Dr. Susan Biali Haas
Burnout & Stress Management Coach, Mental Health, Wellness & Resilience Expert

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Dr. Susan Biali Haas, M.D. is an award-winning medical doctor, health and wellness expert, coach, speaker and author. She helps people worldwide to reduce stress, prevent burnout, improve mental health, and live with increased wellness and resilience.

Dr. Biali Haas overcame burnout and depression at the beginning of her medical career, quickly becoming an internationally recognized influencer in health and well-being. With over two decades spent studying wellness and resiliency, twenty years of clinical experience with thousands of patients, and more than ten years coaching high-performance clients worldwide, she expertly applies her experience and skills to equip people to live better lives.

Dr. Susan’s long list of speaking clients includes the US Navy, Google, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), McKinsey & Company, and Deloitte.

She also inspires a broad range of clients — from military leaders and senior executives to physicians and other healthcare professionals — to take control of their health and start living more impactful, meaningful lives. Dr. Susan Biali Haas has also provided focused support to patients with mental health challenges, providing virtual medical psychotherapy treatment during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A popular blogger for Psychology Today, Dr. Biali Haas’ posts on wellness, mental health and resilience have attracted over 10 million views. She has been featured on The Today Show and The Marilyn Denis Show, and her opinions have appeared in Oprah.com, Forbes, Fast Company, The Chicago Tribune, Health, Martha Stewart Living, People, InStyle, Elle, Prevention, The Washington Post, The New York Post and The Globe and Mail. She has also been a health columnist and “Embrace Life Expert” for Reader’s Digest Best Health.

Dr. Susan Biali Haas has also partnered with organizations such as American Express, Hilton, Procter and Gamble, Toyota, and Bayer to provide information on health and well-being to the public. American Express recognized Dr. Biali Haas as a “Real Life Potentialist” who has broken away from traditional paths and followed a unique calling in life.

In addition to her Doctorate of Medicine and Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from the University of British Columbia, Dr. Susan Biali Haas has received a number of awards, including the Rakesh Goel Prize for most outstanding clinical skills, the UBC Medal in Dietetics, and the Woman of Worth Award in Health & Wellness. She loves to attend courses in preventive and lifestyle medicine at Harvard Medical School and is continually on the lookout for the latest science and data that will help you to thrive in both work and life.

Dr. Susan Biali Haas’ latest book, The Resilient Life, was released in the Fall of 2022.

Dr. James Makokis
Two Spirit Doctor – LGBTQ2S, Indigenous, Diversity & Inclusion Expert

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Dr. James Makokis leads one of North America’s most progressive family medical clinics serving both LGBTQ2S and First Nation peoples from all over Canada. Dr. James Makokis is a national and internationally recognized leader and author in the area of Indigenous health and transgender health. Recently named to “The Medical Post’s 2021 Power List,” Dr. Makokis believes that power should be shared, especially with those who have been disempowered. His philosophy of leadership is based on Nehiyô iyintiw wiyasiwewina (Cree Natural Laws) including kisewatisiwin (kindness), kwayask itatisiwin (honesty), sohkeyitamowin (strength/determination), and pahkwenamatowin (sharing) as taught to him by his Elders.

He is a proud Cree, Two-Spirit physician from Saddle Lake First Nation in Northern, AB and known as one of Canada’s most progressive doctors and experts on numerous topics. Through his work, he is on a mission to serve marginalized populations and to change the outcomes for Indigenous and LGBTQ2S Peoples. Dr. James Makokis and his partner Anthony Johnson were crowned winners of the Amazing Race Canada Season 7, where they received international recognition for their advocacy of marginalized individuals by making the world aware of the impact of discrimination and the mistreatment of anyone labelled as being “different”. They both currently reside on Treaty 6 Territory outside of Edmonton.

He faced many challenges earlier on in establishing his career as an Indigenous doctor. Being Two-Spirit, from a small segregated and poverty-stricken community, forced him to prove himself, try to ignore hurtful statements against him, and develop coping strategies to manage systematic and social forms of discrimination. His success as a doctor is in large part his down-to-earth approach with his patients, as he can easily empathize with them and the challenges they face before providing his medical advice. He was also mentored by many Canadian and Indigenous leaders along his path, which gave him unique insights into a wide variety of issues that people face around the world and in Canada. Dr. James Makokis has travelled alongside former Governor General Michaëlle Jean on a diplomatic mission to Brazil and also had the rare opportunity to work next to Dr. Patch Adams in the Amazon Jungle.

He has received international attention and recognition for his holistic approach to medicine and his advocacy for human rights. He is also one of the few doctors that combine traditional Cree medicine and Western medicine within his practice. Known for his compassion, numerous accomplishments and his unique insights, Dr. James Makokis has inspired all types of Canadians to challenge stereotypical and often discriminating views towards First Nation and LGBTQ2S Peoples. He has won numerous awards, sat on many boards and councils, and continues to give back to his communities in any way he can. Through his work and his previous contributions, he continues to break down stigmas and identify the societal structures and forces of oppression that LGBTQ2S and Indigenous populations face.

Dr. James Makokis wanted to be a doctor since he was four years old. It was during his education that he decided to focus on LGBTQ2S and Indigenous health so that he could make a difference for those often left out of the healthcare system and society as a whole. The attitudes and discrimination individuals he serves face within the health care system and in their personal lives, often leads to his patients being marginalized and underserved through the imbalance of trust, access and service for their health. He is here and on a mission to create real change by serving marginalized populations and rebuilding relationships with those who have are often left behind.

He earned his Master’s in health science from the University of Toronto in 2006 and graduated from the University of Toronto’s medical school in 2010 and the University of British Columbia’s Aboriginal Family Medicine Residency Training Program in 2012. He is also trained in family medicine and trans health. He is dedicated to continuing to save lives through his medical practice and his unique approach to medicine. Dr. Makokis worked as an instructor at the Yellowhead Tribal College, the University of Toronto, and the University of Alberta, teaching courses on Indigenous health, Indigenous cultural practices, and traditional medicine. He also received certification from the Aboriginal Family Medicine Training Program and served as the Spokesperson for the National Aboriginal Health Organization’s Role Model Program for many years.

He shares a wide range of his personal experiences, areas of expertise, Indigenous knowledge and his compassionate understandings with audiences for his quest to serve others and bring measurable change within the nation. Dr. James Makokis feels a calling to share the struggles and challenges of individuals and communities that are often left behind. Keynote Speaker, James Makokis is an Indigenous Cree Two-Spirit Doctor & LGBTQ2S Inclusivity thought leader for equity diversity and inclusion strategy in the workplace and society. He shares his family history, Indigenous history, real-life examples from his patients, and his personal experience within his presentations. His focus is to help us all celebrate each person’s uniqueness while showing us all how to improve ourselves so that we can be in the best position to positively impact others, for the larger contribution of the human experience.