Our People

David Keast, MSc Dip Ed MD CCFP FCFP(LM), a native of London, Ontario, graduated from Western University with a Masters Degree in Chemistry and taught high school for 11 years before entering Queen’s University to study medicine, graduating in 1985. He is a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. He practised Family Medicine for 25 years before focusing his practice on chronic wound and lymphoedema management. He is currently the Medical Director of the Outpatient Chronic Wound Management Clinic at the Parkwood Institute, London. Dr. Keast is Clinical Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry and Associate Scientist in the Parkwood Research Institute, part of the Lawson Health Research Institute.

He has research interest in wound assessment tools, and the nature and characteristics of people living with lymphoedema. He has participated in multiple clinical trials. Dr. Keast is a founding co-chair of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework, a founding board member and Past President of the Canadian Association of Wound Care (now Wounds Canada), and one of the founding members of the World Alliance for Wound and Lymphedema Care in cooperation with the World Health Organization. Dr. Keast is an internationally recognized educator and has published over 90 papers and eight book chapters.

Catherine C. McCuaig, MD, FRCPC, is a dermatologist, Clinical Professor or Dermatology in Pediatrics at the CHU Saint-Justine, University of Montreal, Quebec, where she is an active member of the vascular anomalies group and spearheads a pediatric lymphedema clinic.

Siba Haykal, MD, PhD, FRCS(C), FACS. Dr. Haykal graduated from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine in 2007 as class valedictorian and silver medalist, and subsequently completed her residency training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Toronto in 2016. During her residency, she completed a four-year Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and immunology with a focus on tracheal reconstruction. She obtained numerous grants and awards including a CIHR Vanier Scholarship. Dr. Haykal then pursued fellowship training in microsurgical reconstruction at the Albany Medical Centre in New York. Dr. Haykal joined the University Health Network and the Toronto General Hospital in 2018 as an Assistant Professor. Her clinical focus is on complex oncological reconstruction and microsurgical reconstruction of the breast, head and neck and extremity. She started a lymphedema program in 2019 where she offers microsurgical techniques for the treatment of lymphedema. Her research focuses on tissue-engineered techniques for tracheal regeneration and the immunology of vascularized composite allotransplantation as well as long term outcomes of lymphedema surgery. Dr. Haykal has been the recipient of numerous grants (most recently NFRF and CIHR) and awards for her clinical, academic and research work, and is the author of several peer-reviewed publications. In 2021, Dr. Haykal was named as an honoree of Canada’s Top 40 under 40. She was also recently awarded Top 40 under 40 by the Association of Women Surgeons

Spencer B. Gibson, PhD. Dr. Spencer B. Gibson (Ph.D.) is a Professor at the University of Alberta in the Department of Oncology and the first Dianne and Irving Kipnes Endowed Chair in Lymphatic Disorders. At the national level, Dr. Gibson is part of the executive team representing the Prairie provinces for the Terry Fox Research Institute.

Maryse Beaumier, BNSc, MSc in Nursing sciences, and PhD in biomedical sciences. Maryse is a Professor in the Department of Health at the University of Quebec at Rimouski (UQAR), Campus Lévis since August 2020 after 11 years in the Department of Nursing at the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières. She completed her bachelor of nursing science at the University of Montreal, her Master’s in nursing science at UQTR. She has completed a PhD in biomedical sciences at the University of Montreal (May 2016-January2019) after an almost complete PhD in Community Health at Laval University (2010-2015) (doctoral exams completed with success). Researcher at the CISSS Chaudière-Appalaches Research Center. Involved in the development of wound care for more than 20 years, author of Best Practice Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Peripheral Arterial Ulcers, Director of the Board at the Canadian Association of Wound Care 2009-2012, member of the editorial board of Wound Care Canada 2010-2020 and for Limb Preservation in Canada de Wounds Canada since 2021, government advisor at the RQSP 2012-2015 and now member of the Groupe international de la francophonie en soins des plaies of Société française et francophone des plaies et cicatrisations (SFFPC) en France.

Bonnie Baker, Executive Director.  Bonnie works closely with the CLF’s Board of Directors with responsibility for aligning the organization’s strategic direction and day-to-day operations with the CLF’S vision, mission, goals, and objectives.  Having served the CLF in a volunteer capacity from 2009-2019 as Chair of the Partnership Working Group, Bonnie re-joined the CLF in 2021 as Conference Manager, leading the Event Team in a successful virtual National Lymphedema Conference in December 2021.  Now, as Executive Director, she looks forward to strengthening the CLF’s relationships within the broader lymphedema care community and continuing to raise awareness of the challenges faced by patients affected by lymphedema and related conditions in Canada.

Anna Kennedy, Editor, Pathways Magazine. Anna is a CLF founding member and the Editor of Pathways, the CLF’s official publication. She spent 30 years in corporate senior management, working in the areas of training and communications for international companies like Thomas Cook and American Express. Her last business role was Vice-President with Indigo-Chapters, before she transitioned to the charitable sector in 2006. Anna served on the Board of the International Lymphoedema Framework from 2012 – 2020 and was the CLF’s Executive Director from 2014 – 2019.  She currently volunteers in an advisory capacity to the CLF Board on project related activities. She is a cancer survivor who advocates healthy living and a positive attitude for living with lymphedema.

Rachelle McDonald, Bookkeeping. Rachelle has provided part-time bookkeeping services for the CLF since its inception in 2009.

Volunteers. We could not do our work without the commitment of dedicated volunteers, who generously offer their time, skills and expertise to the CLF. All of the CLF’s Board of Directors and the members of our Scientific Committee, Editorial Board and Working Groups are busy professionals who volunteer their time by leading and participating in project work.