Our Program Leadership
Dr. Melanie Squarzolo, Program Director, FM/EM Program
Dr. Squarzolo graduated from medical school at the University of Toronto. She completed the University of Ottawa’s Northern Ontario Family Medicine Program and was in the first EM fellowship cohort at NOSM. A practicing emergency medicine physician at Health Sciences North in Sudbury, she is proud to be serving her home-grown community. As an associate professor at NOSM U with a strong interest in academic medicine Dr. Squarzolo has received both an education innovation grant and multiple NOAMA research grants. She is also a busy wife and mother of three. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, cake decorating, paddle boarding and cross-country skiing.
Dr. Drew Spicer, Thunder Bay Site Director, FM/EM Program
As a NOSM University Grad, Dr. Spicer has had the opportunity to learn as both a medical student and resident in Thunder Bay. She completed her Family Medicine training with Dalhousie University on Cape Breton Island. As Site Director, Dr. Spicer looks forward to working with residents to achieve their learning goals and assist in fostering a love of Emergency Medicine. She enjoys teaching and learning from medical students and residents, and participates in simulation, clinical teaching, and didactic teaching. Dr. Spicer is originally from Northwestern Ontario and enjoys living and working in Thunder Bay. You can find her hiking or kayaking in her free time!
Dr. Renee-Anne Montpellier, Sudbury Site Director, FM/EM Program
Dr. Montpellier serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at NOSM University. Currently, she holds the position of Site Director for the FM/EM program and previously functioned as the Phase 3 Assistant Director. Dr. Montpellier’s current research interests include dermatology emergencies and medical education. Alongside her academic commitments, she dedicates her full-time efforts to the Emergency Department at Health Sciences North, drawing from her past involvement in the rural ED within the community of Blind River. When she’s not at work, you can often find her at home, chasing after her lively young son.
Ms. Sonya Richard, Program Coordinator, FM/EM Program
Ms. Richard has been in the role of Program Coordinator with the NOSM U FM/EM program since 2018. She enjoys working with the engaged teaching faculty, getting to know all the wonderful residents who come through the program each year, and improving the program through her passion for continuous quality improvement and organization. Ms. Richard enjoys checking out the beautiful scenery and great local restaurants in both Sudbury and Thunder Bay through her work travels. She keeps busy after hours and on weekends chauffeuring her kids to hockey and gymnastics and binge-watching excellent TV shows with her husband.
Dr. Steve Socransky, Sudbury Point of Care Ultrasound Lead, FM/EM Program
Dr. Socransky is an emergency physician at Health Sciences North and an Associate Professor at NOSM U in Sudbury. His credits include: Started the CAEP Ultrasound Committee, Director of Canada’s first emergency ultrasound fellowship, Director of the EDE 2 Course (www.ede2course.com), Editor of Essentials of Point-of-Care Ultrasound, print and iBook. Dr. Socransky has also presented and published research both nationally and internationally. He lives in the bush just outside Sudbury with his wife, 2 sons, as well as Harper and Mookie the dogs and Mittens the cat.
Dr. Patrick Martel, Thunder Bay Point of Care Ultrasound Lead, FM/EM Program
Dr. Martel joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center in 2004. He is a full-time member of the Department of Emergency Medicine. He is an Associate Professor at NOSM U in Thunder Bay. Dr. Martel went to Medical School at the Université de Montréal and completed his Emergency Medicine training at McGill University. He worked as staff at the MUHC – Montreal General Hospital prior to moving to Thunder Bay and his interests include Emergency Medicine with a specific focus in Point of Care Ultrasound. In addition to his clinical work, he has roles in medical education and administration:
- Emergency Department Director of Ultrasound
- Canadian Point of Care Ultrasound Society Core & Resuscitative Master Instructor
- Canadian Point of Care Ultrasound Society Track Instructor Diagnostic-MSK
- Canadian Point of Care Ultrasound Society – Board of Directors
When not in the Emergency Department or the Simulation Laboratory, you will likely find Dr. Martel on a cliff climbing rock or ice, cycling, cross-country skiing, or paddling on Lake Superior with his wife and family.
Dr. Rosie North, Thunder Bay SIM Lead, FM/EM Program
Dr. North is a graduate of the NOSM U Family Medicine and PGY3 FM/EM programs. She was born and raised in Thunder Bay and is passionate about medical education and simulation. Dr. North has been a staff physician at the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre since 2019 and has been involved in a number of simulations aimed at systems improvements in the TBRHSC Emergency Department.
Dr. Jon Smith, Journal Club Lead, FM/EM Program
Dr. Smith is an Emergency Physician and Trauma Team Leader at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. He has a strong interest in and is very involved in medical education. He is an Associate Professor at NOSM U and serves as the Academic Director, Post Graduate Director, and SEME Director for the Thunder Bay Emergency Group. Dr. Smith is also a Medical Lead at the Northwestern Ontario Region Pre Hospital Care Program. In addition, he is very involved with and sits on multiple committees including NOAMA, the PCTA as well as at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Dr. Robert Ohle,
Sudbury Scholarly Project Lead, FM/EM Program
Dr. Ohle completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts both in Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin, a medical degree at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa, and his Emergency Medicine Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada at the University of Ottawa.
Dr. Ohle has been an Emergency Physician and Director of Emergency Medicine Research at HSN since 2017 and an Associate Professor at NOSM University. Since 2021, he has also served as HSNRI Research Lead for emerging areas of research.
His research interests include acute aortic syndrome, vertigo and bystander CPR education.
As Vice-President, Dr. Ohle leads a team of 85 people at HSNRI, HSN staff in Academic Affairs, the Simulation Laboratory and Library, and a budget of $14 million. He is passionate and inspired by education and research and the power that it has to inform and transform Canadian health care.
Dr. David Savage, Thunder Bay Scholarly Project Lead, FM/EM Program
Dr. Savage is an Emergency Physician and Director of Emergency Medicine Research at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. In addition, he is an Assistant Professor at NOSM University and Site Director at ICES North. He completed his research training at the University of Toronto and his medical training at NOSM University. Dr. Savage’s research focuses on health human resource planning, predictive analytics, and rural healthcare access.