The Calgary Refugee Health Society is governed by a Board of Directors.
Currently, the Board of the CRHS consists of 6 dedicated Family Physicians who are clinicians at the clinic and leaders in this field.
Over the coming year, the CRHS is seeking to include patients, community leaders, advocates and others on our Board.
Michael Aucoin,MD, CCFP, DTMH
Operations Director
Dr. Michael Aucoin is a Family Physician and Operations Director of the Calgary Refugee Health Society. Bringing his passion and expertise for patient care to the Calgary Refugee Health Program since 2011, he has been highly engaged in the development of a large multidisciplinary clinic caring for newly arrived refugees.
He also serves as Vice Chair for the Board of Directors of The Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers, an organization dedicated to reducing health disparities by improving how North America approaches refugee, asylee and immigrant health.
With a keen interest in research and medical education, Dr. Aucoin is committed to the training and development of new residents. His own medical training was completed at Dalhousie University, his Family Medicine residency and Enhanced Skills training in Global Health at the University of Calgary, and a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Jean Rodriguez Mateo, MD, CCFP, DTMH, CTH
Board Chairman
Dr. Jean Mateo is a Family Physician and Director of the Calgary Refugee Health Society. He earned his medical degree in Havana, Cuba in 2000 and completed his family medicine training at the University of Calgary. He also holds diplomas in Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, obtained in 2011 and 2016, respectively.
Dedicated to supporting newcomers to Calgary, he fulfills this commitment through his role with the Calgary Refugee Health Program while also practicing as a family physician in the city.
Annalee Coakley, MD, CCFP, DTMH
Director
Dr. Annalee Coakley is a family physician and Director of the Calgary Refugee Health Society. She graduated from Queen’s University where she completed both her medical training and family medicine residency. She moved to London in 2009 to complete her Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. After completing her training, she settled in Calgary and started to work with Calgary Refugee Health Program, serving as Medical Director for a period from 2012.
Her work with refugees has led her to become a passionate advocate for their health and wellbeing. She is the interim director of Community Engaged Learning at the University of Calgary, co-founder of the Migration Humanitarian Health Collective (formerly known as Refugee Health YYC), and co-chair of the International Refugee and Migration Health Conference. Dr. Coakley’s hope is to one day work herself out of job once the mainstream health system is able to meet the needs of our most vulnerable newcomers.
Dr. Rachel Talavlikar is a family medicine specialist and Medical Director at the Calgary Refugee Health Society. She works with the Calgary Refugee Health Clinic providing medical care to newly arrived refugees. Dr. Talavlikar is dedicated to providing equitable healthcare to all who face barriers in their health.
She co-chairs the North American Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers Research Committee and has a research interest in Chronic hepatitis B management in primary care settings. She is also co-lead for the Canadian Refugee Health Network and is working to build capacity for Refugee healthcare across the country.
Rachel Talavlikar, MD, CCFP, cTropMed
Jill Teschke, MD, CCFP, DTMH
Director
Dr. M. Jill Teschke is a family physician and Director of the Calgary Refugee Health Society who works with the Calgary Refugee Health Program. She joined the multidisciplinary team at the refugee clinic shortly after it opened 20 years ago and managed her own community family practice for over three decades.
Her lifelong passion for supporting vulnerable populations includes work with Community Living, homeless outreach, and refugee health. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family at her small ranch in rural Alberta and in the Columbia Valley, where she loves hiking, cycling, and skiing in nature.
Andrea Hull, MD, CCFP, DTMH
Director
Dr. Andrea Hull is a family physician who has worked at the Calgary Refugee Health Clinic since 2009. She also works at the LMG Clinic (maternity/postpartum care). Dr. Hull has been active in introducing topics of planetary health to the Cumming School of Medicine curriculum.
She emphasises a holistic approach: considering not only physical health but also mental, emotional and social factors. Her practice philosophy centres on tailoring care to each individual’s needs, promoting wellness and prevention, and empowering patients to engage in their own health journey.
Medical Director
