Appointee Biographies

MURRAY JOSE-BOERBRIDGE

Murray is passionate about purpose-driven, nonprofit work, particularly focusing on HIV, health, and community support. As a person living with HIV since 1991, he has been active within the field since 1994. He has worked with the AIDS Committee of Guelph & Wellington County, THRIVE HIV Prevention & Support (previously the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo & Area), Positive Health Network (previously The AIDS Network), Toronto People with AIDS Foundation, Toronto HIV/AIDS Network as well as being a past Chair of the Board with Sherbourne Health Centre. Murray has also participated in community-based research, community development and various working groups and activities at the regional, provincial, and national level. He is currently a Director with the Ontario HIV Treatment Network and private Organizational Development consultant for nonprofits.

LYNN LEGGETT

Lynn Leggett, of Timmins, is a manager of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Services at Northeastern Public Health. Lynn is a former Public Health Nurse at Porcupine Health Unit.

TARA JEWAL

Tara Jewal is a dedicated professional with a strong community engagement, public service, and leadership development background. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the American Intercontinental University in London, England, and an associate degree in photography from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. Having lived in seven countries and travelled extensively, Tara brings a broad, inclusive perspective to her work. Currently, Tara manages the Positive Leadership Development Institute and Special Events at the Ontario AIDS Network. In this role, she supports the growth and development of people living with HIV through training programs and leadership opportunities. Earlier in her career, she spent seven years working in federal security, gaining valuable experience in operations and public service. She also served for more than four years as a speaker with the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation, where she helped deliver community-based education and peer support.

PAUL MACPHERSON

Dr MacPherson began his career as a basic scientist and obtained his PhD in molecular biology from the University of California at Berkeley in 1991. Witnessing at that time the height of the AIDS crisis, Dr MacPherson went on to obtain his MD from McMaster University after which he completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Toronto and subspecialty training in infectious diseases at the University of Ottawa. Dr MacPherson is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Ottawa with cross appointment in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health. He is also a clinician-scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Dr MacPherson is a Royal College certified specialist in infectious diseases at the Ottawa Hospital with a clinical and research focus on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Dr MacPherson also holds a University of Ottawa Tier 1 Research Chair in Gay Men's Health.

MOHAMMAD AL AKEL

“Moe” Al Akel is a MasterCard Foundation alumnus from the American University of Beirut. He is one of the recipients of the Start Proud’s leaders to be proud of award presented by TD, Fasken and Deloitte in 2025 and recipient of the 30 under 30 award from the Canadian Arab Institute and the recipient of The Human Right Pride Award by The City of Toronto in 2023. He has been advocating for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights since he was in Beirut, Lebanon. When he successfully made his way to Canada, he fulfilled his post-graduate studies at the University of Waterloo. Moe currently work the as Director at Fife House for the AIDS Bereavement and Resiliency Program of Ontario. ABRPO responds to effectively mitigate the impact of AIDS grief and loss on organizations, staff, volunteers, and community members living with HIV/AIDS, in Ontario. Additionally, for two years in a row, 2021 and 2022, he has won the Sher Vancouver LGBT Leadership Award, 1st and 2nd runner-up awards, respectively.

PATRICK O'BYRNE

Patrick O'Byrne RN-EC PhD is a Full Professor of Nursing and a licensed Nurse Practitioner at the University of Ottawa. Dr. O'Byrne's research and clinical work focus on the prevention and diagnosis of sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections.

SHAYA DHINSA

Shaya Dhinsa resides in the Middlesex-London region located in Southwestern Ontario. I have a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing and Masters of Education from Western University. I currently work as a Manager in the Sexual Health Program at the Middlesex-London Health Unit for 17 years and oversee 16-20 interdisciplinary staff with over a $2 million dollar budget. Program Responsibilities include managing the Sexual Health Clinic which includes a Sexually Transmitted Infection and Family Planning Clinic as well as the Case Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Blood-Borne Diseases, Street-level Outreach, and the Needle Exchange Program that includes Opioid Overdose kits. Previous employment includes a Coordinator of Women’s Programs at London Health Sciences Centre and a Public Health Nurse in Sexual Health at Southwestern Public Health. I currently volunteer my time as trainer and manager for competitive soccer team Alliance FC London 2008 Girls since 2020.

CLAUDIA MEDINA

Claudia Medina has dedicated 31 years to the HIV/AIDS field. From 1994-2003 she shared her lived experience and provided HIV/AIDS education to youth through Toronto Public Health, Sick Kids Hospital, and through Pauktuutit, Inuit Women of Canada for youth in Nunavut, at the Taloyoak reservation. Claudia co-founded Latinos Positivos. She was a project advisor for the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network on their criminalization campaign and was featured in the documentary titled "Positive Women Exposing Injustice on HIV and Criminalization." She was an Advisor for the Prosecutorial Guidelines on Criminal/HIV exposure through the HIV and Criminalization Network. Claudia has served on several Board of Directors and Advisory Committees through the years and is currently the Co-Chair of the Ontario AIDS Network. She was a Peer Research Assistant and author of the published HEADS-UP study for the OHTN. Claudia has worked at many organizations, including Working Women’s Community Centre, St. Christopher House, Voices of Positive Women, Toronto People with AIDS Foundation, Prisoner HIV/AIDS Support Action Network and currently the Program Manager of the Teresa Group.

RANDALL JACKSON

Randy Jackson is an expert in understanding the long-term wellness among HIV-positive Aboriginal men and has worked with communities to better understand their resilience. Jackson continues to study how indigenous ways of knowing the world and being in the world can influence resilience. By better understanding the role of culture in the lives of people living with HIV, Jackson reveals parts of the bigger picture of the sociological facets of human health. Jackson teaches courses in Aboriginal Health and Wellness, and also in the Community-Based Research methods that are at the heart of his own research. This community-based approach has broad implications and potential, providing new insights into the ways resilience – not just physical, but also spiritual, emotional and mental – can be grounded in Indigenous knowledge, community and worldviews.

MYRIAM INNOCENT

Myriam Innocent is a Nurse Practitioner residing in Cobourg, Ontario, with 18 years of nursing experience, including 13 as an NP in primary care, mental health, and HIV care. She has delivered HIV services across urban and rural settings, including with African, Caribbean, and Black communities and on Indigenous reserves, through programs supported by the Ontario HIV Treatment Network. Myriam also works in correctional health and provides psychotherapy in private practice. She serves as Board Chair of a local Christian school and is pursuing a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She is committed to health equity, culturally responsive care, and improving outcomes for marginalized communities.