Dr. Altman grew up in Port Coquitlam, B.C, studied for his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of British Columbia, did his residency in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Dalhousie University, and completed his fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Calgary. Dr. Altman is a Gynecologic Oncologist and Professor at the University of Manitoba, and the Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre/​CancerCare Manitoba. His clinical research interests involve gestational trophoblastic disease, hormonal management of malignancy, Enhance Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) and postoperative clinical care.

Dr. Altman’s strong interest in undergraduate and postgraduate education and research has led to his involvement in multiple university, national and international committees. He is the past-president and Chief Strategy officer for the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada (GOC), and the Associate Head of Research for the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 

Dr. Altman joined the board originally from his role as UMG chair and subsequently became one of the HSC site representatives before joining the executive. He is proud to serve our members alongside the other amazing clinicians and leaders on the board and executive. He values that all the board members are open, approachable and committed to improving the lives of physicians in Manitoba. 

Dr. Altman and his beautiful wife, Cheryl, have three amazing human children and two amusing canine children. In his spare time you can find him fishing, running, and chasing children or, on some weekends, meandering the aisles at Home Depot or Costco.

Dr. Olivier received her Microbiology (Hons) degree in 2004 and graduated from Medicine at the University of Manitoba in 2009. Her residency in family medicine was completed in 2011 and she has had a private family medicine practice since 2012.

Dr. Olivier has also worked as a hospitalist at Seven Oaks Hospital for the past 10 years, where she was also part of the Clinical Teaching Unit. In the last year, she has also joined the staff of the Selkirk Hospital.

In her ​“spare” time you’ll find her and her husband running after their four children — daughter and three sons — as they take part in hockey, flag football and various other activities.

She can also be found walking labrador Luna and checking the unusual hiding spots of the family’s three kittens.

Dr. William Li was born in Beijing, China, but grew up in Edmonton. After attending Medical School at the University of Alberta, he decided to move East (but not too far East) to do his Residency in Pediatrics at the University of Manitoba. He loved Winnipeg so much, he decided to stay. 

He works as a Community Pediatrician at the Winnipeg Clinic and at the Women’s Hospital as a Newborn Hospitalist. He is pediatrics-trained with interests in Population Health.

When he is not busy with work he enjoys hockey, food (cooking and eating it) and technology. His partner is a Pediatric ID-trained physician in Winnipeg.

FUN FACT: During his residency, Dr. Li had an active food blog that became nationally ranked on a list of food bloggers.

Dr. Desilets earned her medical degree from the University of Calgary and spent the majority of her clinical clerkship in Yellowknife, NWT. Her training also took her to Prince Albert, SK and many small rural communities. Alongside a group of nine physicians in Neepawa, she practices full-scope family medicine. Dr. Desilets is especially interested in family planning, maternity care, surgical obstetrical care, and gastrointestinal endoscopy. She holds a Certificate of Added Competence (CFPC) in Enhanced Surgical Skills. 

Her passion for health care administration, advocacy, and leadership has led to many different roles outside of her busy practice. Having represented both the province of Manitoba and the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada at the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and the ESS Certificate of Added Competency Working Group, and being engaged with physicians from her district as a Practice Supervisor for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM), Dr. Desilets naturally fell into her position on the board. She also makes time for the Doctors Manitoba Mentorship Program, to connect with medical learners. Doctors Manitoba proved to be a reliable and accessible resource when Dr. Desilets moved to Manitoba and she was impressed by the immediacy and accessibility of our work. 

In her spare time, Dr. Desilets pretends to juggle her family’s schedule. With a partner, three adult step-children, and school-age children (4 and 6 years) all involved in sports, she has perfected chauffeuring, cheering, and snack-delivery — while still not knowing anything about track, soccer, or hockey.

FUN FACT: Brrr…Dr. Desilets visited the northern coast of Canada and swam in the arctic ocean before ever visiting the east and west coasts.