Francophone Reference Group
The NOSM University (NOSM U) is committed to meeting the needs of the people of the North, including Francophone communities. To fulfill this requirement, the Francophone Reference Group (FRG) of NOSM U was established in 2003 to liaise with Northern Franco-Ontarian communities to help identify and address their needs within the development of the University. The Group, chaired by Monique Rocheleau meets regularly. Its membership represents various sectors within the Francophone community including health professionals, postsecondary institutions, decision-makers, hospitals, NOSM Umedical students and residents and the public at large.
The FRG’s mandate is to make recommendations to the Dean regarding:
- Current or future Francophone initiatives.
- Strategies for implementing Francophone initiatives that address the needs of Northern Ontario Francophone communities.
- NOSM U activities that may have an impact on Francophones.
The FRG works to ensure that Francophones in Northern Ontario have a presence and that their interests are considered at every level of NOSM U in terms of recruitment, board, staff, and faculty representation. Of specific concern to the FRG is the assurance that future doctors will be capable of serving Francophone populations in the French language.
NOSM U will continue to work collaboratively with the FRG to ensure full participation in all its activities.
FRG members:
President of FRG: Nicole Dubuc-Charbonneau, Ph.D., Project Manager – CNFS / Collège Boréal
Resident Representatives:
Dr Sebastien Diebel, Family medicine resident
Dr Sébastien Labelle, Family medicine resident
Student Representatives:
Janik Dufour, Undergraduate Medical Student / Sudbury Campus
Stevie Giles, Undergraduate Medical Student / Thunder Bay Campus
Émilie Labranche, Undergraduate Medical Student / Thunder Bay Campus
Joële Pitre, Undergraduate Medical Student / Sudbury Campus
Faculty Representatives:
Dr Nicole Ranger, Family physician, project leader, French-language pathway to medicine, UME
Dr Meghan Cusack, Family physician, francophone clinical leader, UME
Dr Shyanne Fournier, Family physician, francophone professor in clinical education
Dr Mélanie Patrie, Family physcian, francophone education lead, PGME
Community Representatives:
Angèle Brunelle, community member from Northwestern Ontario
Denis Constantineau, Executive Director / Centre de santé communautaire du Grand Sudbury
Vanessa Kroeker, community member from Northwestern Ontario
Chanelle Landriault, Manager/ CNFS – Laurentian University
Monique Rocheleau – Associate Executive Director / Réseau du mieux-être francophone du Nord de l’Ontario
Sylvie Sylvestre, Planning and Community Engagement Officer, Réseau du miex-être francophone du Nord de l’Ontario
NOSM University Staff Members:
Danielle Barbeau-Rodrigue, Director, Francophone affairs / NOSM University in Sudbury
Tsilavo Ralandison, Community Liaison Coordinator, Francophone Affairs / NOSM University in Thunder Bay
Sierra Howald, Learner Recruitment and Support Coordinator / NOSM University in Sudbury
Joseph LeBlanc, Ph. D., Associate Vice President, Equity & Inclusion / NOSM University in Sudbury
