Ontario Branch

Shain Mergulhao

President Elect, CIPHI, Ontario Branch

Lisa Fortuna

President, CIPHI Ontario Branch

Lisa started her career as a certified public health inspector in Halton, ON in 1988. In 2010, Lisa joined the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and then Public Health Ontario (PHO) where, as the director of Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response, she was responsible for the department that provides scientific and technical advice on infectious disease cases and outbreak response across Ontario, as well as oversight and coordination of PHO’s emergency preparedness and response.

Currently, Lisa is a Director in Health Protection at the Durham Region Health Department.

Kwesi Douglas

Communication and Partnership Councillor, CIPHI Ontario Branch

Kwesi Douglas is a Certified Public Health Inspector working in the Ontario Public Service Sector. A member of CIPHI since 2006 and has been an Ontario Branch Executive Councillor since 2018. He enjoys working in public health programs such as emergency management and infectious diseases prevention and control.

His hobbies include, DJ/music, playing sports such as basketball, soccer and badminton as well as travelling to new places. Most importantly, he enjoys spending time with his family.

His education background - Bachelor’s in Occupational and Public Health and a Master’s in Disaster and Emergency Management.

Kate Beath

Secretary - Treasurer, CIPHI Ontario Branch

Lori Holmes

Membership Councillor, Ontario Branch

Rachael McArthur

Professional Development Councillor

Rachael is a graduate from the University of Guelph and Ryerson University with degrees in Biological Sciences and Public Health & Safety.

In 2009, Rachael was hired as a student public health inspector at the Durham Region Health Department (DRHD), which turned into a full-time position after certification. Rachael has worked with the DRHD for 13 years in various program areas. Since 2020, Rachael has worked as the Food Safety Senior Inspector with the DRHD.

Rachael has also been the Professional Development councillor on the CIPHI Ontario Branch Executive since 2014.

Fatih Sekercioglu

Advocacy & Policy Councillor, CIPHI Ontario Branch

Fatih Sekercioglu is an assistant professor in the Ryerson University School of Occupational and Public Health and Director of the Planetary Health Research Lab. He graduated from Ryerson University in 2004. He holds a master’s degrees in food safety and quality assurance from the University of Guelph and business administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. He completed his doctoral studies in geography at Western University. He also holds an adjunct professor appointment at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine Dentistry.

Before joining Ryerson University in July 2019, he was a lecturer in the Department of Geography at Western University and an environmental health manager with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. Throughout his 15-year public health career, he also worked as a child and family health manager, and vector-borne disease program coordinator and public health inspector. Fatih has been a CIPHI Board of Certification (BOC) examiner for ten years and was a CIPHI National Exam Panel member (2012-2019). He was also appointed as the CIPHI ON Branch BOC Committee representative between May 2018 and July 2019.