CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF WOUND CARE (CAWC) - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Business Operations, Accounting
As the Business Operations, Accounting and Human Resource Manager of Wounds Canada, Addie is responsible for bookkeeping, accounting, HR, office management, organizational planning, sales, website and program administration. Addie holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a post graduate certificate in Human Resources Management and Management Accounting.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Surgeon at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Dr. Kayssi is a vascular surgeon at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and a wound care physician at Women's College Hospital. He obtained his medical degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, before relocating to Toronto to pursue training in general and vascular surgery. He subsequently completed a fellowship in limb preservation and wound care under the supervision of Dr. Richard Neville in Fairfax, Virginia. Dr. Kayssi is a graduate of the Harvard School of Public Health, where he obtained a Master of Public Health focusing on quantitative methods and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
Andrew Springer has been a practicing chiropodist since 1983. He has practiced in a variety of public and private practice settings. During his career he has been active in a number of professional activities requiring leadership, vision, integrity and compassion, including serving as President of the Ontario Society of Chiropodists and the College of Chiropodists of Ontario and in several capacities - clinical, management and administrative - at North York General Hospital, West Park Healthcare and Providence Healthcare. Andrew is also a member of the Ontario Diabetes Foot Care Task Force and consultant to the Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle. In 2010, Andrew received the recognition of "Outstanding Dedication and Service to the Advancement of the Profession" Ontario Society of Chiropodists.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Educational Faculty and Advisors Team
Job Titles:
- Director
- Registered Dietitian
Anna Slivinski is a Registered Dietitian. She has worked 15 years in Home and Community Care in Vancouver and as a member of a dynamic Geriatric Outreach Team which has won several awards for Interdisciplinary Practice. She is involved in the assessment, treatment and education of clients who require Medical Nutritional Therapy. Anna is the wound consultant for nutrition on the Vancouver Community Dietitians' Committee and has presented education sessions to the Home Care Nurses onThe Role of Nutrition in Wound Healing. She also is currently a clinical instructor at the University of British Columbia for interns in the Dietetics Program.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Educational Faculty and Advisors Team
- Nurse
Barbie Murray, BScN, RN MCISc-WH Barbie Murray has been a nurse for 36 years and actively involved in nursing education and wound management. After completing her Master of Clinical Science in Wound Healing at Western University in 2011, Barbie served as the Academic Dean for the Faculty of Health Sciences at Victoria University in Uganda, Africa. She has participated in CMEs for advanced wound care practices in Canada, East Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Currently employed as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Barbie co-ordinates a multi-disciplinary leg ulcer clinic, which manages complex wounds through vascular, orthopedic, plastic surgery and infectious disease services. Barbie is currently President of the Wounds Canada Board of Directors, and serves on a number of regional and national committees dedicated to advanced wound care practices.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Wounds Canada Team
- Education Coordinator for the Wound Care Champion Program
- Education Coordinator, Wound Care Champion Program
Celine is currently the Education Coordinator for the Wound Care Champion Program. Celine graduated from Humber College with a Business Management diploma in 2011 and started working for Wounds Canada immediately after she completed her program.
Crystal oversees the development, implementation and evaluation of educational programs and resources. Crystal deeply cares about wound prevention and management, especially after losing her grandfather due to lower-limb amputation secondary to diabetes. She is passionate about educating in the medical community, working as a Lecturer for Western University's Master of Clinical Science in Wound Healing Program and a private wound care consultant.
Job Titles:
- Independent Consultant
- Member of the Wounds Canada Team
- Education and Leadership Specialist
Darren Levine EdD, is an independent consultant supporting organizations to reimagine possibilities in today's changing landscape. As a grant writer, social innovator and leadership educator, Dr. Levine's work focuses on cultivating workplaces that inspire and engage, where all members can discover their creative potential and exercise leadership for innovative change.
Over the past twenty-five years, Darren has held a variety of management roles and has exercised leadership in several contexts including the not-for-profit and public sectors. Darren is Associate Faculty in the School of Leadership at Royal Roads University where he teaches graduate courses in organizational leadership and supervises student research. Darren holds a Doctor of Education (2010) and a Master of Education (2002) from the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (2010) along with a Bachelor of Arts from York University (1999). He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Values-Based Leadership from Royal Roads University (2018) and Leadership for the 21st Century Executive Education Certificate from Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University (2015).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Educational Faculty and Advisors Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Educational Faculty and Advisors Team
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Member of the Wounds Canada Team
- Registered Nurse
Doug Beemer is a critical care Registered Nurse by background who has worked in the private sector for over 25 years. He has held various sales and product management roles in companies such as Philips Medical, GE/Ohmeda, Covidien and Medtronic. Doug has come out of retirement to join Wounds Canada.
Dr Virginie Blanchette is the first podiatrist PhD in Québec and has been an associate professor in the podiatric medicine program at Université du Québec at Trois-Rivières since 2014. Her research specialty is prevention and management of diabetic foot ulcers and their complications, with a team approach within patient-oriented research (POR). She is currently a Diabetes Action Canada trainee with Charles de Mestral and France Légaré. Dr Blanchette holds a PhD in biomedical sciences from Université de Montréal, a doctorate in podiatric medicine (DPM), and a master's degree and bachelor's degree in medical biology from Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR). She joined the Diabetic Foot Canada Task Force in 2019 to help to prevent, manage and address the deficit in awareness, knowledge and funding of diabetes-related foot complications, preventable amputations and loss of life or people living with diabetes in Canada. She is a member of many research networks.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Educational Faculty and Advisors Team
- CCFP, FCFP 2013 - 2016
- CCFP, FCFP and Professor and Head, Department of Family Medicine
- Professor and Head for the Department of Family Medicine at Nova Scotia Health Authority
Dr. Greg Archibald is a professor and head for the Department of Family Medicine at Nova Scotia Health Authority. Dr. Archibald is a past president of his medical school class at Memorial University. He's held leadership positions in hospitals in Newfoundland and New Brunswick as well as been on provincial and national College of Family Physicians committees.
He's also on the Stroke Committee of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia (HSFNS). He worked with the HSFNS team that advised the Nova Scotia government on instituting Canadian practice standards for stroke management in the province; this work led to him receiving the provincial volunteer award of recognition from the HSFNS.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Health Care Consultant
Dr. Irmajean Bajnok is an international health care consultant specializing in change management, leadership and implementation science. Most recently, (2007-2017), she was the Director of RNAO's International Affairs and Best Practice Guidelines Centre where she led the strategic development and ongoing enhancements of the program pillars of guideline development, implementation science, and evaluation. She was successful in securing special project funding, and led and/or oversaw numerous ongoing projects including smoking cessation, mental health, first nations health, and ehealth. As part of RNAO's Best Practice Spotlight Organization Designation, and using RNAOs evidence based approach to implementation science, she introduced and supported sustained implementation of RNAO's evidence-based practice guidelines to academic and service settings in Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Italy, South Africa, and West Indies. From 2000-2006, she directed RNAO's Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence, leading the development and delivery of professional education and health care consultation services. She has also held executive positions in home care, and acute care and was founding Executive Director of a multi-pronged Canadian government funded women's health program in Pakistan. A considerable part of her career has included administrative and professorial roles in academia at Western University, University of Toronto, and Ryerson University School of Nursing where, as Director, she led the faculty in the development a basic baccalaureate degree, the first basic degree program at Ryerson. Dr. Bajnok is recognized internationally as a dynamic and engaging speaker in particular in relation to evidence based practice and education, healthy work environments, leadership and change management.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Registered Dietitian
Ellen is a registered dietitian with a wide range of nutrition interests including diabetes management, wound care, heart health, weight management, enteral nutrition and eating disorders. She is registered with the College of Dietitians of British Columbia, Dietitians of Canada and is a professional member of the Diabetes Canada and Wounds Canada. She is a member of Wounds Canada's Board of Directors. She holds a clinical instructor position with the Land & Food Systems Faculty at UBC. Ellen received her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and her Masters in Human Nutrition from UBC. She works in Diabetes Education with North Shore Chronic Disease Services at Vancouver Coastal Health, where she collaborates with clients to attain their nutrition and health goals.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Educational Faculty and Advisors Team
Holly Calliou is a Cree woman from Alexander First Nation. She graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2006. Holly worked at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital from 2006-2007. She started working for Indigenous Services Canada in 2007 where she was able to work on a few different First Nations in Alberta. Her primary focus during her time with ISC was in Public Health. In 2015 she was offered the position of Home Care Coordinator for Enoch Cree Nation. This gave her the opportunity to practice with a completely different focus. This position has enabled her to develop more as a nurse and to help as many people as she can in the community. She works closely with physicians, surgeons and other health professionals to provide the best care for her clients. Holly was the recipient of the Indigenous Health Care Professional Scholarship from Wounds Canada in 2022 and the Aboriginal Role Model of Alberta for Health in 2022.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Wounds Canada Team
- Editor, Major Publications
Ian serves as Editor, Major Publications. His responsibilities include Wound Care Canada, Limb Preservation in Canada and Best Practice Recommendations. Ian has more than 30 years experience in medical publishing, including 12 years as Executive Editor for the Canadian division of the world's largest publisher of medical and scientific journals and information.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Educational Faculty and Advisors Team
- Member of the Wounds Canada Team
- Evaluation and Knowledge Translation Specialist
Janet L. Kuhnke RN, BA, BScN, MS, NSWOC is a RN nurse specialist in ostomy, wound and continence (NSWOC) and an Assistant Professor of Baccalaureate Nursing at Cape Breton University. She works in acute care and has worked on Vancouver Island for 20+ years in acute care, long-term care and home and community care programs as a Clinical Nurse Educator and NSWOC. She worked in partnership with families from Cowichan Tribes and Shellbeach and Kullet Bay near Ladysmith and Chemainus, BC.
Janet is passionate about empowering front line clinicians, nurses, practitioners and personal support workers to safely deliver client-centred care following best practices. She has completed a Masters of Science in Systems and a Doctorate in Psychology. In partnership with individuals and communities, she is focused on quality of life and mental health and wellness of patients living with chronic wounds and diabetic foot ulcers. Please reach Janet at janet_kuhnke@cbu.ca or 1 902 563 1209.
Janet is active in Wounds Canada as a researcher and program evaluator.
Her community-based research focuses in prevention of intravenous abscesses, prevention of diabetes related foot ulcers and amputations, and mental health and spiritual wellness. Janet's doctoral studies in psychology focused on the quality of life - spiritual and mental health well-being while living with diabetic foot ulcers; Two-Eyed Seeing principles guided this work.
Janet continues to coach and mentor students in baccalaureate and master qualitative research projects and thesis.
Janice de Boer has held a variety of nursing roles during her 34-year career. She gained a growing interest in wound care over the last 17 years while working in Home Health. Janice currently works as a Wound Care Clinician and a member of the leadership team for Vancouver Coastal Health, supporting home care nurses and their wound care patients in North and West Vancouver. Janice is also a board member of Wounds Canada.
John is a general surgeon and physician lead at the Fraser Health Complex Wound Centre in British Columbia. He has specific interests in the optimal delivery of interprofessional wound care as well as physician engagement in quality improvement.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Specialist at Providence Care Hospital
Jolene currently works as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Providence Care Hospital in Kingston Ontario. She leads an interprofessional wound care program for the 9 inpatient rehabilitation units as well as provides wound care consultation for community outpatient spinal cord injury patients.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Educational Faculty and Advisors Team
Linda Moss is a patient advocate for pressure injury prevention representing her family, who lost their dad Bob Wilson in 2019. Unfortunately, the family never knew a pressure injury was festering under the sheets while her father was in hospital until it was too late. The family's story made national news, and since then Linda has been active in raising awareness about the danger of pressure injuries and what caregivers can do to help prevent them. She is seeking to make the path a little smoother for other families so they can avoid what her own family experienced. Linda says, "With every tragedy there is always a lesson learned and teachable positive movement forward for change." She believes care teams and caregivers are "essential together," and the first step in any prevention or further complications is a collaborated and communicated care plan. She has been partnering with organizations that understand and support her family's cause so preventative change can happen. Her goal is to foster a conversation and raise awareness among caregivers, medical staff, leadership and policy makers to discuss wound care and patient safety standards in Canada.
Job Titles:
- Communications Specialist
Loukia Papadopoulos is the former program manager for the Clean Energy Business Council. She has had a long career in journalism and the not-for-profit sector which included roles with the United Nations Momentum for Change, Leo Burnett and Al Arabiya English. She holds a D.E.C. in Pure and Applied Sciences from Marianopolis College, a B.A. in Communications and a M.Sc. in Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies from Concordia University.
Maria Petri is an accomplished and driven professional with over 25 years of experience in the non-profit and business sectors. Her expertise lies in management, operations, finance, and program development, where she has consistently achieved outstanding results. Maria possesses exceptional skills in organizational leadership, stakeholder and business development, revenue generation, and delivering excellent customer experiences.
Throughout her career, Maria has demonstrated a strong aptitude for fundraising and donor relations. She has successfully raised funds, managed donor relationships, organized fundraising events, acquired major gifts, implemented donor stewardship initiatives, and engaged volunteers. Maria's contributions to the not-for-profit sector have been widely recognized, and she is highly regarded for her ability to drive innovation, foster growth, and ensure the success of organizations.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Educational Faculty and Advisors Team
- Member of the Wounds Canada Team
- Chief Executive Officer of Wounds Canada
As chief executive officer of Wounds Canada, Mariam is responsible for both the implementation of the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the organization. She is a chiropodist and diabetes educator by training and completed her Master's in Educational Leadership. Mariam has also published, developed and lectured in multiple programs both nationally and internationally. She is also the vice president of D foot International. Through her different roles as an executive director, health-care practitioner and educator, researcher and faculty member for many well-recognized organizations, Mariam has extensive practical and professional experience in advancing public health policy and is respected as a strategic, visionary, system thinker.
Maureen is responsible for all of the logistics for Wounds Canada conferences and events. She has over 20 years of experience in the trade show/events business, as well as expertise in working with non-profit associations and on the facility side of events. Maureen helps Wounds Canada deliver education and awareness about wounds to thousands of professionals every year.
Job Titles:
- Hospitalist
- MScCH, CCFP, FCFP 2016 - 2020
Dr. Eisenberg is a hospitalist & wound consultant at St. John's Rehab in Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. He is also an assistant professor & co-director of the MScCH WPC Program in the Department of Family & Community Medicine and Dalla Lana School of Public Health in the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine.
Dr. Waters is a Registered Nurse with wound-related experience in clinical practice, education, industry and research. She is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC. She completed a Master of Science in Wound Healing and Tissue Repair at Cardiff University where she currently teaches and supervises MSc students. She holds a PhD from the University of Calgary.
Dr. Waters present and future research interests include critiquing the way evidence is taken up in advanced wound care and exploring opportunities to integrate innovative approaches that challenge and complement current best practices. She has been secretary of CAWC since 2012 and is an active member of the research and advocacy committees.
Job Titles:
- Sponsorship Director and Conference Lead
Olena works closely with clients to fulfil marketing initiatives while also promoting Wounds Canada through various communications channels. She has managed a variety of medical education programs, digital projects, events, health-care professional and patient awareness campaigns and enjoys working in areas of education and advocacy knowing that the work has a direct impact on the quality of life for patients. Olena completed her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Toronto in Biology and Psychology and has also completed certificates in Business Communications and Digital Strategy and Communications Management.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Educational Faculty and Advisors Team
Job Titles:
- Director
- Health Consultant
Petra O'Connell is a health consultant and the past Senior Provincial Director of the Diabetes, Obesity and Nutrition - Strategic Clinical Network. She was responsible for developing diverse clinical and research network and for overseeing the design, evaluation and spread of initiatives that transform the delivery of health-care services in these three interconnected clinical streams across Alberta. Three province-wide initiatives involve the development of a diabetic foot care pathway for use in primary care.
Petra has extensive experience in strategic and operational planning and evaluation across health care settings and has held senior management positions in strategic and hospital facilities planning, hospital support services operations and ambulatory care management. She has a BSC in Medical Laboratory Sciences and a master's in Health Services Administration from the University of Alberta and has published in the areas of health technology assessment, clinical practice guidelines, and innovations in health care organization.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Educational Faculty and Advisors Team
- Medical Director of the Wound Healing Clinic at Women 's College Hospital
Dr. Evans is the Medical Director of the Wound Healing Clinic at Women's College Hospital, involved in research and teaching. She also is a full-time family physician in the community. Dr. Evans is part of the faculty of the International Interprofessional Wound Care Course (IIWCC) through the University of Toronto. She is senior faculty for Wounds Canada to support the development of interprofessional education programs for clinicians as well as delivery and evaluation of these programs. Dr. Evans is now co-chair for the Diabetic Task Force for Wound Canada.
Sasangi holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Toronto with a Major in Health Policy Studies and a Double-Minor in Psychology and Anthropology. This year, she will be completing her Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management from Seneca College.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Wounds Canada Team
- Publications Assistant
Sowmya is responsible for scheduling meetings, assisting with small projects, promoting conferences, and moderating events. She embraces continuous improvement, learning, and creativity. Sowmya holds an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto with a Major in Mental Health and a Double-Minor in Biology and Creative Writing.
Sue advises on the general communications for Wounds Canada and has a special focus on converting the latest evidence into forms patients, clinicians and health decision makers can use to positively change their behaviours and improve their practices. She has been a communication and program development specialist in the areas of education and health and wellness for almost 40 years.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Community Pharmacist
Susie is a community pharmacist, where she has applied herself as a Certified Diabetes Educator, Certified Fitter of Compression Therapy and Certified Respiratory Educator.
Nationally, Susie serves on and leads several committees: with Diabetes Canada as a chapter author of Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines and member of the dissemination and implementation committee; and with Wounds Canada where she serves on the Board of Directors and has co-authored Wounds Canada Best Practice Recommendations. Provincially, Susie serves on a variety of committees to effect practice and health care in our communities such as the Health Quality Ontario, Diabetes Quality Standard Advisory Committee and the Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee.
Susie is the 2020 Charles H. Best Award recipient, given to a health-care professional who has made a significant difference across Canada towards improving the quality of life of individuals living with diabetes, and was awarded the 2021 Diabetes Canada Educator of the Year.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Educational Faculty and Advisors Team
Job Titles:
- Education Coordinator
- Member of Wounds Canada
Tobi is a member of Wounds Canada's education team, working on an as-needed basis. She has been a practising registered chiropodist for over 12 years, with a special interest in treating diabetic foot wounds. She currently works in a multidisciplinary wound care team in a Toronto-area hospital. Her interest in education has also led her to teach to chiropody students. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from York University and a diploma in Chiropody from The Michener Institute.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Wounds Canada Team
- Communications & Administrative Coordinator
Zahra is responsible for scheduling meetings, assisting with small projects, creating and disseminating social media content, and front-end website maintenance and design. She embraces outside-the-box thinking, innovation, sustainability, and conscientiousness. Zahra double majored in Anthropology and Gender & Women's Studies from York University.