Media Centre

Media Kit

SOGC Spokespersons

Dr. Scott Farrell - President of SOGC (2008-2009)

Dr. Scott Farrell Hailing from Halifax, Dr. Farrell is currently a professor at Dalhousie University and the Head of the Urogynaecology and Pelvic Surgery Division of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He graduated from medical school in Halifax in 1989, and then completed subspecialty training in Urogynecology in Long Beach, California.

Dr. Farrell has been significantly involved with the SOGC over the years. He joined the Urogynaecology Committee while it was in its infancy in 1992 and continues to serve. Dr. Farrell also co-chaired the ACMs Scientific Committee for several years. In 2000, he became a member of the SOGC’s Executive Council, and he served as Vice President of the Atlantic Region until 2005 when he became the President-elect.

Outside the SOGC, Dr. Farrell helped establish a world-class IWK health centre in Halifax for the treatment of incontinence, which includes a tertiary care clinic. He is also a member of the International Urogynecological Association and the American Urogynecology Society. In 2002, Dr. Farrell invented a pessary device, Uresta, and the product was commercialized in Atlantic Canada. He has also published works on the paravaginal repair as well as on choice of surgery for stress incontinence.

Dr. Guylaine Lefebvre - Past-President of SOGC (2007-2008)

Dr. Guylaine Lefebvre is presently Chief of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto and an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. She graduated from medical school in Ottawa in 1985. She completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Ottawa followed by a fellowship in advanced gynecologic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She returned to Ottawa in 1991 to a staff position at the Ottawa Civic Hospital where she implemented a fellowship program in advanced pelvic surgery. She now heads a hospital-funded fellowship in advanced gynecologic surgery at St. Michael's Hospital.

She has been significantly involved with the SOGC since 1993 when she became Chair of the membership Committee. She participated in the last two five-year strategic Plans of the Society; she chaired the Clinical Practice Committee for gynecology from 1993 to 2003, she participated in the contraception consensus of 1995 and led many of the practice guidelines in gynecology over the past decade. She is presently a member of the Women’s Health Policy and Advocacy Committee and the Media Relations Committee and she is a director for the Canadian Foundation of Women’s Health. She is on the executive for the SOGC-affiliated Society of Gynecologic Endoscopy of Canada. She has been a member of Council of SOGC since 1997 and member of the Executive Committee since 2002. She has also been a member of the Women’s Health Council of Ontario, the Medical Council of Canada committee of obstetrics and gynecology and presently serves on the examination committee of the Royal College for our specialty.

Dr. André B. Lalonde -Executive Vice-President, SOGC

Dr. Lalonde is Executive Vice President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) since 1990, Past President of the International Health Policy and Management Institute (IHPMI) and active participant in the organization of the World Congresses of the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO).

He is presently Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University of Ottawa and McGill University. He is also the Adjunct Professor in Health Administration at the University of Ottawa.

A graduate of the University of Ottawa, Dr. Lalonde completed his residency at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal and obtained his Fellowship RCPSC, Fellow American College of Surgery, Fellow American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He also earned a Masters Degree in Health Economics from the London School of Economics in 1988.

His principal areas of interest and extensive list of lectures and publications include: quality assurance in obstetrics and gynaecology; high-risk pregnancy and ultrasound; management in acute care hospital; cost/benefit analysis of health care; family planning in developing countries; and international health.

Dr. Lalonde’s experience is extensive and includes such appointments as Chief, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, LaSalle General Hospital (1973-1989); President, International Health Policy and Management Institute (1991-1993); President, Board of Directors, LaSalle General Hospital (1978-1987); as well as Vice President, Montreal Regional Council Hospital Commission on Acute Care (1982-1987). He has attended various conferences in developing countries. These include conferences in China, Honduras, India, Haiti, Sri Lanka and Indonesia focusing on subjects such as family planning, laparoscopy, and maternal and infant care.

Dr. Lalonde has developed an expertise and is an advocate for safe Motherhood and family planning as well as promoting women’s empowerment for reproductive health.

Dr. Lalonde is a member of a wide number of professional organizations, including: the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American College of Surgeons, the Canadian Medical Association, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and Quebec, Association des médecins de langue française du Canada and a member of the International Advisory Board of La Lèche League.

Dr. Vyta Senikas – Associate Executive Vice-President, SOGC

Dr. Vyta Senikas is a past SOGC Vice-President, and has sat on various committees and the SOGC Council. She is currently the Associate Executive
Vice President of SOGC in charge of continuing professional development. She has been a member of SOGC since 1979.

Among her many professional activities, Dr. Senikas has served as president of the general overview of obstetrics-gynaecology in 1991-92, Director of Obstetrics at the Royal Victoria Hospital from 1991 to 1994, Medical Director at the birthing centre of the Royal Victoria Hospital from 1992 to 1994, and Director of the restructuring project for the new obstetrical centre. From
1997 until 2003, she sat as a counsellor for the Canadian Medical Protective
Association and has been a member of its executive since 2000.

She served on the executive of the AOGQ from 1991 until 1999 and was president of the Association des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Québec (AOGQ) for the years 1997-1998. Dr. Senikas represented the AOGQ
in dealings with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) from 1989-2001. She has also served the ACOG as an External Peer Reviewer in the field of medical training since 1992. She was seconded
by the AOGQ to the Federation of Medical Specialists of Quebec in 1994; led the open discussion forum at the 1994 International Federation of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians in Montreal; chaired the AOGQ rate-setting
committee in 1995; and served as delegated chair of the AOGQ.

She graduated from McGill University in 1970 with an Honours B.Sc. in Biochemistry and later pursued doctoral studies in medicine and a masters of surgery (MDCM) at McGill University from 1970 to 1974. Dr. Senikas
completed her internship and residency in obstetrics/gynaecology at McGill University from 1975 to 1980. She later received a research grant in the field of perinatology from the Hôpital Sainte-Justine (Université de Montréal)
in 1979-80. Dr. Senikas was president of the McGill Association of Interns and Residents from 1977-79, president of the Fédération des internes et résidents du Québec from 1979 to 1980, Assistant Professor at McGill University from 1982 to 1985 and Associate Professor since 1985. She was active in practice at the Royal Victoria and Queen Elizabeth hospitals since 1980, and has worked as an administrator since 1987. Dr. Senikas was a member of the Association des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Québec (AOGQ) Board of Directors from 1987 to 2000.

Dr. Jennifer Blake – Co-Chair, Public Affairs Committee, SOGC

Dr. Jennifer Blake – Chair Media Relations Committee, SOGC

Dr. Jennifer Blake is the Chief of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Head of Women’s Health at Sunnybrook and Women’s College Hospital Toronto. She is a Professor and Associate Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Toronto. She is Vice Chair of the Genesis Research Foundation.

She is a former Chief of Pediatric Gynaecology at the Hospital for Sick Children, and was the Undergraduate Dean of McMaster University Medical School from 1991-1997.

Dr. Blake is a medical graduate from McMaster University, and received
her fellowship in 1982. Since completing a fellowship in reproductive
endocrinology and Master of Science, she has pursued clinical interest and
research in the fields of pediatric and adolescent gynaecology, menopause, and medical and continuing education. She has an active publication record, and has given numerous invited addresses across Canada and internationally.

Last Updated November 19, 2008