Dr. Siavash (Sia) Zare-Zadeh

Dr. Michael Zeeman is an Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine resident. Over the past year, he has led key organizational initiatives, including chairing the committee responsible for a comprehensive review and overhaul of PARA’s bylaws. These updates aligned PARA’s governance with current best practices and introduced greater transparency into its operations.

On the financial side, Dr. Zeeman has worked closely with PARA’s staff and board to ensure responsible stewardship of member dues and long-term financial sustainability. He has focused on improving internal operations and developing systems that will benefit the organization well into the future.

Dr. Zeeman’s background in finance and operations began with bookkeeping for his family’s small business in Medicine Hat. He later built on those skills through advocacy and leadership roles during his time at the University of Calgary, including initiatives in mental health, fitness and diabetes awareness. In medical school, he developed and secured funding for a mental health crisis and suicide prevention elective, which was eventually adopted and funded through the University of Alberta’s medical education program.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Zeeman enjoys cooking, martial arts, fitness, reading and spending time outdoors. He lives in Edmonton with his wife and their two cats.

Looking ahead, he is focused on advancing PARA’s strategic goals by supporting resident professional development, advocating for equitable policy across programs and continuing to strengthen the organization’s financial foundation.

Tara provides strategic guidance and expertise to PARA’s executive – including the CEO and Board of Directors – on strategy, policy development, governance, stakeholder relations and advancing PARA’s strategic objectives. With more than 10 years with PARA, Tara is a passionate advocate for excellence in residency training in Alberta. 

A self-ascribed word nerd and newly minted policy wonk, Tara is also firmly anti-Oxford comma and relishes the chaos her impassioned – and controversial – stance brings. When not nerding and wonking, Tara is a keen reader, music aficionado, travel lover and hockey fan, and is the proud owner of a husband, two (mostly grown) children and an exceptionally fluffy Alaskan Malamute.

Dr. Pauwlina Cyca serves as Past President of the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta (PARA), following a term marked by active engagement across numerous advocacy and governance roles. While she was a resident at the University of Calgary, Dr. Cyca brought a strong foundation of leadership and stakeholder collaboration to her presidency, built through years of involvement at the provincial and national levels.

During her time with PARA, Dr. Cyca served as a delegate for the Family Medicine program, a member of the Leadership and Education Committee and the Negotiation Committee. She also represented resident physicians on the Stabilizing Comprehensive Primary Care Task Force. Her efforts focused on championing sustainable models of care and ensuring the resident voice was present in conversations about the future of primary care in Alberta.

Before entering medicine, Dr. Cyca built a strong leadership profile through her roles in pharmacy governance and patient advocacy. She served as President-Elect of the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists, Maritime delegate to the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities, Industry Lead with the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association Leadership Cohort, and Director of Governance for the founding board of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation. These positions honed her skills in policy development, strategic planning and consensus-building.

As PARA President, Dr. Cyca focused on assertive diplomacy, informed advocacy and fostering trusted relationships across the health system. She continues to offer guidance and continuity as Past President, supporting the current Board and advocating for the needs of Alberta’s resident physicians.

Dr. Poshika Dhingra is an Internal Medicine resident at the University of Alberta and brings a strong understanding of the role and a clear vision for enhancing existing initiatives while developing new programming to meet the evolving needs of residents.

Dr. Dhingra has led several educational initiatives throughout her medical training, including professional development workshops and transition-to-clerkship sessions for medical students. Her governance experience as a Council Member at the Alberta College of Laboratory and X-Ray Technologists has deepened her knowledge of leadership and policymaking—skills she applies as PARA’s observer on the CPSA Council to ensure that resident physicians have a voice in shaping their training and professional development.

She is particularly passionate about expanding transition-to-practice resources for residents. Her priorities include strengthening support in areas such as CV development, interview preparation, billing education and leadership micro-skills like managing difficult patient interactions, navigating social media and time management in high-stress environments.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Dhingra enjoys hiking, pickleball and weightlifting. She brings adaptability, collaboration and a solutions-focused mindset to her work at PARA, with a strong commitment to fostering a culture of education, growth and peer support.