Meet the team
TWP Leadership Team
Stefan Mustata, MD
Medical Director
Stefan Mustata, MD is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and member of the Division of Nephrology at the University of Calgary. His research focuses primarily on the effects of exercise in patients with kidney disease. He is the Medical Director for the Transplant Wellness Program
Kelly Burak, MD, MSc (Epid)
Scientific Director
Kelly Burak, MD, MSc (Epid), FRCPC is a specialist in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, as well as an expert in the field of Liver Transplantation. His clinical research interests include liver transplantation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). He is the Scientific Director of the Transplant Wellness Program.
Debra Lynne Isaac, MD
Senior Advisor
Dr. Isaac is Professor of Medicine, a cardiologist, the Section Head, Division of Transplant Medicine and the Medical Director of the Southern Alberta Transplant Program. She strives to be a role model and advocate for multidisciplinary and collaborative teamwork in the provision of accessible, equitable and sustainable cardiac care.
TWP Patient Advisory Board
Jeff Donald
Patient Partner
Jeff is a patient partner on the Patient Advisory Board under the Transplant Wellness Program. After a long battle with IBD and PSC, Jeff received a cadaveric liver transplant in 2006. Jeff continues to be involved in the transplant community with student presentations and patient coaching. As a retired technology consultant, Jeff spends his winters in Phoenix, AZ and keeps active with tennis, mountain biking, hiking and travelling.
Keith Pearce
Patient Partner
Keith is a patient partner on the Patient Advisory Board under The Transplant Wellness Program. He was diagnosed with CKD and found a living kidney donor in 2020. He started the Kidney Exercise and Education Program (KEEP) pre-transplant and continues to attend classes to this day. He believes in the benefits of getting as physically fit as possible. Keith and his wife are both retired, and enjoy Alpine and cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, hiking, and travelling the world. Spending time with his four grandchildren is a source of immense joy to Keith.
Nina Busuego
Patient Partner
Nina Busuego was born with Eisenmenger syndrome and anticipated needing a heart transplant throughout her life. In 2019, she underwent a double lung and heart transplant. Since then, she has been managing her health and embracing a more active lifestyle. Nina now works part-time and enjoys reading books, taking daily walks, and spending time with friends.
TWP Research Team
Nicole Culos-Reed, PhD
Health and Wellness Behaviour Change Expert
Nicole is a Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology. She is the lead health and wellness behaviour change expert for the TWP. She has over 30 years experience in supporting positive lifestyle behaviour changes to help individuals manage chronic disease. Nicole’s passion is to support individuals to live well – in her life, this looks like family and friend time, physical activities like exercise classes, yoga, walking, and golf, and cooking up fabulous meals.
Kathryn Wytsma-Fisher, MKin, CSEP-CEP
Casual Kinesiologist/Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP)
Kathryn Wytsma-Fisher is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist/Kinesiologist in a casual role with the Transplant Wellness Program and the University of Calgary. Her research interests are around the benefits and impact of exercise on chronic disease patients. She enjoys spending her spare time with her husband, son and two dogs as well as being active outdoors hiking and camping.
Maneka Perinpanayagam, PhD, PMP
Sr. Research Program Manager
As the Senior Research Program Manager for the Transplant Wellness Program, Maneka brings over 15 years of medical and clinical research experience. She's deeply passionate about patient-oriented research and evidence informed care.
Outside of work, Maneka stays active with HIIT workouts and long walks. In her free time, she loves spending time with family and friends, diving into non-fiction books, traveling, and recreating international dishes in her kitchen.
Katie Bakgaard, BKin, ACSM-CEP
Kinesiologist/Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP)
Katie Bakgaard is the Kinesiologist/Certified Exercise Physiologist for the Transplant Wellness Program. She brings extensive experience supporting patients through complex cardiac conditions, combining clinical expertise with compassionate care. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her family, and staying active outdoors.
TWP Trainees
Jenna Sim, MSc
Trainee (PhD Student)
Jenna Sim (she/her) is a 1st year PhD student in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary and is supervised by Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed. Jenna’s doctoral research will focus on evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of the Transplant Wellness Program. She is also passionate about health equity, behaviour change, and knowledge translation and is excited to work in these areas throughout her degree. Outside of research, Jenna enjoys discussing anything Taylor Swift related, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, climbing, running, and hiking. As a new resident of Calgary, she is excited to explore the outdoor opportunities that this region has to offer!