Expert Advisory Panel
March 26, 2022
Introducing the Members of the Expert Advisory Panel
Dr. Mark Hall (Chair), PT PhD, Associate Chair and Director MScPT Program
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Dr. Mark Hall is a physiotherapist and is currently the Associate Chair and Director of the MScPT Program at the University of Alberta. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy and a Master of Science in Physiotherapy (Critical Care) from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa and a PhD (Rehabilitation Science) from the University of Alberta. Mark completed the credentialing and licensing process through CAPR in 2002 and moved to Canada to work clinically in 2003. He joined the Evaluation Services Committee of CAPR in 2006, chairing the committee since 2018. Mark is an enthusiastic educator with interests in curriculum development and evaluation.
Professor Lucy Chipchase, Dip Physio, M App Sc, PhD (Physiotherapy Education)
Professor and Deputy Dean (Clinical and Community Practice), College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University
Adelaide/South Australia
Lucy Chipchase is a Professor with the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. After receiving her Diploma of Physiotherapy in 1985, she was a physiotherapist with St Peters Hospital in the United Kingdom before moving to Australia and practicing across several states in Australia. Concurrent with running a private practice she completed a Masters of Applied Science in 1993 and then a Doctor of Philosophy (Physiotherapy Education) in 2007. Previously, Professor Chipchase has held academic positions with the University of South Australia, University of Queensland, Western Sydney University and University of Canberra before joining the team at Flinders University in 2019.
During the course of her career, Professor Chipchase has published over 130 papers in peer reviewed journals and has been the chief investigator on over 30 research grants including the NHMRC and the Australian Department of Health. She has supervised dozens of Masters and PhD students and helped them achieve academic excellence. In her broad experience within healthcare, Lucy has demonstrated her strong advocacy for culturally responsive practice, cultural diversity and advocacy for women. She has also shaped how the physiotherapy profession adapts and develops contemporary learning and teaching practices, such that she is known as a thought leader in assessment and educational design.
Dr. Jean-Pierre Dumas pht, PhD
Professeur agrégé, programme de physiothérapie, Université de Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, QC
Jean-Pierre Dumas is an Associate Professor in the physiotherapy program at l’Université de Sherbrooke, where he is currently the Curriculum Director. His responsibilities include the assessment of clinical skills and knowledge and the certification process of undergraduate and graduate students. He joined this new entry-to-practice physiotherapy education program during its implementation phase in 2006. He was also able to continue in parallel a part-time clinical career for 30 years.
Dr. Dumas graduated in physiotherapy from McGill University and then completed a MSc in biomedical research and a PhD in education at l’Université de Montréal with a focus on the assessment of clinical reasoning in physiotherapy. His research interests are related to clinical reasoning, competency assessment and more recently work-based assessment in telesupervision. During his career, he has been a consultant in assessment for organizations such as Royal College of Physicians and l’Ordre Professionnel de la Physiothérapie du Québec.
Dr. Glenn Regehr, PhD in Cognitive Psychology / Professor Centre for Health Education Scholarship, UBC
Vancouver, BC
Dr. Glenn Regehr received his PhD in cognitive psychology from McMaster University in 1993, then entered the field of Health Professions Education as Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and co-founded the Wilson Centre for Research in Health Professions Education. In 2009, he moved to the University of British Columbia, where he co-founded the Centre for Health Education Scholarship and has since served as Senior Scientist and the Associate Director (Research) of CHES. Dr. Regehr has formally mentored over 100 graduate students, research fellows, and faculty in the area of health professions education scholarship. Through these various collaborations, he has co-authored over 250 peer reviewed papers on a range of topics including: clinical expertise, practice-based assessment, ex-vivo clinical assessment, self-assessment, self-regulation, feedback, professionalism and professional identity construction. Using the knowledge gained from these areas of study, he has consulted with professional organizations and regulatory bodies across North America regarding authentic and effective models of self-regulation and continuing professional development. Dr. Regehr has received numerous career awards for his scholarship and mentorship including the US-based National Board of Medical Examiners Hubbard Award for Excellence in the Field of Assessment in Medical Education (2007), the Medical Council of Canada Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Evaluation of Clinical Competence (2008) and Karolinska Institutet Prize for Research in Medical Education (2020).
Dr. Sharon Switzer-McIntyre, BPE, BScPT, MEd., PhD, Program Director, MScPT Program;
Program Director: OIEPB Program;University of Toronto
Toronto, ON
Sharon Switzer-McIntyre is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, at the University of Toronto, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine where she is the MScPT Program Director and the Director of the Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapy Bridging Program. Sharon holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from McMaster University, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy a Master’s degree in Adult Education with a focus on Organizational Development and a PhD with a focus on Occupational Health and Function all from the University of Toronto.
Sharon’s current research interests focus in the area of curriculum design and implementation and competency assessment for both entry level to practice MScPT and Bridge education as well as the integration of internationally educated physical therapists into the Canadian workplace.
Sharon’s goal as an educator is to create learning environments that provide safe yet challenging opportunities to acquire knowledge, facilitate understanding, apply the best available science and theory to practice and encourage creative experimentation while maintaining balance and fairness in supporting a wide diversity of learners and learner needs. She strives to create a truly harmonized teaching and learning environment where knowledge and skills are co-created optimizing continuous learning to prepare our future clinicians as effective lifelong learners.
Dr. Walter Tavares, PhD, Assistant Professor, Scientist, The Wilson Centre
Toronto, ON
Dr. Walter Tavares is an Assistant Professor and Education and Assessment Scientist at the Wilson Centre for Health Professions Education Research in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, at University Health Network and the University of Toronto. His program of research explores performance-based assessments of clinical competence in simulation and work-based contexts for formative and summative purposes. This includes the role and contributions of raters/observers in the process, what serves as defensible assessment programs and how shifting views on assessment are shaping practice and quality determinations. His publication record, program of research and expertise has led to multiple invitations and contributions to assessment programs across several local, provincial, national and international health professions.
Beka Tavartkiladze, Senior Director, Global Education and Knowledge, World Education Services (WES)
Toronto, ON
Beka has 19 years of experience in credential evaluation and has extensive knowledge of foreign educational systems and the issues surrounding the recognition of international educational credentials. He frequently presents on foreign educational systems and the recognition of international educational credentials at national and international conferences and workshops. Beka has extensive experience working with licensing bodies and higher education institutions providing expert opinion vis-à-vis foreign credential recognition.
Throughout the tenure at WES Beka has been focused on operational efficiencies as well as identifying opportunities to streamline business processes and systems. Established a culture of continuous business improvement. Assisted in strategic planning and promoting the recognition of academic credentials earned outside of North America, serving as a senior member of the Policy Forum which sets evaluation policy and methodology.
Beka is a nominated member of the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) Steering Committee which supports the QAF management to ensure its continuous improvement.
Dr. Maureen Topps, CEO and Executive Director, Medical Council of Canada
Calgary, AB
Dr. Maureen Topps is CEO and Executive Director of the Medical Council of Canada (MCC), the national organization responsible for assessment of core clinical knowledge and skills required by all physicians in Canada. The MCC’s qualifying examination is a prerequisite for the Canadian standard for independent physician licensure. The MCC manages assessments required for International Medical Graduates (IMG) as they progress towards licensure in Canada. Dr. Topps has held senior leadership positions at two medical schools in Canada, with extensive work nationally and internationally. These include appointments as Associate Dean Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME), then Senior Associate Dean Education, and as an adjunct professor at Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary; Executive Director, Government of the Alberta IMG Program; and inaugural Associate Dean PGME, Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Nationally and internationally, Dr. Topps has worked extensively in various capacities with multiple organizations including the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and Royal College International and was Chair of MCC’s National Assessment Central Coordinating Committee. She has contributed significantly to numerous endeavours and was recognized for her activities by the RCPSC with the designation of Honorary Fellow.
John Weiner, M.A. / Chief Science Officer, PSI Services LLC
US/California
John Weiner is Chief Science Officer at PSI, where he leads the global credentialing content and psychometrics teams, and R&D initiatives. In a career spanning more than 30 years in the assessment industry, John has guided the strategic development of innovative, sound, and lawful solutions that have benefited hundreds of diverse organizations, including government agencies, professional associations, regulators, and Fortune 500 companies. He has served as an expert and arbitrator in testing litigation cases. He is a frequent presenter at international conferences such as ATP, CLEAR, ICE, ITC, NCME and SIOP, addressing contemporary issues and applications in technology-based assessment and innovation, including issues related to measurement quality, security, equity, fairness, and legal defensibility. He served as 2020 chair of ATP’s Board of Directors and was named a SIOP Fellow. He co-authored a book on Online Recruitment and Selection, as well as book chapters on licensure and certification testing and systems for Next Generation Global Technology-Based Assessment. He is the co-chair of the Technology-Based Assessment Guidelines, a joint ATP/ITC publication to be issued in 2022. His graduate raining focused on quantitative and industrial psychology.