Our work in patient engagement is guided by our Research Patient and Family Advisory Committee (PFAC). PFAC is made up of CHEO family members who believe in the impact research can have on how we care for kids at CHEO and beyond as well as six administrators/researchers from the CHEO Research Institute (CHEO-RI). The committee works to engage families in all aspects of research conducted by CHEO-RI.
PFAC’S Purpose
Based on experienced family voices, the PFAC advises and makes recommendations to CHEO-RI staff in order to promote family engagement in research. We’re moving beyond families as only research participants to families as partners in all aspects of the research process from developing an idea or research question to sharing the study results.
Responsibilities and Opportunities
Our members:
- Attend monthly meetings at the CHEO-RI (in person, teleconference or video conference).
- Advance client and family-centered research.
- Help researchers identify and plan future directions.
- Provide advice on the communication strategy:
- Help researchers plan how to best share the results
- Help researchers ensure that results are understandable to families who were part of the research
- Co-present or co-publish findings
- Help with social media communication (e.g. Discovery Minutes)
- Advise the CHEO-RI on how to promote family engagement in research
- Share knowledge with caregivers and other parents
Patient and Family Advisory Committee Members 2021-2022
Kim Courtney
Research Family Leader Program Coordinator

Michelina Sicoli
Administrative Support, CHEO Research Insititute

Rhonda Correll
Chief Operating Officer, CHEO Research Institute

Patricia Longmuir
Senior Scientist, CHEO Research Institute

Melanie Buba
Investigator, CHEO Research Institute

Saunya Dover
Manager, Genetic Skeletal Disorders Research Program

Andrew McVey
Patient/Family Representative

Lori Pope
Patient/Family Representative
Ellen Song
Patient/Family Representative

Azam Ishmael
Patient/Family Representative

Natasha Baechler
Patient/Family Representative

Mairéad Green
Patient/Family Representative

Samantha Bellefuille
Patient/Family Representative
