National Physicians’ Day celebrates doctors as firstline responders during opioid crisis
National Physicians’ Day celebrates doctors as firstline responders during opioid crisis
May 1st is National Physicians’ Day, marked annually by the Canadian Medical Association in recognition of Dr. Emily Stowe: the first female physician to practice in Canada. Today, there are nearly 100 specialized doctors providing best-in-class, evidence-based addiction treatment at CATC across our growing network of over rapid access outpatient and intensive inpatient treatment centres. Each and every one of them are actively saving lives every day—we thank them on behalf of the people we serve for their tireless dedication.
Earlier this year, we announced the appointment of our new Physician Advisory Group which, under the leadership of our Chief Medical Director, ensures our substance use disorder treatment clinical practices stay on the leading edge of addictions medicine in Canada. These seven industry-leading doctors, together with our exceptional care teams, are helping to turn the tide of the opioid crisis that continues to threaten our communities fueled by a frighteningly toxic illicit supply of drugs.
Meet the medical experts leading our opioid addiction treatment programs
These are the top doctors overseeing our clinical practice to ensure we’re providing the best possible, evidence-based addiction treatment services, built on compassion and kindness.
Dr. Charles Bonham-Carter, MBChB, CCFP 
Chief Medical Director
Charles has 20 years of experience practicing family and hospital medicine across rural Canada. His interest in the field of addiction and mental health started in the early 2000s. Since then, he has developed a passionate dedication to finding solutions to the current crisis of illicit street fentanyl across the country. He is one of the founders of Change Health Care, a group of 7 addiction treatment clinics that operates within the CATC network. Since 2016, Charles has devoted his time exclusively to addiction medicine. In recent years, in addition to his clinical practice, he has become increasingly involved in addiction and mental health care in Ontario, including sitting on several healthcare policy committees at both the Ontario Medical Association and CATC.
Dr. Cory Scott, MD, CCFP
Dr. Scott has been practicing Family Medicine since 2018. He graduated medical school from McMaster University and completed his residency through Queen’s University. Prior to working full time in addictions medicine, he ran a family practice, worked in the ER and provided inpatient care. He has been practicing addiction medicine full time since 2021. He plans to pursue a Masters of Science in Healthcare Quality, with the goal of helping to shape the future of addictions care in Ontario.
Read our interview with Dr. Scott
Dr. Nathan Frank, M.D.C.M., CCFP, D, ABAM
Dr. Frank is a graduate of McGill Medical School and has been practicing in addiction medicine with CATC since 1999. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine, having been certified in 2004. As well, Dr. Frank has been involved with the Hepatitis C treatment program since 2014 and is one of the doctors seeing the community Hep C patients at various CATC clinics.
Read our interview with Dr. Frank
Dr. Jacqueline Chu, MD, FRCP, ABEM
Dr. Jacqueline Chu completed her residency in Emergency Medicine in 2009. She has been with Canadian Addiction Treatment Centres since 2011 and currently provides care to our clients in Oakville, North York, North Bay, Thunder Bay and Longlac. Dr. Chu has been accepted into the 2023 Rotman-OMA Physician Leadership Program, which she looks forward to starting in March. In her spare time, she teaches women’s fitness classes and enjoys travelling with her two children.
Dr. Mireille St. Jean, MD, CCFP(AM), FCFP
Dr. Mireille St-Jean is a graduate of Family Medicine, licensed to practice in the Province of Ontario. Dr. Mireille St-Jean has achieved the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s Fellowship and Certificate of Added Competence in Addiction Medicine. Dr. Mireille St-Jean has been a Clinician Teacher at the Ottawa Hospital Academic Family Health Team for 12 years with a special interest in mental health and lactation medicine prior to her career re-direction into the area of substance use in 2017.
Dr. Lisa Graves, MD CCFP (AM) FCFP MClinSc
Lisa has been practicing addiction medicine since 1996, and in 2019 obtained her certificate of added competency in addiction medicine from the CFPC. She maintains an active practice including addictions with a special interest in women, substance use, and pregnancy. Lisa is an author of over 50 peer-reviewed papers including papers related to substance use and pregnancy/breastfeeding.
Dr. Jocelin McLeod, MBBS, CCFP
Dr. McLeod has been practicing addiction medicine since 2014. Her background is in family medicine, but she has developed a focused practice in Addiction Medicine and a special interest in Hepatitis C treatment in the community. She is a staff physician on the inpatient Substance Use Service at Hamilton Health Sciences, is the medical lead for the Hamilton Drug and Mental Health Treatment Court Program, is involved in teaching medical students and residents, and plays an active role in the death investigation system as a Coroner in Ontario.
Dr. Dalia Rosen, B.Sc., M.D, CCFP, FCFP
Dalia has been practicing medicine since 1997 in Family Practice, Fertility clinics, as well as in an Interventional Chronic Pain clinic. She joined the CATC team in 2011 and sees patients across 14 of our OATC clinics. Her interests include the treatment of Opiate-addicted patients in Pregnancy, as well as patients co-affected with Chronic Pain. Dalia has been involved with the HEP C program since 2014 and is one of the doctors seeing the Community HEP C patients at CATC.
Whether or not we’ve ever been in recovery, we’ve all trusted a doctor with our health at some point in time. Please join us in saying “thanks” to a doctor in your life on National Physicians’ Day!
Get help now
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use disorder or addiction of any kind, our friendly teams are here to provide judgement-free, compassionate care to help you get back on track.
Call 1.877.937.2282 or fill out our contact form to talk to a friendly counselor.