National Leadership for Enhanced Surgical Recovery
The Enhanced Recovery Canada™ Board of Directors provides strategic leadership and governance to advance safer surgical care across Canada. Drawing on expertise from across the healthcare system, the Board helps guide the national implementation of evidence-informed surgical pathways.
Through oversight and collaboration with partners, the Board supports initiatives that reduce surgical complications, shorten hospital stays, and improve system sustainability. This work is especially important in the context of growing pressures on hospitals and healthcare providers nationwide.
By strengthening governance and accountability, the Board plays a key role in ensuring enhanced recovery approaches continue to deliver meaningful benefits for patients, clinicians, and the healthcare system as a whole.
Board of Directors
Erin Ballah
BSc, MSc, MBA
Erin Ballah is the Co-Chair of the ERC Governance Committee. Erin graduated from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Science, from Dalhousie University with a Master of Science (Physiotherapy), and returned to Memorial for a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Clinically, she has worked as an inpatient physiotherapist in adult acute care.
Erin’s current role is Manager, Primary Health Care at Eastern Health in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Erin is passionate about Enhanced Recovery After Surgery having worked previously as the Regional Program Coordinator of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program also at Eastern Health
Sandra LeClair Lavigne
RN, BN
Sandra LeClair Lavigne has been the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Regional Coordinator for the Vitalité Health Network in New Brunswick since 2018. She completed a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick (Bathurst campus).
Sandra has always been passionate about supporting and promoting wellness in her community as a volunteer and organizer. In 2008, she was recognized by the University of New Brunswick with an induction into the Sir Howard Douglas Society as a scholar exemplifying the society’s motto, “Non Nobis Solum: Not for Ourselves Alone”.
Sandra now continues her passion professionally by promoting surgical best practices. As the first ERAS coordinator in New Brunswick, Sandra and her team have sparked remarkable outcomes at their hospital, the entire health network, two regional health authorities and New Brunswick’s provincial policy.
Leah Gramlich
MD, FRCRC
Leah Gramlich is a physician, nutritionist specialist and gastroenterologist. She is a professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Department of Medicine at the University of Alberta with a cross appointment in Agriculture Life and Environmental Science. She is also Provincial Medical Advisor for Nutrition Services in Alberta Health Services.
She is dedicated to patient care and has an evolving interest in food for health and in empowering health practitioners with the tools to meet patient needs relative to food and activity for health. She developed "Wellness Rx" an educational approach for undergraduate health professionals focused on nutrition and activity.
Leah is the medical co-lead for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery in Alberta. Her other research interests include nutrition and cancer, nutrition in critical illness, nutrition therapy in the home and nutrition education. She is past president and founding president of the Canadian Nutrition Society. She is on the board of directors of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and is currently chair of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force.
Geoff Schierbeck
Chair of ERC
Geoff Schierbeck is the current chair of Enhanced Recovery Canada. He is a registered nurse and experienced quality leader in the hospital and healthcare industry. Since joining Doctors of BC in 2018 as a Specialist Services Liaison in Surgery, he has led the development and implementation of prehabilitation programs across 27 sites in British Columbia.
Prior to this role, Geoff served as a quality leader with the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council. His surgical quality career began in 2008 as a quality improvement consultant for Interior Health, where he implemented surgical checklists region-wide. Passionate about empowering frontline staff, he co-developed the Teamwork and Communication Action Series, coaching teams to enhance non-technical skills and improve patient care.
Geoff also serves as the Collaborative Director for the Surgical Patient Optimization Collaborative (SPOC), an initiative aimed at improving surgical care throughout British Columbia. Under his leadership, SPOC has successfully implemented prehabilitation programs that have led to improved patient outcomes and experiences.
Debbie Watson
RN, BSN, MSN
Debbie Watson has been the ERAS care pathway coordinator at the McGill University Health Centre-Montreal General Hospital site since 2008. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Montreal and a master’s degree in nursing from Athabasca University.
Her understanding of the role, tasks and responsibilities of the nurse coordinator in the creation, implementation and sustainability of an Enhanced Recovery program can encourage and inspire those who want to expand on an existing program or for those who are new to the concept of Enhanced Recovery.
Chesia Gillis
RD, PhD
Chelsia Gillis is an Assistant Professor in the School of Human Nutrition in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at McGill University with Associate Appointments in Surgery and Anesthesia. She is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Nutrition Support Clinician®, and Vanier Scholar with a master’s of science in Human Nutrition from McGill University and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Calgary.
Chelsia’s research program aims to improve surgical patient outcomes by generating evidence-based knowledge and translating findings into clinical practice to enhance healthcare services in Canada. Her research interests include medical nutrition, prehabilitation, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery, surgical metabolism, and patient engagement.