After completing her undergraduate studies in psychology at McGill University, she worked at the Montreal Children’s Hospital before earning her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Concordia University, where she subsequently held a tenure-track academic position.

Her professional journey includes work in family therapy at CLSC Métro and mental health services at the Argyle Institute. She later established her private practice and pursued advanced training in psychoanalysis. An active member, and past president, of the Canadian Psychoanalytic Society’s Quebec English Branch, she has also contributed to professional committees and community initiatives.

Beyond her clinical achievements, Dr. Elman is an accomplished sculptor, working in stone, clay, and other media. Her artistic pursuits reflect the same creativity, thoughtfulness, and quiet vision that have shaped her professional life.

Born and raised in Montreal, Dr. Elyssa Elman is a board-certified family physician with a focus on preventive and metabolic health.

A physician, entrepreneur and Faculty Lecturer at McGill University, Dr. Elyssa Elman has built a career defined by leadership, innovation and exceptional patient care. She founded Greene Family Medicine Group in 2010 before transforming it into Med2, a private clinic dedicated to personalized medicine. She subsequently founded Med2 Jr. and co-founded KixCare, expanding her impact in pediatric healthcare.

Beyond her professional achievements, Elyssa is passionate about giving back, supporting charitable initiatives and fundraising efforts focused on women's health and other important causes. A dedicated mother, marathon runner and community-minded leader, she is especially honoured to share this Women of Action recognition with her mother, Meryl Elman.

Her laboratory integrates clinical trials, preclinical models, and advanced computational oncology to design and test novel microbiome-based interventions including fecal microbiota transplantation, prebiotics, nutrition modulation, and next-generation live biotherapeutic products.

Dr. Elkrief was among the first to demonstrate that antibiotic exposure compromises the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer, a landmark finding that changed clinical practice and shaped international treatment guidelines. Her team leads multiple investigator-initiated phase I and II clinical trials aimed at positively changing the microbiome to improve immunotherapy outcomes, while also leading a computational program to uncover the mechanistic underpinnings of microbiome-centered interventions.

She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. Her contributions have been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Young Investigator Award, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Women in Melanoma Award, the Terry Fox Young Investigator Award, and the Gairdner Young Investigator Award.