Operating Team

Museum Staff

Administration & Visitor Services   
Museum Director Dr. Simge Erdogan-O'Connor
Programming & Communications Coordinator Anna Collett
   
Curatorial & Collections  
Curator Rowena McGowan
Collections Manager Kathy Karkut
   
Margaret Angus Research Fellowship  
Fellow (2024) Matthew Edwards
Fellowship Supervisor Dr. Jenna Healey

 

Board of Directors (2024/25)

Dr. Ian Gemmill (President, 2022-)

Dr. Ian Gemmill is the former Medical Officer of Health for Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health, where he served from 1997 until his retirement in 2017. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario, a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Public Health & Preventive Medicine, an Honorary Life Member of the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA), and a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Dr. Gemmill has over 40 years of experience in public health in Ontario and continues to work in the system. He is the past chair of the National Advisory Committee on Immunisation (NACI) and was a member for over 12 years. Dr. Gemmill served as the fomer chair and is currently a member of NACI's working group on influenza vaccine.

Laura Dowsley (Vice-President)

Laura Dowsley is a litigator at Cunningham Swan LLP, specializing in insurance defence and general litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Laura worked in government for over ten years, serving as Senior Policy Advisor to a number of Cabinet Ministers, including the Attorney General of Ontario and the Minister of Finance. In her role with the Minister of Finance she was the policy lead regarding Health investments and expenditures in the province. Laura holds a Master’s Degree in Critical Disability Studies. Prior to joining the Board of Directors for the Museum of Health Care, Laura was a member of the Human Resources Committee.

Jim Kennedy (Treasurer)

Jim is long-time citizen of Kingston. He is a former senior executive in healthcare in Kingston with 37 years of service at Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Care. His area's of expertise are in the financial and adminisrative functions of healthcare that encompassed hospital, long-term and community based care. He recently retired from Providence Care as its Chief Financial Officer. Jim is a Chartered Professional Accountant- CPA and was appointed to the Museum Board as Treasurer in July 2021.

Brian Devlin (Secretary)

Brian's professional career as a teacher and Principal spanned 27 years with the Limestone District School Board.  Since 2014, he has been a member of the Providence Care Board of Directors and was Board Chair from June 2017 to June 2020.  Prior to joining the Providence Care Board, Brian served as a member and then President of the Frontenac Children’s Aid Society Board of Directors for seven years and has volunteer experience with several other organizations including the Community Food Sharing Project, Meals on Wheels, the Poverty Challenge and the Eagle Lake Property Owners Association. Brian currently is a member of the KFLA Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Directors.  

Dr. Allison Morehead

Allison Morehead is an art historian, a historian of medicine, psychology, and psychiatry, and a scholar of medical humanities. Allison, who is Associate Professor of Art History and in the Graduate Program in Cultural Studies at Queen's, is both an educator and a curator, working internationally with museums of art and medicine to bring public attention to the history of medicine through exhibition. Allison is committed to thinking carefully and critically about museum and curatorial practice, collections management, and cultural heritage. Allison previously chaired the graduate program in art history at Queen's and is currently Editor-in-Chief of caa.reviews.

Tamás M Zsolnay

Tamás (Tom) Zsolnay is the current President and CEO of the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation. A seasoned fundraising professional, Tom has directed or supervised projects that have raised over $400 million over the past three decades. Tom has led fundraising and alumni relations teams at Concordia University, Laurentian University and the University of Victoria. Tom also served as an infantry officer in the Canadian Army Reserves, retiring with the rank of Colonel in 2014. From September 2002 to June 2003 he served as the Chief Operations Officer of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, where he planned, coordinated and directed the operations of the Military Observers monitoring the peace agreement between the two countries. Tom is a Certified Fundraising Professional (CFRE) and holds an MBA from Laurentian University and a BA (Economics) from Concordia University. He is also a graduate of the Canadian Forces College, the Canadian Army Command and Staff College and Grant McEwen Community College.

Dr. Oyedeji Ayonrinde

Dr. Jenna Healey

Renee Box

Originally joining the MOHC Human Resources Committee as a Member in 2022, Renee has recently moved to the chairperson position of the Committee as of June 2024.
Renee brings more than eight years of diverse Human Resources experience to the Committee, primarily within the realm of Talent Acquisition. Renee has managed and coached Talent Acquisition teams, overseen full-cycle recruitment & selection in complex environments, developed employee engagement and onboarding initiatives, implemented various policies, and consulted on the role of public perception, service delivery, and employee experience as they pertain to attracting and retaining top talent. Renee is passionate about developing a well-rounded workforce while fostering an excellent employee experience enabling employees to do their best work. Renee’s Human Resources experience is primarily within the health care space including large for-profit home health and long-term care, B2B health care technology, and hearing care. Renee’s health care exposure coupled with her love for Kingston following completing her undergraduate degree at Queen’s University fostered her initial interest in serving on the MOHC Human Resources Committee. Outside of her volunteerism with the MOHC, Renee supports various local small businesses on a volunteer basis with Human Resources matters and branding.

Past Presidents

Eleanor Rivoire (President: 2021 - 2022)

Eleanor is a former senior hospital executive with more than 35 years experience within the clinical, education and administrative domains of health care and professional practice. Recently retired from Kingston General Hospital, she continues as an independent healthcare advisor and is currently involved in activities with the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement and Accreditation Canada. She has a keen interest and expertise in transforming the patient experience with a focus on patient and family centred care, as well as with models of interprofessional practice and education. She is engaged in managing changes that bring about policy and process improvements within healthcare and professional practice, and result in improved quality and safety outcomes. 

Ian M. Fraser (President: 2017 - 2021)

A senior development officer in higher education, healthcare and the arts for more than 30 years, Ian has helped organizations in healthcare, education, community and the arts raise more than $275 million in private gift support. He currently serves as a consultant in philanthropy to charities and donors, and as the Director, Philanthropic Services for Gift Funds Canada. A Fellow for Life of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), Ian is recognized internationally for his expertise in all aspects of strategic planning for not-for-profit organizations, resource development and gift planning.

 

The Museum acknowledges with gratitude the contract professionals and volunteers who have contributed to the development of the Museum and its programs.