CORE FACULTY

Angelo Papachristos is an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APP) and ACPAC-trained clinician with nearly three decades of experience at St. Michael’s Hospital (Unity Health Toronto). He has made significant contributions to the care of rheumatic diseases since the early 2000s, specializing in seronegative spondyloarthritis, early inflammatory arthritis, and inflammatory muscle disease. He played a crucial role in developing the Myositis Clinic, where he established clinical pathways and standardized assessments. Recently, he was instrumental in launching rapid access clinics for lupus and spondyloarthritis. Angelo lectures extensively across North America on these topics and is a full member of the SPARTAN Association. Additionally, he holds a Clinical Lecturer status position at the University of Toronto, contributing to the rheumatology faculty. He graduated from U of T with a B.Sc.(PT) in 1998 and completed an MBA in 2007.

Dr. Dharini Mahendira, MD, FRCPC, MScCH, is a highly accomplished Clinician-teacher and Associate Professor in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Toronto. She holds prominent administrative roles as the Division Head of Rheumatology at St. Michael’s Hospital and the Program Director for Adult Rheumatology at the University of Toronto. After completing her medical school and rheumatology residency at the University of Toronto, Dr. Mahendira pursued advanced training in the specialized area of rheumatic diseases in pregnancy. She subsequently founded and directs the Rheumatic Diseases and Pregnancy Clinic at St. Michael’s Hospital, where she integrates advanced practice physiotherapy into patient care. Her dedicated clinical research in rheumatic diseases has received recognition and has been presented both nationally and internationally. Dr. Mahendira is an award-winning teacher with a significant national presence, demonstrating extensive involvement in rheumatology teaching and curriculum development as part of the rheumatology faculty. Her educational excellence has been recognized with several major awards: Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) “Emerging Teacher-Educator” of the Year, University of Toronto “William Goldie Prize for Excellence in Medical Education,” and the University of Toronto “Dr. Robert Sargeant Post-graduate Education Award.” Her commitment to education extends to her leadership roles, which include: Co-Chair of the CRA Postgraduate education sub-committee, Co-Lead of the CRA National Immunology Working group, Voting member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Rheumatology Specialty Committee, and University of Toronto Division of Rheumatology Education Lead.

Sameer Chunara is one of the only Advanced Clinician Practitioner in Arthritis Care (ACPAC) graduates in Canada who practices in an outpatient ambulatory community clinic setting. He is a highly motivated healthcare professional with over 18 years of experience in advanced practice physiotherapy. Sameer manages a complex clinical caseload that includes orthopedics, seronegative spondyloarthropathies, and other inflammatory conditions related to rheumatic diseases. He completed his ACPAC in 2016 after earning his Master's in Physiotherapy from McMaster University. As an entrepreneur, he owns and manages two multidisciplinary practices in downtown Toronto, leveraging his expertise in healthcare operations, management, and strategy. Sameer is actively involved in developing and integrating AI-powered musculoskeletal assessment tools to improve chronic disease outcomes. He is also an invited conference speaker, a mentor to physiotherapy residents, and a participant in provincial, federal, and global health stakeholder round-tables, including discussions with the rheumatology faculty.