Board of Directors

Board of Directors 2010

Dr. Ernie Murakami, MD, BA Immunology & Bacteriology, Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus, UBC

Ernie Murakami is a retired family physician. Ernie's passion and interest in Lyme was started with his first case of Lyme disease from a Hope, BC patient many years ago. Over the years he has attended conferences of Lyme disease and has become privy to the vast differences within the medical community views of this disease.

Dr. Murakami was educated at the University of British Columbia where he obtained his Bachelors in Immunology & Bacteriology, and continued on to achieve his MD. He has been honored and recognized for his efforts to further the education of fellow colleagues through the UBC, giving him the status of Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Murakami is the founder of the Dr. E. Murakami Centre for Lyme Research, Education & Assistance and has made it his life's work to further educate and treat Lyme in Canada.

Patricia Murakami, Director, Secretary-Treasurer

Patricia Murakami has stood unwavering behind Ernie's medical career for over 40 years. She herself has been formally educated in the field of Clinical Psychology, and has been involved with the Tillicum Center in Hope , BC for many many years.

Patricia brings to the board a vast knowledge of the workings of a not for Profit society, and a deep understanding of people and priorities.

Dr. Patrick McGeer PhD, MD, FRCP(C), FRSC, OC, OBC, Director

Dr. McGeer received his B.A. in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia in 1948, and his PhD in Physical Chemistry from Princeton University in 1951. After spending three years as an industrial researcher with the DuPont Company in Wilmington, Delaware, he returned to UBC, completing his MD in 1958 and his internship at the Vancouver General Hospital in 1959. He was immediately recruited for the Faculty of Medicine at UBC where he continues as a ProfessorEmeritus.

Dr. McGeer is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Royal College of Physicians of Canada and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, and a member of the Order of British Columbia. He holds Honorary Doctorates from 4 Institutions..He was recognized by ISI International in the original data base of the world?s 100 most highly cited neuroscientists. Scopus lists him in 2008 as Canada?s most highly cited neuroscientist. His publications include 505 refereed papers; 134 chapters or invited papers; 3 books; 2 edited books; 9 patents.

For many years, Dr. McGeer had a dual life as a brain researcher and a member of the British Columbia Provincial Cabinet. He served as an elected member of the B.C. Provincial Legislature from 1962-1986 and as a Minister of the Crown from 1976-1986. As a Cabinet Minister, Dr. McGeer still had time to work evenings and weekends in the laboratory. During that period he published 150 scientific papers and the first edition of The Molecular Neurobiology of the Mammalian Brain with Nobel Laureate Sir John Eccles and his wife Dr. Edith McGeer.

Dr. McGeer has always been interested in sports and played basketball for the UBC team that beat the Harlem Globetrotters. He played for Canada on the Olympic team of 1948 and is a member of the UBC Sports Hall of Fame.

Dr. McGeer has known Dr. Murakami for many years and is very familiar with his efforts in the area of Lyme and co-infections. Many of Dr. McGeer's research efforts cross into the area of Lyme. His vast knowledge of the logistics of research data extrapolation, abstract writings and funding requests will be of great value to the Society.

Susan Duffus, RN, Director of Research Analysis

Susan is a registered nurse in the province of British Columbia and is familiar with Dr. Murakami's fight against Lyme in BC.

Susan is the only one who can read Dr. M's handwriting, and therefore is a huge asset to the society. We are hoping she can teach the rest of us to decipher it as well. (~smile~)

She currently volunteers her time in the Head Office with the extrapolation of data from patient files. Her skills in medical terminology, prior work with Dr. Murakami, and computers makes her the ideal Director of Research Analysis for the Society.

Frank Laurillard, B. Ed, Director

Frank Laurillard was formally educated at UBC where he earned his B.Ed.

He lives in Hope, BC where he taught at Hope Senior Secondary School in 1965 until his retirement in 1999.

Frank brings his unwavering professionalism and organizational skills to the board.

Tama Kawase, B. Ed, Director

Tama Kawase was educated with a Bachelor in Sciences, focusing her studies in Home Economics.

She is currently retired after teaching in the Hope school system for many years.

Tama offers her insight into pertinent issues related to the Society and her experiences in fundraising logistics.

Dr. Mihaela Chaudhary, MD, Director

Mihaela Chaudhary did her residency with Dr. Murakami in Hope, BC and now is part of a practice in eastern Canada.

She has worked side by side with Dr. Murakami and was a integral part of extracting research information to formulate research abstracts during her residency.

Mihaela brings her compassion and understanding of Lyme and her research experiences to the Society.

Aamir Chaudhary, Director

Aamir Chaudhary is self employed in the Payroll Services business together with his wife. He is extensively knowledgeable in computer programming and functionality and offers technical experiences to the Society team.

Dr. E. Murakami Centre for Lyme

Research, Education & Assistance Society