ABOUT AFHTO
STAFF
Chief Executive Officer
Jess Rogers
Jess is an accomplished leader with over 17 years of experience in primary care, passionately advocating for team-based healthcare in Ontario. As CEO of AFHTO, she is dedicated to advancing the primary care landscape, especially as Canada navigates a post-pandemic crisis in this sector. With a proven track record in designing and executing transformative partnerships and large-scale projects at local, regional, provincial, and national levels, Jess thrives at the intersection of policy, stakeholder engagement, and health system needs.
Her expertise spans strategic planning, business development, evidence-based decision-making, and quality improvement. Jess is deeply committed to understanding and championing the needs of primary care professionals, ensuring their voices are heard in every initiative. Her collaborative approach fosters strong relationships with diverse stakeholders—including board members, clinical practice guidelines panels, and healthcare providers—facilitating productive dialogue and strategic planning.
Rooted in systems thinking, Jess drives organizational growth through operational excellence and sustainable business development. She is passionate about implementing evidence-based practices that enhance performance, from developing clinical decision aids to innovative care models. Inspired by the power of effective teams and collaborative problem-solving, Jess aims to lead initiatives that not only improve primary care practices but also create meaningful change in the health system. Together, let’s redefine what’s possible in healthcare and elevate the standards of care for all.
Senior Director, Strategy and Programs
Dale Clement
Dale brings over 20 years of executive leadership experience in healthcare, with a proven track record in clinical and operational leadership, strategic planning, and transformative program development.
Dale’s extensive expertise spans across a range of senior roles, including Vice President of Clinical Programs, Strategy & Transformation at Unity Health, and CEO at Waterloo Wellington CCAC.
She has demonstrated exceptional leadership in fostering collaborative partnerships, driving system-wide improvements, and ensuring the sustainability and quality of patient care. In addition to her executive roles, Dale is deeply committed to community engagement. She has served on several boards, including St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team, St. Joseph’s Urban Family Health Team and as Board Chair for seven years at OakMed FHT
Her passion for equity, diversity, and inclusion, along with her commitment to improving healthcare delivery, aligns seamlessly with AFHTO’s vision to strengthen primary care teams across Ontario.
Director, Member Partnerships and Program Excellence
Naomi Abegunde
Naomi brings more than a decade of experience leading transformative initiatives in Ontario’s healthcare system—experience that will be instrumental as she takes on this new, high-impact role at AFHTO. As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with a Master of Health Informatics, Naomi has consistently delivered results at the intersection of strategy, stakeholder engagement, and system improvement. Her track record includes advancing primary care integration, building strong cross-sector partnerships, and leading evidence-based programs that improve both outcomes and equity. She serves on the boards of Unison Community Health Centre and the Canadian Mental Health Association York and South Simcoe. She is deeply committed to transforming healthcare and driving meaningful change within primary care teams.
Director, Strategic Communications and Government Relations
Michael Scarpitti
MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT • MANAGER, MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONS
Paula Myers
Paula has fulfilled diverse roles at AFHTO, from ensuring the smooth delivery of governance workshops across the province to her current position in communications and conference logistics. She has a MSc. in Media and Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also has years of experience working and volunteering in a variety of sectors, fulfilling roles from client relations to project coordination and is happy to bring this experience to AFHTO.
Operations and Office Administrator
Alexander Christy
Originally from British Columbia, Alex is a dedicated health policy professional with an Honours Degree in Health Studies. Bringing experience in IT, project management and program coordination to the table, Alex has led various high impact projects. These projects include governance initiatives, building the resource library, and maintaining the ED mentorship program that AFHTO has started. Eager to bring his skills to a new challenge coupled with his passion for high-quality service delivery, Alex is confident in his ability to contribute meaningful change to AFHTO.
Executive Assistant and Office Administrator
Jennifer Hyde
Jennifer Hyde graduated from Carleton University with a B.A. After working in a few industries, she found her passion for healthcare, working for the University of Ottawa Heart institute as an administrator. She then moved to Toronto into her most recent role as an executive administrative assistant for the Paediatric Stoke Team at The Hospital for Sick Children. During the pandemic, she decided to go back to school to pursue her interest in digital marketing. She graduated from McMaster University with a diploma in marketing with a digital concentrate. With nearly 11 years experience in various aspects of healthcare, she is looking forward to being part of the AFHTO team and putting her passion of healthcare, administrative and marketing skills to use!
Policy and Programs Coordinator
Gabriel Korth
Originally from Mississauga, Gabriel Korth graduated from Queen’s University with an Honours Degree in Political Studies and Philosophy. With a variety of experience in radio, small business advocacy, and journalistic writing, he brings a fresh perspective to his new passion for healthcare. Already, Gabriel has explored a variety of roles at AFHTO, beginning as an executive assistant and transitioning to project coordination. Gabriel is excited to help see that Ontario’s Primary Care sector flourishes!