STAFF
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Kavita Mehta
Kavita was the Executive Director of the South East Toronto Family Health Team (SETFHT) for 9 years where she led a number of activities including the development of a new four-storey clinic for the FHT, restructuring the Board of Directors from a physician-sponsored to a mixed Board and serving as the Executive Sponsor for the East Toronto Health Link. Under her leadership, SETFHT was awarded the Ontario College of Family Physicians Family Practice of the Year in 2012 and was the recipient of a 20 Faces of Change in 2015.
Previous to being appointed as AFHTO’s CEO, Kavita served on the Board of Directors for AFHTO since 2009 and was elected as the first non-physician President and Chair of the Board in 2012. Prior to joining SETFHT, Kavita was a Senior Program Consultant at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Primary Health Care Team where she participated in the policy and program development work for family health teams and primary care renewal.
Kavita graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and after working as a Public Health Nurse for 4 years, she returned to McMaster to complete her MBA, with a focus on Health Services Management and Marketing. In 2011 she completed the Advanced Health Leadership Program at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and participated in the inaugural Toronto Central LHIN Rotman Mentorship Program. Kavita is also a Board Member of the Change Foundation, an independent health policy think-tank that works to inform positive change in Ontario’s health care system.
MANAGER, FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Sombo Saviye
Sombo’s role is to ensure the efficient operations of AFHTO and provide executive support to the CEO, Board, and the Finance and Audit Committee. She brings to AFHTO extensive management and administrative experience from the non-profit co-operative housing sector.
Sombo’s career began as a Project Assistant with Tenants Non-Profit Redevelopment Co-operative, after which she worked as a Property Manager for Willow Glen Co-operative Inc. and Ujamaa Housing Co-operative Inc. She also worked as Co-operative Services Officer at the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (Ontario Region), where she provided management and organizational support to member housing co-operatives and collaborated with local federations in serving their members. She has also managed a small-scale accessories design business.
Sombo enjoys contributing her expertise to AFHTO to support our members in their delivery of quality primary care to Ontarians.
MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT • MANAGER, MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONS
Paula Myers
Paula has fulfilled diverse roles at AFHTO, from ensuring the smooth delivery of governance workshops across the province to her current position in communications and conference logistics. She has a MSc. in Media and Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also has years of experience working and volunteering in a variety of sectors, fulfilling roles from client relations to project coordination and is happy to bring this experience to AFHTO.
EVENTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Rachel So
Rachel brings an understanding of systems well being through an Honors Bachelor of Science with a specialization in Environment and Health from the University of Toronto. Her interests in individual well being, consideration for client care and enthusiasm for events & collaboration brings her to lend her assistance and growth with AFHTO.
PROGRAM ASSOCIATE, POLICY, LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
Beth MacKinnon
Beth brings 15 years’ experience in the public and private sectors, including eight years in operations and communications in the provincial government. Prior to joining AFHTO, she worked for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care for four years. She was the point of contact in the Minister’s Office for Members of Provincial Parliament and their teams across the province, and she advised MPPs on how to address questions and help with concerns regarding health care, including primary care. In addition, she led communications roll-outs for local announcements and helped MPPs speak to government issues and investments.
Beth has a strong understanding of the health care system and is passionate about good health and strong health care. She is excited to work with AFHTO and with those who deliver and manage primary care, the entry point to the health care system.
GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM • PROVINCIAL LEAD
Bryn Hamilton
Bryn brings over 10 years of health care experience to the AFHTO team, having worked both regionally and provincially with senior level decision makers across all health care sectors. Over the past 5 years she has worked with the Local Health Integration Networks, most recently as a Senior Consultant at the LHIN Collaborative where she led multiple provincial initiatives focusing on primary care system integration, performance management and accountability, quality improvement, strategic planning, governance, implementing provincial strategy and promoting best practices. Prior to joining the LHINs, Bryn worked in a clinical environment providing cancer care and assisted in opening Canada’s first portable Radiation Therapy Treatment Unit. Bryn has a MHSc in Health Administration from the University of Toronto, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Health Executive (CHE).
CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION AND EXCHANGE SPECIALIST
Laura Belsito
Laura has 5 years experience working as a Registered Dietitian within a variety of clinical settings including primary care clinics and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Most recently, Laura was Team Lead of the Nutrition Program at New Vision Family Health Team in Kitchener Ontario. During Laura’s career, she has successfully developed and implemented a variety of nutrition and wellness programs for patients and staff and has led quality initiative projects to improve patient outcomes. Laura holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Human Nutrition and a Master’s degree in Applied Nutrition from the University of Guelph. She has a passion for health and wellness and improving the quality of life and health outcomes of patients.