About Us
SUMO is the Governance Organization (GO) responsible for administering the terms set out in the AHSC AFP agreement. The agreement was established in 2003 between the Ontario Ministry of Health and the four entities which comprise SUMO: Sinai Health System, University Health Network, the Health Practitioners Funding Group and the University of Toronto.
SUMO is the Governance Organization (GO) responsible for administering the terms set out in the AHSC AFP agreement. The agreement was established in 2003 between the Ontario Ministry of Health and the four entities which comprise SUMO: Sinai Health System, University Health Network, the Health Practitioners Funding Group and the University of Toronto.
The day-to-day activities of SUMO are carried out by a small team including our Chair, Vice-Chair, Director, Manager and Administrative Assistant. They are:
Prior to becoming Chair, Dr. Tenenbein served as Vice Chair of SUMO for 9 years. He also chaired the Finance and Audit Committee and has been on the Executive Committee since 2011 while he was the primary practice plan representative for Anesthesia.
In addition to his roles in SUMO, Dr. Tenenbein has significant leadership experience in the provincial health system having served on the Physician Service Committee – a joint committee of the OMA and Ministry of Health and as the Chair of Negotiations for the Ontario Medical Association. He has tremendous knowledge of health policy and the various physician funding models in Ontario.
Dr. Tenenbein is a member of the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine and practices primarily at Toronto Western Hospital with sub-specialty training in Anesthesia for Neuro Surgery.
Christopher Chan graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto in 1995. After completing his post-graduate training in internal medicine and nephrology at the University of Toronto, he pursued further training in cardiovascular physiology. He joined the Division of Nephrology at the Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network (UHN) in 2002. He is presently Director of the Division of Nephrology, Professor of Medicine and holds the R Fraser Elliott Chair in Nephrology. Dr. Chan is the Medical Director of UHN Integrated Care and Connected Care Programs and is the Vice Chair of Sinai-UHN Medical Organization (SUMO). Recently, Dr. Chan has been appointed as Provincial Medical Lead of Integrated Care at Ontario Health with a specific focus in chronic disease management. He also serves as Associate Editor for the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology and is the President of the International Society for Hemodialysis.
Jeff Murphy is a senior finance and healthcare leader with over 20 years of experience advancing academic medicine in Ontario. Since 2004, he has served as Executive Director of SUMO, where he oversees strategic, financial, and operational planning for an annual $200M budget and directs the allocation of Alternate Funding Plan (AFP) funds to more than 1,000 academic physicians.
Jeff has led major governance reforms, implemented financial and operating systems that administer over $1B in physician compensation, and guided mergers and integrations across multiple clinical departments. Recognized for his collaborative leadership, he has represented academic physicians provincially, advising on policy and funding frameworks that continue to shape physician compensation across academic medicine.
A Chartered Professional Accountant with a Master of Business Administration, Jeff is known for delivering innovative financial solutions and building consensus in complex healthcare environments.
Richard is a forward-thinking professional with over a decade of experience in public administration, governance, and project management. With expertise in policy design and project delivery, Richard brings a practical yet innovative approach to developing solutions that drive impact. Recognized for his clear communication, structured problem-solving, and a strong focus on effective implementation and continuous improvement, Richard has successfully contributed to diverse initiatives that balance strategic vision with real-world execution.
Atifah Patel is an experienced healthcare professional with over 15 years of combined clinical and administrative experience across hospital, community, and private healthcare settings in both Canada and the UK. Her background spans nursing, patient care coordination, and senior administrative leadership, with a strong focus on patient- centred care, operational efficiency, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Atifah has held key roles within large healthcare organizations. In her administrative leadership roles, she coordinated patient pathways, managed referrals, supported clinical teams, and oversaw staff scheduling, training, and performance in alignment with organizational policies and national healthcare targets. She is known for her proactive approach to problem-solving, clear communication, and ability to streamline processes in fast-paced, high-volume environments.
Atifah holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the George Brown College and Toronto Metropolitan University collaborative program. Her work is guided by a commitment to professionalism, empathy, and delivering efficient, high-quality care that supports both patients and healthcare teams.