Tara Wood

Co-chair, Advocacy & Communications

Tara Wood is a communications strategist that has worked with some of Canada’s biggest brands and now runs her own company, Purpose Communications. She is passionate about storytelling and helping her clients make a big impact. Tara began working with Conceivable Dreams in 2016 and officially joined the board in 2018. She is inspired by the work the organization has achieved to date and hopes to help it continue to build awareness about IVF and infertility, as well as support efforts for increased drug coverage and public funding for IVF in other provinces.

Natalie Dimitra Montgomery, PhD

Co-chair, Government Relations

Natalie is a researcher in integrated healthcare solutions, an educator and a patient advocate who holds a Master’s degree in Health Communication and a PhD in Population Health. Currently she is an Ontario Health Team (OHT) Impact Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

Through her academic and community work, coupled with her own lived experience in infertility Natalie has been a support for diverse populations on a variety of healthcare issues.

At Conceivable Dreams, Natalie leverages her previous experience in government to grow awareness of fertility-care access issues amongst elected officials.  Natalie also sits on the Board of Ontario 211, a community and social services help line and has also served on Council at the College of Nurses of Ontario.

Zane Colt

Government Relations

As a keen relationship-builder, Zane lives and breathes political outreach and fertility advocacy. He currently works as a government relations consultant for one of Canada’s largest long-term care and home health care companies, having spent years previously working at Queen’s Park. He and his wife are currently building their family with the help of a gestational surrogate and chronicling their journey on a blog titled Not My Tummy (but I’m still Mummy!) Zane has a bachelor’s degree from Carleton University’s Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs and a Master’s in Global Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS, University of London) in the UK. Together, they live in Toronto with their cockapoo puppy, Dodi.

Dr. Laura von Hagen, ND

Patient Engagement & Digital and Social Media

Dr. Laura von Hagen, ND is a registered Naturopathic Doctor practicing in Toronto. Dr. von Hagen has a special interest in hormonal disorders and reproductive health. During her fourth-year internship, she was selected for the highly competitive Fertility and Reproductive Health Focus shift, where she received additional training in integrated fertility care.  Before beginning her journey as an ND, she completed a Master’s in Clinical Anatomy at Western University and travelled to Africa for a Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health in Rwanda (MNCHR) internship with CIDA. Dr. von Hagen provides evidence-based care that supports all persons along their fertility journey. Having gone through her own fertility journey and setbacks with treatment during the pandemic, she is passionate about supporting her patients and ensuring equal access to fertility care.

Nipa Chauhan

Bioethicist 

Nipa Chauhan is a bioethicist at Sinai Health in Toronto, Ontario, and teaches undergraduate and graduate bioethics courses at the University of Toronto. Nipa is a graduate of the Master of Health Sciences in Bioethics program from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. She specializes in fertility ethics, and is deeply fascinated by the ethics and economics behind public policy. Starting off with ethics-based research on the Ontario Fertility Program, Nipa has also  investigated publicly-funded fertility programs from around the world, namely the United Kingdom, Israel, and New Zealand.

Nipa is also the advisory chair of missINFORMED, an initiative that answers common health questions for women in a scientifically-backed and accessible way. She is also the founder and president of Café Bioethics, an award-winning international bioethics literacy initiative.

Heather Douglas

Lawyer

Heather Douglas is a Toronto lawyer, who focuses on helping individuals and small businesses with their contract needs and disputes. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School.

As a lawyer, Heather volunteers her time with the Ontario Bar Association, The Advocates’ Society, Pro Bono Ontario, and the 519 Legal Clinic. She is passionate about helping people navigate the justice system and achieve fair results. It is with this same zeal that she intends to advocate for fertility-care access in Ontario. She knows first-hand how important access to quality and affordable fertility care matters.

Abbi Veira

Social Worker

Abbi earned her Bachelor of Social Work (Hons.) at Lakehead University in 2009 and subsequently worked in the remote community of Manitouwadge before returning to her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, where, as a Registered Social Worker, she specializes in providing outreach services and clinical counselling for youth and young adults struggling with mental health and addictions. In autumn 2022, Abbi will begin a Master of Social Work program to complement her naturally empathetic nature by more deeply enriching her technical skills. Having gained the bulk of her professional experience and raising a family in Northern Ontario, Abbi is also keenly aware of the geographical challenges some face when it comes to accessing specialized services outside of major centres.

As someone living through Secondary Infertility as well as experiencing Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Abbi knows all too well the struggle to navigate uncertainty, grief, and hope, and the impact these have on the mental and physical health of those trying to conceive. As such, Abbi has developed a passion for awareness, advocacy and support.

Cassandra Johnston

Financial Services Leader

Cassandra Johnston is a financial services leader with 12+ years of experience. She has worked across Strategy & Transformation, Product Development, and Strategic Partnerships at CIBC. She most recently took on a new role at Caary Capital leading their Growth Strategy & Partnerships arm. A passionate leader and advocate for many community causes including Financial Education, Breast Cancer and Fertility. Through her own continuing fertility journey, she knows firsthand the ups and downs that come with trying to build a family. Her goal is to help raise more awareness and reduce the barriers within the system to help make family dreams a more accessible reality within Canada. Her husband, bonus child Kyla and dog Milly live in the beaches in Toronto!

Advisory Committee

Dr. Kimberly Liu

Clinician Advisor

Dr. Kimberly Liu an infertility specialist practicing at Mount Sinai Fertility in Toronto, Ontario. She completed residency training at the University of Alberta in Ob/Gyn and a fellowship in REI at the University of Toronto. Dr. Liu also holds a Masters in Studies in Law (MSL).  Dr. Liu is currently an Assistant Professor at the University Of Toronto Department Of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Program Director for the U of T Gynecologic Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (GREI) Fellowship Program. She is the author of numerous research publications and several national guidelines for fertility and ART practice in Canada.

Eileen McMahon, RN(EC), MN, PNC(C)

Clinician Advisor

Eileen McMahon is a Nurse Practitioner at Hannam Fertility Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Eileen graduated from the University of Toronto with a baccalaureate and Master’s degree in Nursing as well as a post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Diploma.  She holds a Clinical Appointment as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, holds specialty certification in Perinatal Nursing from the Canadian Nurses Association, and is a certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. 

Eileen served on the Canadian Fertility & Andrology Society Board of Directors from 2016-2021 and was their first nurse President from September 2019 to September 2020.  

 Eileen has dedicated herself to identifying best practices for the delivery of outstanding healthcare in an empathetic and inclusive manner. She has a particular interest in fertility preservation.

Dr. Art Leader

Dr. Art Leader is a Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Medicine (Endocrinology) at the University of Ottawa, an attending physician at the Ottawa Hospital and a consultant and founding partner of the Ottawa Fertility Centre.

He is a true trailblazer within our community and for all those struggling with infertility.  In 2008 he received the Award of Excellence from the University of Ottawa Faculty Of Medicine. He has held many academic and administrative positions at the University of Ottawa including Division Head of Reproductive Medicine and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is a past President of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society and a recipient of its Award of Excellence in 2006.

Dr. Leader is the author of over 80 articles in refereed journals, several book chapters, and review articles. He has spoken nationally and internationally on infertility. He is an advisor to provincial and federal governments on policy issues related to Assisted Human Reproduction. He has chaired expert working groups for Health Canada and currently chairs the CSA subcommittee on assisted human reproduction. He is a member and spokesperson for the Stem Cell Oversight Committee of CIHR. He is a peer assessor for the College of Physicians and Surgeon of Ontario. He holds or has held grants from the MRC (CIHR), Health Canada and the pharmaceutical industry. His research has focused on treatments to improve the outcomes of infertility therapy.

Dr. Leader’s practice is limited reproductive care, with particular interests in assisted human reproduction, male infertility, and reproductive endocrinology. Dr. Leader continues to be an advocate for those health policies that promote the quality and safety of and access to assisted human reproduction for infertile Canadians.

Ellen Greenblatt MDCM, FRCSC, Medical Director

Dr. Greenblatt is Head of the Mount Sinai Hospital Division of Reproductive Sciences and the Clinical Director of Mount Sinai Fertility and IVF Unit in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.  She is an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, and a previous National Director of the Canadian Fertility Andrology Society (2004-2007).

Board member since 2009, supporting, educating and advocating for all those struggling with infertility.  Dr. Greenblatt is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (Ob/Gyn) as well as a Fellow of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG).  Dr. Greenblatt holds the ABOG subspecialty certification in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.  She is a member of the IVF Directors committee of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society.  She is on the Scientific Advisory Panel for Fertile Future, as well as on the Fertility Preservation Program Committee for both the Hospital for Sick Children as well as the Fertility Advisory to the Princess Margaret Hospital Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) program.

Dr. Greenblatt’s main clinical and research interests focus on:

• Improving aspects of assisted reproductive technologies (ART’s)
• Quality assessment in ART
• Ovulation induction in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and other causes of anovulation
• Fertility Preservation.

Leelee Macdonell

Volunteer

Leelee Macdonell is a graphic designer partnering with creative entrepreneurs and organisations to help them communicate with their audience in meaningful ways. Leelee designs publications, promotional materials, websites, newsletters, and stationery. She also provides ongoing design support and systems maintenance. Leelee likes projects that bring inspiration, warmth, and connectivity to our everyday lives. She’s interested in creativity, lifestyle, travel, food, nature, and family. These topics give us the power to create positivity in our own lives and the world at large. 

Founders

Joanne Horibe and Kerri Stanford are the co-founders of Conceivable Dreams.

Open Positions

We are currently seeking passionate new board members to support Ontario families. If you are passionate about helping Ontarians secure IVF or other fertility treatments and believe there must be more public awareness and education around reproductive health, we would love for you to join us.