Meet our team:
Toronto
James Maskalyk
Co-Director, TAAAC-EM and GHEM
University of Toronto
Author of Life on the Ground Floor and the international bestseller Six Months in Sudan. James practices emergency medicine and trauma at St. Michael’s, Toronto’s inner-city hospital and is an award-winning teacher at the University of Toronto. He directs the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Emergency Medicine, working with Ethiopian partners at Addis Ababa University to train East Africa’s first emergency physicians.
Rafi Ghanaghounian
Executive Director and Curator
Keep Six Contemporary Art
Rafi Ghanaghounian is the Executive Director of Keep Six Contemporary Art, a not for profit arts organization dedicated to representing, supporting and promoting the arts nationally and internationally through public events and exhibitions as well as educational programs that attract and engage artists, organizations and the cultural community. Ghanaghounian is an accomplished Curator, gallery operator and promoter with over twenty years of experience developing, implementing and promoting exhibition and events for individuals and groups in private galleries and public institutions.
Michael Banasiak
Director of Photography/Content Producer
Michael is a Toronto-based cinematographer, photographer, and producer. A seasoned image maker and artist, he has achieved consistent success in commercial production over the past 15 years. An established creative entrepreneur, he is also the creator of 276 Sterling Studio, Toronto’s first turn-key boutique soundstage. Michael has produced advertising campaigns for many brands such as Mazda, Rogers, Hershey’s, Quaker, Bell Mobility, McCains, MLSE, and Manulife Financial. Additionally, his production company also creates public service content for clients such as: The Food Bank, Out of the Cold, and Plan Canada International, and rallying for environmentally conscious production efficiencies.
Alexandra McKnight
Program Manager
Global Health Emergency Medicine
Alexandra is the Program Manager for GHEM and the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Emergency Medicine (TAAAC-EM). Alex completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Legal Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University and completed her Masters of Global Health (MSc) at McMaster University. Prior to working with GHEM, she wore several hats at a Toronto-based non-profit organization including Camp Coordinator, Partnership Manager, and Facilitator for international youth volunteer trips.
Art is Medicine 