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Appointee Biographies

Death Investigation Oversight Council

EDWARD THEN

The Honourable Edward Then is currently a member of the Ontario Review Board. He served as a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice for 30 years from 1989 to 2019. From 2007 to 2013 he was the Regional Senior Justice for Toronto with supervisory authority over 90 judges. He obtained an Honours B.A. (1966), M.A. (1967) and a Bachelor of Laws (1970) all from the University of Toronto. He served as counsel in the Ministry of the Attorney General as a member of the Crown Law Office (Criminal) which is responsible for appeals to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada and also for Special Prosecutions involving white collar crime and police misconduct. In 1982 he was appointed Queen’s Counsel. From 1985 until his appointment to the Supreme Court of Ontario he was the Director of the Crown Law Office. He is also the author of numerous articles on civil and criminal law and a frequent speaker in continued legal education programs for both lawyers and judges.

BARB COLLINS

Barbara Collins is a Registered Nurse with an MBA from Queen’s University, and over 40 years of progressive leadership experience in all clinical and support service areas in acute care. Barbara was appointed the President and CEO of Humber River Hospital (HRH) in July 2016. In her previous role as COO, she served as the Senior Executive for HRH’s redevelopment project, leading the design, construction and activation of HRH’s Wilson Site, North America’s first fully digital hospital. Previous Board experience includes member and Vice-Chair of the Health Services Appeal and Review Board, and a member and then Chair of Booth Centennial Linen Services. She currently sits as a member of the HealthPRO Board of Directors and a member of the Board of the Meadows Long Term Care Home.

MICHAEL POLLANEN

Michael S. Pollanen is Professor and Vice-Chair (Global Health) of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto, and the Chief Forensic Pathologist and a Deputy Chief Coroner for Ontario. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a PhD (1995), an MD (1999) and completed his residency in 2003. Professor Pollanen's main academic focus is the application of forensic medicine to Global Health, by training forensic pathologists and strengthening forensic capacity in the Global South. He has been involved in case work or training missions in: Algeria, Bermuda, Cambodia, Central African Republic, East Timor, Egypt, Haiti, Iraq, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Palestine, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan. His current research interest is Nodding Syndrome in Uganda. He has published over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals. Professor Pollanen is a member of the forensic advisory board of the International Committee of the Red Cross and is a Past President of the International Association of Forensic Science (2014-17). He is a Founder of Forensic Pathology in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. His professional duties include supervising and directing the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, conducting medicolegal autopsies, testifying in court, and leading academic activities in forensic pathology at the University of Toronto.

DIRK HUYER

In March 2014, Dr. Dirk Huyer was appointed Chief Coroner for Ontario. Dr. Huyer received his medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1986. He has served as a coroner in Ontario since 1992 and most recently served as Regional Supervising Coroner for the Regions of Peel and Halton as well as the Counties of Simcoe and Wellington. He has been involved in over 5,000 coroner's investigations. Dr. Huyer has specific expertise in the medical evaluation of child maltreatment and has worked with the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Program at the Hospital for Sick Children. Dr. Huyer is the Chair of both the Deaths Under Five and Paediatric Death Review committees of the Office of the Chief Coroner. He is also an Assistant Professor with the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto.

CHRISTINE TERSTEEGE

Christine terSteege is a Public Safety Professor at Sheridan College and Program Coordinator of the Investigations program. She formerly served as Vice-Chair of the Ontario Parole Board and was a Police Constable with Peel Regional Police. She holds a BA in Criminal Justice and Public Policy from University of Guelph, and a master’s degree from Penn State University in Homeland Security.

MICHAEL AMATO

Michael Amato is a former Police Officer with the York Regional Police. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree with the University of Toronto.

LUCILLE PERREAULT

Lucille is a retired Vice-President and Chief Nursing executive of acute care hospitals in the Sudbury, Ottawa and Georgian Bay areas. As a Registered Nurse with a BScN and Master’s in program management and administration she has over 40 years of health care experience. Lucille was accountable for quality performance of clinical programs and stewardship of nursing professional practice. A proud francophone from Northern Ontario (Sudbury), Lucille experienced and contributed to the promotion and development of health care services in a French environment while in her position of Vice President Clinical programs and Chief Nursing executive at Hôpital Montfort, Ottawa. With an interest for continuous improvement in services associated with community wellness and health promotion Lucille continues to serve, as a community representative, on DIOC.

MADELEINE A. BODENSTEIN

Madeleine Bodenstein, of Maple, is a Funeral Director and Preplanning Specialist with the Steeles Memorial Chapel. Madeleine is a Real Estate Salesperson with Homelife Bayview Realty Inc. and a Life Licence Qualification Program Insurance Agent with Funeral Plans Canada. His community involvement includes serving as Director and Chair of the Nominations Committee with Reena Foundation Board of Directors, and a Member of the Ontario Real Estate Association.

DAVID SHANNON

David Shannon is a lawyer, and author who practices health law in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He received a Masters of Law degree at the London School of Economics, and Political Science and has continued in his law practice and non-government organization leadership since then.

JACK GROSSMAN

Jack Grossman, Graduated University of Toronto with Bachelor of Arts Degree. Graduated Osgoode Hall Law School with Bachelor of Laws degree. Called to the Bar of Ontario in 1971 and practiced law from 1971-1999 in general practice with emphasis on criminal law. Appointed Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice in 1999 and served until 2019. Author of DECISIONS: My memories as a lawyer and a judge. Served as President of Beth Tzedec Congregation 1995-1997. Served as Vice-President of Eastern Canadian Region United Synagogue of America. For two years, served as Chair of Advisory Council, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. On the board of the Association of Judges for 8 years, was Conference Co-Ordinator and on Judicial Secretariat from 2002-2004. Co-organized global judicial educational programs. Director of Florida condominium. Married to Sandi for 51 years. Proud father of Alisha and Naomi and five wonderful grandchildren.

ARISTOTLE VOINESKOS

Dr. Aristotle Voineskos is the Vice President of Research and Director of the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at CAMH, and a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. The CAMH research enterprise consists of over 1,000 scientists, research staff, and trainees committed to making discoveries to improve the quality of life for people with mental illness and addictions. Dr. Voineskos earned his MD and PhD at the University of Toronto, and completed a research fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Voineskos founded the Kimel Family Translational Imaging-Genetics Laboratory at CAMH. He was also the inaugural Director of the Slaight Family Centre for Youth in Transition at CAMH, and served as the Chief of the Schizophrenia Division. He has won numerous awards for research and academic excellence nationally and internationally.

HEATHER ARTHUR

Heather Arthur is retired from her role as Vice-President of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Executive at the Cornwall Community Hospital (2004-2019). She has more than 30 years of administrative and clinical experience in healthcare. She participated on various regional committees and led regional initiatives related to clinical services in the acute healthcare system in various roles of nursing, laboratory and pathology services, diagnostic services, patient experience, and quality and risk. Heather previously had experience with pre-hospital emergency care as the Chief of the Cornwall Emergency Medical Services. Throughout her expansive career, Heather was committed to instilling quality in the many innovative and transformative projects within the organizations where she worked. She was a Board member of the Nursing Leadership Network and was the Chair of the St. Lawrence College/Laurentian University Health Sciences Advisory Committee.

KIM HOBBS

Kim Hobbs is Director of Infection Control at Woodstock Hospital. Her community involvement has included serving as Education Co-Chair Executive for Infection Control Southwestern Public Health Education Committee.

RABIAH USMAN

Rabiah Usman is a Medical Director for The Farm in Stoufville, and Co-Owner/Franchise Partner for the Nurse Next Door in Newmarket. Her community involvement includes serving as a volunteer for Canadians of Pakistani Origin.

TEJDEEP CHATTHA

Tejdeep is the founder of and a partner at TSC Law a business focused law firm located in Mississauga, Ontario. He is also the founder and owner of Sovereign Construction Management Limited which is a part of the Sovereign Group of Companies which develop, construct and manage residential and commercial projects across Ontario. Tejdeep's experience in law, land development and construction, gives him a broad and unique skill set which allows him to effectively tackle problems and challenges and come up with positive outcomes.

JASON CLOUSTON

Jason Clouston is a lawyer called to the Bar in the Provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. He has practiced with both the Provincial and Federal Crown offices. He currently is the Crown Attorney in the District of Kenora. A father of six children, he has always maintained involvement in the community by volunteering for many non-profit organizations and boards with an emphasis in education which include schools, libraries and childcare centres. He identifies as Anglo-Metis.