About Us

The Office of Resident Affairs and Physician Wellness is here to support you through your Residency and Fellowship journeys. Our role is to provide health and wellness resources and facilitate an environment in which you and your colleagues can be and stay well as you navigate the opportunities and challenges that Residency and Fellowship will bring.

Our goal is to encourage a supportive environment where you and your colleagues can be well and thrive. We encourage you to connect with us, make use of our services, and advise us on your needs.

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Dr. Jaelene Mannerfeldt

Jaelene was born and raised in Alberta and studied medicine at the University of Calgary. This was a time when being a wife, mother, and medical student was not well supported or encouraged. From this beginning, she did a residency in Family Medicine and then, after a few years of rural practice, went on to study Obstetrics & Gynecology. She has been involved in medical education throughout her entire career. In her role in PGME, she is a strong advocate for Residents, their learning, and their health and wellness.

Dr. Paula Pearce

I trained in the UK at the University of Nottingham Medical School and completed PGME training in General Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine in the UK and New Zealand before working as a Geriatrician at York District Hospital. Despite having taken time off in residency to travel, I still had itchy feet and so made the decision to move to Canada. I emigrated with my husband, Liam, in 2010, to work as a Geriatrician in the Department of Medicine, with an interest in both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. I was program director for geriatric medicine for 9 years, where I consider the graduating residents, now colleagues and friends, to be my greatest professional accomplishment. In 2022, I joined the Office of Resident Affairs and Physician Wellness as the inaugural Director of Wellness Programming. My portfolio includes developing PGME-wide programming to support wellness for learners and faculty. Recently, I have worked on a collaboration with Well Doc Alberta that resulted in the launch of a Peer Support Program – Peers CARE – earlier this year.

I live with Liam, who is now retired, and our Bernese mountain dog Hettie on an acreage outside Cochrane, where I enjoy spending my time walking, skiing, camping and kayaking. I have taken a year off on sabbatical to go back to school to do a Master of Health Sciences Education where I am excited by better understanding the learner perspective, as well as proving to myself that you can indeed teach an old dog new tricks!

Andrea Brose

I have a holistic view of health and wellness and believe that it is influenced by a variety of factors including health, relationships, finances, self-care, connection, and community. In my role, I strive to ensure the offerings of the Office of Resident Affairs and Physician Wellness are coordinated and align with the needs of Residents and Fellows. I encourage Residents and Fellows to reach out at residentwellness@ucalgary.ca or 403-210-6525 with any ideas of how the Office can best support you.

Mika Mann

I am joining the Office of Resident Affairs and Physician Wellness team with a background in administration and academic advising for the Faculty of Arts. Over the last few years, I've had the pleasure of regularly interacting with students from all different backgrounds who all have their unique situations and goals. I have experience working together with faculty, programs, and services to find ways to support students from admission to graduation while at the University of Calgary.

Now, I look forward to supporting postgraduate medical education from a wellness perspective! Please don't hesitate to reach out to find how we can help while you're on your own journey.

Julie Munch

I am a registered occupational therapist working with the Office of Resident Affairs and Physician Wellness. I have been practicing in various settings over the last 11 years, and can provide support and strategies to residents as well as program directors/supervisors.

I practice holistic care, and focus on the wellbeing of residents and supporting them as they navigate through their residency program.

Some areas of expertise I have include: providing strategies for managing increased workload, overnight call, sleep hygiene, energy conservation, nutrition, stress management, task grading/prioritization.

I also provide supportive counselling to residents and can assist when personal and interpersonal challenges may arise. If you are interested in a consultation to discuss how I can better assist you during your program please reach out.

Michelle Keough

I am a Registered Social Worker with a Masters in Clinical Specialization. I joined the Office of Resident Affairs and Wellness early Fall 2020 and have thoroughly enjoyed supporting residents and programs. I recognize what a key part of the journey residents are in and feel so honored to be invited into that part.

For the last 15 years I have provided individual and couples therapy to clients from different demographics. Relationship therapy is a big area of focus in my clinical practice, along with workplace stress and burnout, anxiety, and depression. I practice mostly from an emotionally focused therapy and attachment frame. In addition, I utilize mindfulness, solutions focused therapy, Gottman methods and cognitive behavioural therapy approaches.

When I am not in the counselling room, I am savouring every moment with my family and finding balance where I can through yoga and exercise, golfing and being out in the sun!

Ruthanna Okorosobo

As a Registered Social Worker, I bring a unique blend of experiences to my practice. Originally on the path to becoming a physician, I made a pivotal shift to social work. My journey has equipped me with a deep understanding of the human condition, resilience, and the intricate interplay of physical and emotional well-being. My passion lies in supporting individuals and families with empathy and compassion, nurturing an environment towards healing and self-discovery, while recognizing that mental health intersects with various stages of life.

My practice experience includes crisis addiction and mental health support; palliative care- and oncology-related counselling support; as well as supporting individuals dealing with impostor syndrome, eating disorder, burnout, anxiety, or depression.

My therapeutic approach draws from principles of such modalities as Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, as well as trauma-informed care. Whether supporting individuals in crisis or helping them navigate life transitions, my commitment remains unwavering: To empower individuals to navigate life’s complexities and find their own path to wellness.

Beyond my professional endeavours, you will find me immersed in the pages of novels or capturing serene and poignant moments through my landscape photography that reflect the beauty of our shared world.