Dr. Stuart Skinner received his medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2002. He also holds a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the Gorgas Institute at the University of Alabama. Dr. Skinner is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, and holds a Certificate of Special Competence in Infectious Diseases.

Currently Dr. Skinner works as an Infectious Disease Specialist and Division Head at the Regina General Hospital Infectious Diseases Clinic as well as traveling to several locations in Saskatchewan to provide Infections Disease Clinics. In addition, Dr. Skinner has been instrumental in designing the Wellness Wheel, which is a community led, multi-disciplinary and integrated approach to health care disparities affecting First Nation communities. Dr. Skinner is also the principal investigator on several research grants. Past positions include Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Microbiology, at the University of Manitoba; and Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, at the U of S.

Dr. JoLee Sasakamoose is Wellness Wheel’s Research Director, responsible for leading the Research Team in supporting Traditional ways of knowing alongside Western approaches to wellbeing. She is a proud Anishinabe (Ojibwe) with membership in M’Chigeeng First Nation in Ontario, an active citizen of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, and an Associate Professor in Educational Psychology and Counselling at the University of Regina where she teaches Group Counselling, Counselling Girls and Women, Counselling Children and Youth, Indigenous Family Therapies, and Decolonizing Research Methodologies. She co-authored the Indigenous Cultural Responsiveness Theory, and has an exceptional way of working in the “middle ground” between Western and Indigenous ways. When JoLee isn’t busy with Wellness Wheel she can be found gardening, spending time with her son, and volunteering with Elders in the community.

Susanne Nicolay ([email protected]) is the Clinical Coordinator & Nursing Lead at Wellness Wheel. Inspired by other Wellness Wheel colleagues and the unique opportunity to work in, with, and for First Nations communities, Susanne joined Wellness Wheel with a commitment to integrating the cultural responsiveness framework into her practice. She works closely with communities that Wellness Wheel works in and with, and is primarily involved with Touchwood Agency Tribal Council communities. Susanne’s role includes coordinating physician clinics in community, lab licensing and processes, harm reduction and naloxone services, and testing and screening events. Susanne feels privileged to have the opportunity to work as a nurse within First Nations communities. Susanne is a Registered Nurse with practice roots in medicine and chronic disease care. As an AIDS Certified Registered Nurse, much of her nursing career has involved HIV clinical care. With specialized training in Hepatitis C Care and Diabetes Management, Susanne advocates for access to harm reduction. Susanne is a current Board Chair for CATIE, the Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange.