Robin Raworth

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.

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. Chantal (CJ) Allan has deep roots in the Edmonton medical community. Having completed her Master’s degree, medical school and four years of residency at the U of A, she brings a well-rounded understanding of the challenges residents face and the structure of Alberta’s education and health systems. As Edmonton and Northern Alberta Ambassador, Dr. Allan advocates for resident voices at key stakeholder tables, including the Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) office, Medical Students’ Association (MSA), and Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association (EZMSA).

Dr. Allan is the Co-Founder of the University of Alberta chapter of the Association of Out Surgeons and Allies (AOSA)—Canada’s first. Through her work with the MSA and the Sexual and Gender Advocacy Committee, she has championed LGBTQ+ mentorship and events, advancing equity and representation in surgical training. Her advocacy is rooted in lived experience and a strong understanding of medical leadership structures.

She has also served as a PARA Assembly member, Lead Resident and former member of both the Residency Program Committee and Residency Well-being Committee. These roles have equipped her to represent a wide range of resident perspectives and successfully push for change. Among her accomplishments are advocating for post-call days and securing earlier distribution of call schedules—initiatives that have directly improved the day-to-day experience of residents.

Dr. Allan’s background in leadership includes her time on the MSA, where she co-led the organization of IceBowl, a large inter-school hockey event. This experience sharpened her skills in budget management, event planning and team coordination, and laid the foundation for future collaboration with student and resident bodies.

Her approach as Ambassador centres on resident well-being, inclusion and collaborative problem-solving. She is committed to ensuring Edmonton-area residents are heard and supported at every level of decision-making.

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.