Archive page of posts in this category or categories:
Resident experts, RSI Experts
The following posts are in no particular order. They are purposely randomized.
Greg Paoli
Greg Paoli earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Waterloo, specializing in engineering and systems design. His early career involved diverse research projects at the University of Waterloo's Institute for Risk Research. Greg later founded Decisionalysis Risk Consultants in 1997 and co-founded Risk Sciences International in 2006. He has served on multiple high-profile committees, including those under the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. As CEO of Risk Sciences International, Greg focuses on risk-based regulatory transformations and has developed enabling technologies like FDA-iRISK. His work spans various sectors, from food and chemical safety to public health, and he continues to contribute to the advancement of risk-based decision-making methodologies.
Nawal Farhat
Nawal Farhat is an epidemiologist with expertise in systematic reviews and database analysis. She collaborates with RSI on systematic reviews related to exposure-related health effects. Her doctoral research at the University of Ottawa focused on analyzing electronic medical records to study drug-drug interactions in cardiovascular patients. Nawal holds an MSc in Epidemiology, where she explored the health effects of air pollution in Canadian cities. Her background includes coordinating surveillance systems for communicable diseases at Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health and teaching epidemiology and biostatistics courses.
Melvin Andersen
Dr. Andersen's illustrious 45-year career in toxicology and risk assessment includes key positions such as Chief Science Officer at The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences and Professor of Environmental Health at Colorado State University. His significant contributions include developing biologically realistic models for toxic chemical and drug effects, notably in physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, advancing the field of chemical risk assessment. Dr. Andersen's prolific research output consists of over 500 papers and book chapters, earning him prestigious awards like the Lehman and Merit Awards from the US Society of Toxicology and the Mildred S. Christian Award from the Academy of Toxicological Sciences.
John Lark
John Lark is a globally recognized expert in risk management, with a distinguished career spanning leadership roles in research, committee chairing, and board-level facilitation. He collaborates with international bodies, including the OECD, US EPA, and ISO. Mr. Lark's expertise extends to speaking engagements at prominent conferences worldwide. He holds the CPRM certification and actively contributes to ISO committees. His extensive board experience includes chairing two not-for-profit boards and participating in major charities. He earned the ICD.D designation through the Director's Education Program. Mr. Lark authored the international ISO Guide for implementing ISO 31000:2009.
Selim Muhammad Khan
Dr. Khan is a medical doctor with a master's in public health and a Ph.D. in population health. He currently holds a CIHR-CMHC joint fellowship applying deep learning and geospatial intelligence to predict and map cancer risk from radon gas exposure, collaborating with the University of Calgary's School of Architecture and School of Medicine. Dr. Khan also consults for the WHO on emergency health security and works as a research associate focusing on developing a next-generation risk assessment framework using new approach methodologies. His experience includes various roles in healthcare, academia, and international organizations, including the World Health Organization. Dr. Khan's expertise covers global public health, digital surveillance, population health risk assessment, advanced data analytics, and more. He has received multiple awards and published numerous peer-reviewed research articles in high-ranking journals.
Donald Mattison
Don Mattison's career is an amalgamation of medicine, science, and public service. He started with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Mathematics, followed by a Master's from MIT in Chemistry. He then pivoted to medicine, obtaining an MD from Columbia University and focusing on pharmacology and toxicology in reproductive health during his residencies. Mattison has held several prestigious appointments, including Dean of the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer at Risk Sciences International. Throughout his career, he obtained medical licenses in six U.S. states and served in the U.S. Public Health Service, retiring with the rank of Captain. Most recently, he became a Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology at the University of South Carolina.
James Gomes
Dr. James Gomes, PhD is an Associate Expert with Risk Sciences International and an associate professor at the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa. Dr. Gomes is affiliated with the Institute of Population Health, Institute of Environment, and Center for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics.
Michael G. Bird
Dr. Bird is a distinguished professional with a Board Certification in Toxicology, Chartered Chemist status, and is recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He earned both an MSc and a PhD in Toxicology and Biochemical Toxicology from Surrey University, UK. Dr. Bird's contributions extend to over 40 publications, and his remarkable work in advancing regulatory science and policy in toxicology earned him the prestigious Achievement Award from the International Society of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology in 2011.
Monique Macdonald
Monique Macdonald brings 35 years of experience in office management and financial administration to her role as Office Administrator at RSI. Specializing in stakeholder liaison, data management, and bookkeeping, she also supports sales, marketing, and workshop administration. Monique holds a diploma in Business Administration and Accounting and has a background in both aerial surveying and industry association firms. Additionally, she serves as RSI’s Alternate Security Officer for federal government contracting services.