledge to create a culture of support and growth within COA membership.

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Please reach Rebecca by email at rebecca@canorth.org or at 514-874-9003 x 2 ON PARENTAL LEAVE UNTIL JULY 2025

 

Contact me about: 

  • COA educational initiatives
  • Webinars
  • The COA Podcast – “Ortho Insider” (Education)
  • The Annual Meeting Program