Board of Directors

Dr. Jim Douketis, President

Dr. James Douketis is the Director of the Vascular Medicine Program and Staff Physician in Vascular Medicine and General Internal Medicine at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. He is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University and the Associate Director of the Clinical Teaching Unit at St. Joseph’s Healthcare. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Toronto. He then completed a fellowship in thromboembolic disease at McMaster University.

Dr. Douketis’ research interests include perioperative antithrombotic therapy, prognosis of patients with venous thromboembolism, bleeding risks during antithrombotic therapy, hormonal therapy and thrombosis, prevention of venous thromboembolism in medical patients, and clinical practice guideline development for the prevention and treatment of obesity.

Dr. Douketis is the Deputy Editor of ACP Journal Club and has 160 scientific publications, of which over 100 are peer-reviewed articles.

Dr. Douketis lives in Hamilton with his wife, Dr. Margaret Nowaczyk, a clinical geneticist, and two boys, Jack and Luke, and is a cellist with Symphony Hamilton.

Fran Cohen, Director

Fran Cohen is an elementary French teacher and teacher librarian. She is an accomplished in International dance as well as clarinet. She enjoys playing in clarinet choir and chamber ensembles and has been a member of Symphony Hamilton for many years.

Muna Pirhbai, Treasurer

As a partner with Taylor Leibow since 1986, Muna has built a large clientele which profiles largely owner-managed businesses and in particular, auto dealerships. Drawing on three decades of accounting experience, he provides general accounting and auditing services for his business clients and for several charitable organizations.
Raised in Kenya, Muna moved to India to obtain his undergraduate university education. He graduated with a degree in Commerce from the University of Bombay in the 1960's. In 1965, he moved to London to gain his CA designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, which he received in 1969. He returned to Kenya for four years before finally moving to Canada in 1974.
Muna lives in Ancaster and enjoys being with his family. He has twin daughters, one pursuing a career in dentistry and the other a career in accounting

Paul Ramacieri, Secretary

Paul is a partner in the firm and is engaged exclusively in the practice area of Canadian and United States immigration, citizenship and consular matters. Paul has the proven capability and experience to counsel individuals, private and public companies on all issues relating to Canadian and United States immigration. Paul enjoys an enviable reputation within the business community in South-western Ontario as a leading immigration lawyer.
Paul provides a wide range of immigration legal services, including representation with respect to business visitor visas, non-immigrant visas, lawful permanent resident status, landed immigrant status, work permits and labour market options. Paul's services focus on the facilitation of the transfer of personnel and individuals between Canada and the United States. He has proven capability to assist individuals or businesses with petitions and applications for permanent resident status in the United States and also landed immigrant status in Canada.
Paul has authored several articles for association and professional journals throughout Canada. He has also been interviewed several times by local and national media for his views on immigration and related matters.
Paul has been extremely successful in assisting clients to secure the appropriate immigration status in a timely manner. His services assist both business objectives and personal goals.

Caitlin Creagen, Director

Caitlin Creagen hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is a student at McMaster University, majoring in theatre and film, and preparing for a career in arts administration. Caitlin plays violin in Symphony Hamilton and joined the Board in 2007.

Fonda Loft, Director

Burlington resident Fonda Loft is Head of Special Education and ESL at White Oaks Secondary School in Oakville. She is active as a volunteer and fundraiser with Ronald MacDonald House, Hamilton, and the Junior League of Hamilton-Burlington, taking a special interest in liaison with community partners.

Lee Zhang, Director

An MBA graduate, Lee Zhang specializes in marketing communications, corporate branding and public relations. She brings a high level of energy to the Symphony Hamilton Board of Directors. Lee is a junior marketing executive at Interkom Creative Marketing, a leading Burlington-based marketing and branding firm. In her current role, Lee manages projects for public and non-profit sector clients throughout Southern Ontario. Recently, she was the project team lead for the successful launch of a major Performing Arts Centre in the Greater Toronto Area. In her spare time Lee pursues her passion for travel, cooking, music, reading and fitness.

Alan Butcher, Director

Alan is a lawyer practicing commercial and insolvency litigation with Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP. Alan has been with Gowlings for over 16 years, spending approximately 12 years in Gowlings' Toronto office before relocating and continuing his practice in Hamilton.

Outside of practicing law, Alan has a B.Mus. in performance (trumpet) from McGill, and since turning to law has continued his musical pursuits. An accomplished vocalist, Alan had the pleasure of singing with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for a few years and then with the Bel'Arte Singers in Toronto. After many years of dedication as a vocalist, a few years ago, Alan once again turned to his trumpet and joined the Oakville Wind Orchestra, where he continues to perform as a musician as well as participate as a Board Member.