This IS Long Term Care 2017
 
0
 
Nancy Frates (Keynote)
The Mom Who Started the Ice Bucket Challenge!
On March 13, 2011 Nancy’s 27 year old son Peter was diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease. Their world changed in a moment. They were told that there is no treatment or cure and the prognosis was 2-5 years. Since that day, Nancy has immersed herself in the ALS community. Through her education and work experience, she knew that the best way to become knowledgeable and currently informed on the disease was to get to know the players and the institutions that were on the forefront on this disease. In the past 3 years Nancy has traveled and networked to the offices of CEO’s, Senators, Congressmen, Top Doctors and governmental authorities. She has testified in Washington DC to an FDA panel and has initiated and executed petitions regarding important issues affecting the ALS communities. Nancy has developed strong relationships with executives at both the local and national levels of ALS organizations involved in research, patient support, advocacy and fundraising. Prior to this, Nancy had a successful business career in Real Estate. At Keller Williams Realty, Nancy was a Top Agent, Productivity Coach, Team Leader of h e r market, and eventually became an Assistant Team Leader/Trainer for Keller Williams in 4 locations. In 2014, she received honorable mention by Boston Magazine for being the "Bostonian of the Year"; In 2015 She was voted "Communicator of the Year" by PR Week, and was also named to the Fortune Magazine Top 50 Leaders list of 2015. (She was #19!).
 
Deborah Kimmett (Keynote)
Laughter Is The Best Medicine
Deborah Kimmett has been in the humour business for 30 years. This Second City alumna enjoys a busy speaking career and travels across North America addressing organizations on the positivity and creativity in change. She appears regularly on CBC Radio’s Debaters, DNTO, and LOL as well as the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. 

She is the author of 3 books and 5 plays: one nominated for the Governor General award. Her film Guarded, (about a female prison guard) is currently in development with CFC (the Canadian Film Centre). Deborah is the architect of the Seven Minute Writer e-toolkit and holds regular online classes coaching writers to 'stop procrastinating and write already'. Because of her special interest in health care and hospice work, she recently produced a compassionate video for caregivers called, Walk a Mile in My Backless Gown.
 
Sachin Aggarwal
CEO
Think Research
Experience
Chief Executive Officer Think Research Corporation, Toronto, ON, 2010 – Present
  • Provides leadership, vision and direction to internal Clinical R&D, IT, Product Development, Business Development and Operation/Finance teams and management of external stakeholders
  • Proactively identifies and executes new analytic and strategic initiatives and growth opportunities increasing customer base and enhancing company profitability and overall success
  • Champions the corporate culture, which is based on respect, ongoing communication, collaboration and recognizing individual and team accomplishments and successes
  • Leverages capital markets and investors to accelerate company growth and impact
  • Facilitates the engagement process with external clients, government ministries and officials
  • Leads corporate goal setting and communicates process at weekly, company-wide meetings
  • Communicates lessons learned from initiatives to foster ongoing, company-wide improvements
  • Advocates for disruptive change and innovation in health care and complementary sectors
Deputy Chief of Staff
Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Ottawa, ON, Dec 2008 – Dec 2010

  • Responsible for the day-to-day management of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition
  • Hired and managed a staff of 85 political professionals in 6 departments, including policy, communications, political operations and tour, parliamentary affairs, digital media, and the Leader’s executive team
  • Interacted and worked directly with all members of the Liberal Party caucus and their parliamentary staff and briefed the Leader on a daily basis
  • Responsible for all liaison and joint matters with the Liberal Party of Canada, and appointed to the National Election Readiness Committee of the Liberal Party of Canada
Associate
Tory’s LLP, Toronto, ON, Dec 2006 - Nov 2008

  • Associate in the corporate department with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, securities law and public offerings. Legal practice involved representing clients in a variety of capital markets transactions and securities regulatory matters including:
  • The Thomson Corporation in its US$35 billion proposed combination with Reuters Group PLC by way of a dual-listed company structure
  • Sherritt International in its C$1.6 billion acquisition of Dynatec Corporation
  • O&Y REIT in its C$2.1 billion joint auction with its controlling unit holder, O&Y Properties, and the joint acquisition by a consortium of investors led by Brookfield Properties
  • First Capital Realty Inc. in its C$100 million Series F debenture offering
  • The underwriting syndicate in Keystone North America’s secondary offering of C$20 million of income participating securities IPSs)
Chief Agent & National Director of Operations
Michael Ignatieff Leadership Campaign, Toronto, ON, Feb 2006 - Dec 2006

  • Recruited and managed 28 personnel and a volunteer network of more than 3,000 people across the country
  • Briefed and liaised extensively with more than 50 MPs and Senators supporting Michael Ignatieff
 
Lora Appel
Research scientist
University Health Network’s innovation centre, OpenLab
Dr. Lora Appel, received her PhD in Health Informatics from Rutgers University, New Jersey. She is a research scientist at the University Health Network’s innovation centre, OpenLab, and holds a post-doctoral fellowship at York University in the Faculty of Health. Lora currently leads "Prescribing Virtual Reality (VRx)" a collection of studies that introduce and evaluate AR/VR/MR interventions for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. She is also involved in the design of a new curriculum incorporating VR for the School of Nursing at York University. Lora has expertise in applying design thinking & science methodology to healthcare innovation. She is passionate about finding solutions that provide care in the pursuit of a cure. www.PrescribingVR.com
 
Deborah Bakti
Vice President
ParaMed, Extendicare
Deborah joined Extendicare in 2006 as Vice President of ParaMed, their home health care division. In 2008 she also assumed the roles of Vice President, Human Resources and SGP Purchasing Partner Network. In her current role as Vice President, Human Resources, Deborah leads a dynamic team who support the employee and labour relations experience for more than 23,000 employees across Canada. Before joining Extendicare, Deborah held leadership roles within Operations, Sales and Marketing in both the Group Insurance and Staffing Industries. Deborah’s passion is empowering people to lead by design through coaching and shifting mindsets. Her business experience and education in corporate coaching, positive psychology and LTC combined with her life experience as a ‘resident’s wife’ position her uniquely as an expert in this area.
 
Danielle Bender
Senior Research Associate
Saint Elizabeth Research Centre
Danielle Bender is a Senior Research Associate with Saint Elizabeth Health Care and has spent the past seven years leading research initiatives focused on person and family-centred care and how to embed this approach throughout home, community and long-term care organizations. Over the past several years, Danielle has developed, implemented and evaluated evidence-informed person and family-centred care education programs for all employees and management in healthcare organizations and has developed several resources on this topic, including the one she will talk about today, focused on resident and family engagement. She also served as a member of the Expert Panel for the RNAO’s Clinical Best Practice Guideline on person and family-centred care.
 
0Anna Berall
Research Coordinator
Kunin-Lunenfeld Centre for Applied Research and Evaluation, Baycrest Health Sciences
Anna Berall is a Research Coordinator with the Kunin-Lunenfeld Centre for Applied Research and Evaluation at Baycrest Health Sciences. Anna graduated with a degree in nursing from the University of Toronto. She works within a collaborative research team to help coordinate and implement research projects across the organization. Some of the program evaluation and research projects Anna has been involved with investigate caregiver support, palliative care, inpatient rehabilitation and quality of life in long term care.
 
Jennifer Boger
Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging / U Waterloo
Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging
Dr. Jennifer Boger is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo and the Schlegel Research Chair in Technology for Independent Living at the Research Institute for Aging. Over the past 15 years Jennifer has been a researcher on 38 projects that have applied state-of-the-art computer science, engineering, rehabilitation science, and human factors methodologies to create internationally renowned intelligent assistive technologies for supporting aging and promoting independence and quality of life for older adults. Jennifer believes that close collaboration is key in achieving novel, holistic, tractable, and implementable solutions to the large, complex problems surrounding aging; she takes great satisfaction in seeing differing viewpoints merge into innovations. Examples of technologies that support independent aging that Jennifer has played a key role in include: the COACH prompting system for people who live with dementia, hands-free automated fall detection, ambient vitals monitoring through interaction with everyday objects, robotic-guided haptic upper limb post-stroke rehabilitation, and autonomous powered wheelchair anti-collision and navigation.
 
Theresa Boyle
Health reporter
Toronto Star
Theresa Boyle is the Toronto Star’s health reporter. She focuses mostly on what’s happening in Ontario’s health world and is particularly interested in health policy. She has written much about long-term care and the growing health needs of seniors. She often hears from readers who have difficulty accessing long-term care for loved ones. Lately, she has been writing a lot of stories about the capacity challenge in the hospital sector, which is related to the large number of ALC patients, many of whom are awaiting placement in long-term care. In her more than 20 years at the Star, she has also worked at the paper’s Queen’s Park bureau, covering provincial politics. She has a Master of Science in journalism from Northwestern University, where she focused on health reporting.
 
Daphne Broadhurst
Clinical Specialist
Medical Pharmacies
Daphne Broadhurst is a clinical specialist with Medical Pharmacies. She facilitates best practice in infusion therapy in the home care and long term care settings. Daphne has authored peer-reviewed journal manuscripts and a best practice guideline, is an international speaker and currently is an Adjunct Research Fellow with Griffith University, Australia and the Past President for the Canadian Vascular Access Association.
 
Lora Bruyn Martin
Research Application Specialist
Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging
Lora Bruyn Martin is the Research Application Specialist at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) and works to integrate research, practice and policy related to aging. Lora is responsible for helping to develop and implement evidence-informed interventions within retirement and long term care. She also oversees other knowledge mobilization activities such as stakeholder engagement, co-production of research, dissemination of research and building a culture of research and innovation within Schlegel Villages, one of RIA’s key partners. Lora has a MASc in Systems Design Engineering and a BSc in Kinesiology, both from the University of Waterloo.
 
Barb Bryan
Care Services Coordinator
Jarlette Health Services
Barb Bryan has a wealth of knowledge about the Long Term Care industry with nearly 35 years in the sector. She is passionate about quality improvement and about doing the right thing for our residents, their family and staff. Barb currently holds the position of Care Services Coordinator with a focus on Quality at Jarlette Health Services. Barb currently sits on the OLTCA Quality Committee. As a Registered Nurse, she has held a variety of roles in Long Term Care homes.
 
Niklas Chandrabalan
Administrator
Extendicare Bayview
Niklas Chandrabalan has extensive and varied experience in Long Term Care. As a teenager he worked in the maintenance department of Tony Stacey Center for Veteran’s care as he completed his Bachelor’s in Economics at York University. He has since held positions as Support Services Manager and Office Manager at Extendicare homes, and is currently the Administrator at Extendicare Bayview. He has also recently held an acting regional Director position for the Eastern homes. Niklas has spearheaded and supported many innovative initiatives at his facility and across the country including: Culture Change at Extendicare Bayview, REACH-with his Co-Lead Rosemarie Lindau, Resident and Family Environmental Enhancement Team at Extendicare Bayview and other quality initiatives at Extendicare Bayview with the collaboration of external partners.
 
0Andrea Chaplin
Evaluation Specialist
Infection Prevention and Control department, Public Health Ontario
Andrea Chaplin is an Evaluation Specialist with the Infection Prevention and Control department at Public Health Ontario and an adjunct scientist with the Institute for Work and Health. She is also a credentialed evaluator with the Canadian Evaluation Society. Andrea has a doctoral degree in public health from the University of Toronto and a masters degree in epidemiology from the University of Ottawa. Her professional interests include developing methods and approaches to support evidence-informed decision-making in public health, implementation science, and the evaluation of complex interventions.
 
Candace Chartier
Chief Executive Officer
Ontario Long Term Care Association
Candace brings a wealth of sector experience to her role as Chief Executive Officer. She is a strong leader, effective communicator and practiced health care professional who leads and delivers results on wide ranging and complex projects. 

Previously, Candace held positions such as Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Project Director, Administrator and Director of Care in long-term care. She started her career as an RN and worked in the Acute Care Sector, Rehabilitation, Community Nursing and the Aeromedical Nursing fields. Candace is a strong advocate for long-term care both provincially and nationally as an executive with the Canadian Association for Long Term Care. 

Candace holds an MBA from Western University Richard Ivey School of Business and is a graduate of Queens University Executive Development Program and the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management, Advanced Health Leadership Executive Program. Candace also holds the ICD.D designation with the Institute of Corporate Directors.
 
Mark Chignell
Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
University of Toronto
Mark Chignell has a PhD in Mathematical Psychology and a Masters in Industrial and Systems Engineering. He is a Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto, where he has been since 1990 as a member of the Human Factors Group and the Information Engineering Group. He carries out research in human factors and user interface design, with particular interest in aging, adaptive interfaces, and healthcare.
 
Lisa Corrente
Employment & Labour Partner
Torkin Manes LLP
As a member of our Employment & Labour Group, Lisa acts extensively for clients in any issue that arises in the workplace. She deals with wrongful dismissal litigation, human rights complaints, applications for certification by trade unions, collective bargaining and arbitrations, privacy and surveillance issues and pay equity proceedings. Lisa also provides advice and assistance on employment agreements, workplace policies, severance packages and the resolution of workplace disputes. 

Lisa’s practice in the Health Law Group includes advising and representing health care facilities and health professionals. She regularly provides assistance to longterm care homes, retirement homes, domiciliary hostels and other health facilities with respect to Ministry compliance matters, professional complaints and discipline proceedings, privacy and requests for access to information, residential tenancy disputes and issues concerning residents and their family members. 

Within both her practice areas, Lisa conducts neutral workplace investigations into matters such as policy violations and employee misconduct, resident abuse and neglect, discrimination and harassment, failure to accommodate and reprisals. She provides timely and thorough investigative expertise from the start of the investigative process through to providing comprehensive written reports and recommendations. 

Lisa is a member of the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI). She also represents our firm in its membership in the Ontario Long Term Care Association and Ontario Retirement Communities Association. Lisa is the Past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Health Law Section and is currently the Secretary- Treasurer of the Canadian Bar Association’s National Health Law Section.
 
Darly Dash
Evaluation Project Officer
Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging
Darly Dash is the Evaluation Project Officer at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA). The RIA is a partnership focused on conducting practice relevant research and translating research into practice. Darly leads the evaluation of various programs that support the quality of life and quality of care for persons living in long term care and retirement settings. She is committed to developing and evaluating new ideas to find out what works in these settings. Darly holds an MSc and BSc from the University of Waterloo in the School of Public Health and Health Systems.
 
Luke Denomme
Neighbourhood Coordinator
The Village of Riverside Glen, Schlegel Villages
Luke Denomme is a part of the Schlegel Villages Long Term Care team as a Neighbourhood Coordinator at The Village of Riverside Glen in Guelph, Ontario. Luke's role is to serve and advocate for 64 Residents living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, their Family Members and 60 Team Members across various disciplines. Luke started his career working with seniors as a graduate student at Wilfrid Laurier University, where he was interested in understanding how humans balance, posture and gait change over time due to natural aging and various neurological impairments. Luke has an MSc in Kinesiology with a specialization in Neuromechanics. Luke believes in the power of collaboration to develop innovative ways to support and serve residents, families and team members who are a part of Long Term Care.
 
Melissa Donskov
Executive Director
Saint-Louis Residence and Élisabeth Bruyère Residence
Melissa Donskov is the executive director at Bruyère’s long-term care homes: Saint-Louis Residence and Élisabeth Bruyère Residence. Melissa previously worked in primary health care research management with the Bruyère Research Institute, as well as with Bruyère Continuing Care as medical affairs manager and administrator for the Bruyère Academic Medical Organization. More recently, she was the director of operations at the Bruyère Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care. Melissa has a master’s degree in health administration and an undergraduate degree in physiotherapy from the University of Ottawa. She also holds Canadian College of Health Leaders and Certified Human Resources Leader designations, as well as a LEAN Green Belt certification.​
 
Hillary Dunn
Director of Communications and Program Manager of RIA’s Agri-food for Healthy Aging program.
Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA)
Hilary Dunn is Director of Communications at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) and Program Manager of RIA’s Agri-food for Healthy Aging program. She helps manage projects, from grant writing through to implementation, coordinates communications and supports knowledge translation initiatives. Hilary has a Masters in Human Health and Nutritional Sciences and has been with the RIA for 5 years.
 
Dr. Suzanne Dupuis-Blanchard
Director
Centre for Aging Research, Université de Moncton
Dr. Suzanne Dupuis-Blanchard holds a CNFS Research Chair in Population Aging, is an associate professor at the School of Nursing, and Director of the Centre for Aging Research at Université de Moncton. She is the current President of the Canadian Association on Gerontology (CAG) and co-chaired the Government of New Brunswick Council on Aging. She completed a PhD in Nursing from the University of Alberta, a Master of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Université de Moncton. Her program of research focuses on the multiple facets of aging in place with a special focus on older adults living in Official Language Minority Communities (OLMC).
 
Marilyn El Bestawi
Independent Health Care Consultant
Marilyn El Bestawi –Is an experienced healthcare leader. Currently Marilyn is an independent Health Care Consultant specializing in clinical practice, operations and scheduling. She has been working with the Canadian foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI) as Faculty and Coach for the PREVIEW-ED© implementation and spread. Marilyn is a registered nurse by profession and has worked as a Manager, Executive Director and Vice President at various community and academic Hospitals in the Toronto area. As the developer of PREVIEW-ED© an novel tool that Marilyn created as a Fellow in the Executive Training for Research Application Program at the CFHI, she was the recipient of the Innovation Category Award for Scale and Spread at OLTCA in 2015.
 
Dr. Sid Feldman
community family physician and long-term care physician/medical director
North York Family Health Team and Jewish Home for the Aged at Baycrest Health Sciences
Dr. Sid Feldman is a community family physician working with the North York Family Health Team and a long-term care physician/medical director of the Jewish Home for the Aged at Baycrest Health Sciences. He also serves as Chief, Department of Family and Community Medicine at Baycrest and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto. He holds a Certificate of Added Competence in Care of the Elderly from the CFPC and serves as the Ontario representative on the CFPC Health Care of the Elderly Program Committee.
 
Shirley Fenton
Research Associate; Vice-President; Co-Founder
Computer Systems Group, University of Waterloo; National Institutes of Health Informatics; Waterloo MedTech
Research Associate, Computer Systems Group, University of Waterloo Vice-President, National Institutes of Health Informatics Co-Founder, Waterloo MedTech Shirley Fenton has over 30 years of experience in information technology (IT) and business development focused on innovative IT applications, community information portals, and new tools and devices for health care. Her interests are the Science of Innovation, Health Informatics, eHealth, Biotechnology, BioHealth, Intelligent Communities, Community Informatics and Communities of Practice. She is involved in research programs related to technology and its deployment. She is active in building research and technology transfer relationships with government and industry. She is a Research Associate, Computer Systems Group, University of Waterloo and Vice-President, National Institutes of Health Informatics. She is a Co-Founder of Waterloo MedTech. She serves on the Centre for Distance Education Health Information Management Program Advisory Committee. She served on the HIMSS Ontario Board of Directors. She was a member of the Steering Committee when Waterloo was awarded the 2007 Intelligent Community of the Year. In 2011, she received the Zonta International Women of Achievement “Trailblazer Award”. She was the inaugural recipient of the Healthcare Information Management and Communications Canada “Human Foundations Award” in 2016. She loves playing tennis. Shirley obtained a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Honours) and a Master of Arts (Geography) from the University of Waterloo.
 
Patti Fetter
Regional Director of Operations
Revera Inc.
Patti Fetter is a Regional Director of Operations at Revera Inc., overseeing 10 properties in Ontario. She has worked for Revera for nearly 30 years, including more than a decade as a Long Term Care home Executive Director. Her experience includes the opening of three homes, and responsibility for a home that has recently been approved for a designated specialized unit for responsive behaviours. Patti’s education includes a Certificate of Gerontology from Ryerson University, and an Administrator certification from Canadian Healthcare Association.
 
Marion Godoy
Senior Nurse Consultant
Responsive Health Management Inc.
Ms. Godoy is the Senior Nurse Consultant for Responsive Health Management Inc. and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) from Ryerson University. She holds a Mental Health Nursing Certificate from Humber College and a LTC Administrator certificate. Throughout her nursing career she has worked in the field of Organ Transplant at Toronto General Hospital but has since focused on Long Term Care services. She joined Responsive Health Management Inc. in 1990 and has worked in a number of positions including, Unit Supervisor, Nurse Manager, Director of Nursing and Administrator. Marion is instrumental in mentoring Directors of Nursing into building strong nursing teams, ensuring positive quality outcomes and legislative compliance in the Responsive Health Management Inc. homes. In addition, Marion currently provides consulting services to several rural long term care homes in Ontario. Marion has participated in several task groups with the Ontario Long Term Care Association, was involved with the RAI-MDS implementation in Ontario, was involved in the provincial Peritoneal Dialysis committee and now is an active member of the Point Click Care's Canadian Analytics Customer Advisory Board, Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation Stakeholder Advisory Committee and Greater Toronto Area Nursing Education Consortium.
 
David Golden
Commercial and Real Estate Litigation, Health (Institutional) Lawyer
Torkin Manes LLP
David chairs the firm’s Health Care Institutions Group and co-chairs its Health Law Group. David’s civil litigation practice focuses on commerc ial litigation, health law and professional liability. 

He regularly appears before all levels of court, boards and tribunals that regulate the health care industry and the professions. David also represents barristers, solicitors and engineers in all courts and at arbitrations/mediations with respect to errors and omissions claims. 

He routinely represents clients in commercial disputes that are resolved at trial or through mediation/arbitration. David is counsel to the Ontario Long Term Care Association and the Ontario Retirement Communities Association.
 
Cathy Granger
Director of Long Term Care
Region of Peel
Cathy Granger is the current Director of Long Term Care for the Region of Peel. In this role, Cathy is responsible for overseeing five Long Term Care homes, ensuring that our residents receive the highest quality, person-centered care. Cathy’s career at the Region has spanned more than 20 years and includes a variety of positions ranging from a public health nurse, up to and including supporting the Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Division in a Director role. Cathy’s strong ability to lead teams to achieve and exceed established objectives, build strong strategic relationships, and negotiate through difficult projects are all assets to the Long Term Care sector. At the present time, under Cathy’s leadership, the Region of Peel Long Term Care is embarking on several innovative projects to support the complex needs of her residents. These include the implementation of the Butterfly Dementia Care Model, founded by Dr. David Sheard which is designed to “de-institutionalize” the environment of Long Term Care homes; the hiring of 2 neuro-behavioral nurse practitioners to support residents with acute dementia and the comprehensive geriatric assessment project that we are discussing today.
 
Lori Hale
Executive Lead, Research and Policy
The Change Foundation
Lori Hale joined The Change Foundation in 2007, as the Executive Lead, Research and Policy to lead the Foundation’s research agenda and the development of position papers. Lori has managed the Foundation through two strategic plan renewal processes and is responsible for the Foundation’s evaluation framework. She brings over 30 years’ experience in the public service and not-for-profit sector including health policy work with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and the Premier’s Council on Health, province-wide programming and strategic plan renewal at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), program development in the MOHLTC and the Ministry of Community and Social Services, and executive and policy support at the Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs. Lori has a Masters of Social Work from the University of Toronto, and a BA (Honours) from Queen’s University.
 
Connie Harris
Clinical, Education and Research Consultant
Perfuse Medtec
Connie Harris RN, ET, IIWCC, MSc Clinical, Education and Research Consultant - Perfuse Medtec. Connie has been a Wound consultant for Hamilton Niagara Haldeman Brant and Waterloo Wellington CCACs, was the Project Lead for the South West Regional Wound Care Framework project.
 
Robyn Hastie
Senior Analyst
Home and Continuing Care department, Canadian Institute for Health Information
Robyn Hastie is a Senior Analyst with the Home and Continuing Care department at the Canadian Institute for Health Information. She has over seven years of experience working with long term care and home care data from Ontario and across Canada. She is currently working on a team that is developing a system that will accept interRAI Suite instruments, including the interRAI-LTCF.
 
Shoshana Helfenbaum
Interprofessional Educator
Baycrest Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long Term Care
As an Interprofessional Educator in the Baycrest Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long Term Care, Shoshana designs curriculum and implements educational methodologies in the area of relational-centred care. Recent work focuses on using mindfulness, simulation and Appreciative Inquiry for knowledge mobilization and sustainable practice change on interprofessional teams. Shoshana`s career spans over 20 years in community, hospital and long-term care settings as a geriatric social worker and psychotherapist, gerontologist, clinical simulationist, instructional designer and eLearning strategist. Shoshana also volunteers as an advocate for social care for persons living with dementia; both academically, and as a volunteer Caring Clown.
 
Prof. John Hirdes
Fellow and board member
interRAI
Professor Hirdes is the senior Canadian fellow and a board member of interRAI, an international consortium of researchers from over 30 countries. He chairs interRAI's international Network of Excellence in Mental Health and the interRAI Network of Canada, a collaborative network of researchers and graduate students from across Canada. He is a member of the interRAI committee that produced the new suite of instruments and care planning protocols, and he led development of several interRAI instruments for mental health and community-based screening.
 
Joanne Ho
Assistant Professor
McMaster University, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine
Joanne Ho is an internist, geriatrician and clinical pharmacologist who researches adverse drug events in the older individual using observational research and systematic review methodologies. She attended the University of British Columbia for her medical undergraduate degree and then completed residencies in internal medicine, geriatric medicine and clinical pharmacology at the University of Toronto. Her Masters of Science was completed at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation during which time she participated in the Department of Medicine Eliot Phillipson Clinician Scientist Training Program at the University of Toronto. Joanne Ho recently completed a research fellowship with the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute through the University of Toronto Division of Geriatric Medicine and she is also an examiner with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology. Joanne Ho is currently affiliated with Grand River Hospital and recently joined the Department of Medicine at McMaster University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine. She is piloting GeriMedRisk, a geriatric pharmacology consultation and knowledge translation service for clinicians in the Waterloo-Wellington Region.
 
Micaela Jantzi
Data Manager
interRAI Canada
Micaela Jantzi is the Data Manager for interRAI Canada, providing analytic support for research projects and management of large data holdings as a long-time member of John Hirdes’ team. She is also the main contact for information about interRAI Quality of Life instruments in Canada. She can be reached at mcjantzi@uwaterloo.ca.
 
Bill Jarvis
Resident Innovation Ambassador
Revera Inc.
William F. (Bill) Jarvis has been a resident at Revera’s Northridge Long Term Care home in Oakville, Ontario since 2013 and was appointed Revera’s first Resident Innovation Ambassador in March 2016. He is an active member of the Northridge community, serving as the Head of Resident Council. In his role as Resident Innovation Ambassador, Mr. Jarvis assists the Revera leadership team in building a culture of innovation, representing the voice of the resident in the design and implementation of the company’s innovation programs, and providing valuable insights to Revera’s senior leadership team and partner organizations on leveraging new products, services and technologies to improve seniors’ lives. He is also a member of the Revera Innovation Council, where he provides guidance on prioritizing and refining the company’s innovation activities. Mr. Jarvis graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada and served as a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Air Force before going on to excel in various professional pursuits. He served as the Director of Information Technology at Labatt Breweries of Canada for 18 years and co-founded The Transition Group, an IT management consulting firm, in 1984. He also served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gartner Canada from 1993-1997 and acted as a private management consultant for a number of international organizations until his retirement in 2000. Mr. Jarvis holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at Western University. In his free time, he enjoys reading, photography, and spending time with his three children and seven outstanding grandchildren.
 
Karen Joseph
Research assistant
Kunin-Lunenfeld Centre for Applied Research and Evaluation, Baycrest Health Sciences
Karen Joseph is a research assistant (RA) with the Kunin-Lunenfeld Centre for Applied Research and Evaluation at Baycrest Health Sciences. She works with healthcare professionals, researchers, students, and commercial partners to support clinical, applied, and evaluative research. She primarily assists with the development, testing, and validation of technological solutions for older adults and caregivers, and with the evaluation of activity-engagement programs for long-term care residents. Karen graduated from McMaster University with an Honours BSc. degree in Life Sciences, with double minors in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, and Health, Aging & Society. She previously worked as an RA with the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging at McMaster University and the Mood Disorders Lab at St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.
 
Marc Kanik
President and Managing Director
Keebee Play
Marc Kanik is President and Managing Director of Keebee Play, a Canadian company and global leader in designing and producing high quality play equipment. Keebee is now employing their expertise with therapeutic engagement-tools to design Ambient Activity Technologies for individuals with dementia living in long-term care environments. Their goal is to create and embed familiar and appropriate activity interfaces into the care environment to allow residents with moderate to severe levels of cognitive impairment opportunities to engage and interact with meaningful and personalized content.
 
Heather Keller
Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition & Aging; Professor, Kinesiology, University of Waterloo Research Scientist, Agri-food for Healthy Aging, Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging
Heather Keller RD PhD is the Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition & Aging at the University of Waterloo. Research programs cross the continuum of care and are focused on improving the nutritional status and food intake of older adults. As Co-Chair of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force (CMTF), Heather leads an interprofessional team mandated to promote the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition in Canada. Current projects include More-2-Eat, an implementation project designed to advance nutrition care practices in hospitals. Heather also leads the Making the Most of Mealtimes (M3) research group and a recently completed prevalence study identifies multifactorial determinants of food intake in long term care. Interventions to improve food intake for residents are in progress. Nutrition screening in primary care and diet resilience focused on self-management and nutrition education for vulnerable adults in the community is her third area of research. Contact Information: Email: hkeller@uwaterloo.ca
 
Metzi Lacroxi
the Manager of Resident Services
Sienna Senior Living
Metzie Lacroxi is currently the Manager of Resident Services at Sienna Senior Living. She joined Sienna in 2013 as a Clinical Consultant and became the Manager of Resident Services in 2014. Metzie is a registered nurse with over 20 years of extensive experience in senior’s care including roles in administration and clinical care. Metzie has a Bachelor’s in Health Administration from Ryerson University and holds credentials as a Certified Administrator, Canadian Nurses Association Certificate in Gerontology and the Director of Care in Clinical Leadership Certificate from York University. Metzie is committed to person centered care and has been instrumental in advancing the capacity of Sienna care communities to managing the increasing acuity of residents.
 
Amy Lang
Director of Patient, Caregiver and Public Engagement
Health Quality Ontario
Amy Lang is the Director of Patient, Caregiver and Public Engagement for Health Quality Ontario. Amy leads Health Quality Ontario's work to embed patient, caregiver and public perspectives into its reports, recommendations and programs and to support and spread best practices for patient, caregiver and public engagement throughout Ontario's health care system. Amy has extensive experience conducting patient and public engagement and supporting the adoption of engagement best practices across a variety of public sector settings. In previous roles, Amy has led consultations on complex municipal issues, designed and delivered policy and training on engagement, conducted research on innovative methods of public engagement and served on the Board of the Canadian Community for Dialogue and Deliberation. Amy holds a B.A. and M.A. in Sociology from McGill University, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
 
Bradley Langford
Pharmacist Consultant
Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, Public Health Ontario
Bradley Langford is a Pharmacist Consultant in the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Public Health Ontario. He is also the lead Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto, where he helped build a stewardship program. His research interests include understanding antibiotic prescribing practices and finding innovative ways to improve antibiotic use. Bradley is also active on social media, engaging clinicians and the general public in dialogue about antimicrobial stewardship.
 
Teresa Lee
Advanced Practice Nurse for LTC
Bruyère Continuing Care
Teresa M. Lee, MN is currently the Advanced Practice Nurse for LTC at Bruyère Continuing Care. She is also the clinical liaison for Saint-Louis Residence during the designation process to become a RNAO Best Practice Spotlight Organization. Teresa has extensive experience in clinical practice, continuing education and LTC management from a career that spans several decades. ​
 
Rosemarie Lindau
Program Consultant
Extendicare
Rosemarie Lindau has Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto and her first career was in the performing arts. After personal experiences, she was inspired to become an advocate for the elderly and entered post graduate studies in Gerontology. She embarked on a career as Program and Volunteer Manager in a long-term care and retirement setting and is now Program Consultant for Extendicare. Hearing the voice of the resident has always been a priority and with co-lead Nik Chandalabran developed what is now called REACH - Resident Experience Action Council for Homes. Rosemarie is a returning presenter to OLTCA “This Is Long Term Care” conference: last year she presented on My Wishes, a simple tool she developed with a fellow consultant that helps homes ascertain and respect a resident’s values and wishes, especially at end of life. She is excited to be presenting this year with Nik on REACH with the hope that other LTC homes will embrace this model!
 
0Dean Lising PT, BScBio, BscPT, MHSc
Strategy Lead, IPE Curriculum & Collaborative Practice Lead
Centre for Interprofessional Education, University of Toronto University Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital
Dean Lising is the Collaborative Practice Lead and Strategy Lead, Interprofessional Education Curriculum, at the Centre for Interprofessional Education and a Faculty Advisor for the University of Toronto (UT) Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Student Chapter. Dean holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology, a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, a Masters of Health Administration degree, UT and a status appointment as Lecturer at Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, UT.

Building on Quality Improvement and Patient Safety curriculum through the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Leading Quality Improvement (QI) for Managers course at the Institute for Health Improvement (IHI), Dean applied QI tools at his MHSc internship project at Toronto Central CCAC with integration of rehabilitation models of care across retirement homes during MoH funding transitions. Through multiple leadership and management roles in professional practice, academic affairs and redevelopment, he has led and implemented quality, safety and accreditation projects including bullet round PDSA cycles, visual whiteboards, process mapping in alternate level of care access and flow, electronic documentation order sets, hand hygiene, early mobility, falls and pressure ulcer improvement across academic and community hospitals.

Dean developed and leads the Interprofessional Quality and Safety Certificate program in the UT interprofessional education curriculum with ongoing teaching/facilitation of IHI Seminars, QUIPS Conference workshops, IHI Open School online discussion forums and electives. He is a widely invited keynote speaker and workshop facilitator with recent work with UHN, GTA Stroke Network, Sherbourne Health Centre, Joseph Brant Hospital and William Osler Health System.

He is a passionate advocate of patient-partnered care, education and research, collaborating with patient/family leaders in development of the Holland Bloorview Interprofessional Home Visiting Program, UT Health Mentor program, and scholarly conference presentations/workshops. Dean continues to work as a clinical physiotherapist with over 15 years experience in inpatient, critical care, emergency and ambulatory clinic settings.
 
Lili Liu
Senior Analyst, Home and Continuing Care Team
Canadian Institute for Health Information
Lili Liu has worked at health care field for over 10 years. Most recently she has worked as a senior analyst in the home and continuing care area. She also has experience in conducting health research studies, including epidemiology, community health, health program evaluation research areas. Lili has a M.Sc. degree in Epidemiology & Biostatistics from the University of Western Ontario.
 
Karen Lubianetzky
In-house BSO
Avalon
Karen Lubianetzky started her career with Jarlette Health Services at Avalon Care Centre in Orangeville in June 2006. Karen worked from 2006 to 2009 with Avalon as a Personal Support Worker. In 2009, Karen accepted the position of Staffing Co-ordinator and worked in this role until 2013. Missing working with the residents and on the floor, Karen applied for and assumed the role of Avalon’s in-house BSO in 2013 and is currently still working in this role. As BSO, Karen is responsible and accountable for conducting assessments and describing interventions with respect to resident responsive behaviors. She develops strategies that focus on prevention and/or reduction of resident responsive behaviors to help both the resident and care-giver. Karen accomplishes this task by providing leadership and supervision to fellow long term care home staff. Karen obtained her certification in DementiAbility in 2016 and has been using and spreading DementiAbility Methods to the staff to help reduce responsive behaviours within the home. Karen co-leads the Antipsychotic Reduction taskforce which has embraced the implementation of DementiAbilty Methods and has resulted in the reduction of antipsychotic use within the home.
 
Sam MacFarlane
Program IPAC Specialist
Public Health Ontario
Sam is a Registered Nurse who entered the field of Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) in 2013, shortly after SARS. She worked at a large academic hospital supporting IPAC surveillance and outbreaks management. She presently works for Public Health Ontario (PHO) as a Program IPAC Specialist where she supports the updating and strengthening of existing IPAC programs and assists in the design, development and dissemination of new IPAC programs. Sam has been instrumental in supporting the IPAC department at PHO in their journey to integrate implementation science in IPAC programs and operations.
 
Dr. Seema Marwaha
Internal Medicine Physician and Scientist; Assistant Professor of Medicine
Trillium Health Partners; University of Toronto
Dr. Seema Marwaha is an internal medicine physician and scientist at Trillium Health Partners and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. As a Frank Knox Fellow, she studied the use of technology and innovation in education at Harvard University, looking at novel ways to educate the public on health. She also recently completed a Munk Fellowship in Global Journalism at the University of Toronto. Her professional interests include medical journalism, the study of filmed patient narratives and using virtual reality to convey the patient experience.
 
Caitlin McArthur
RPT and post doctoral fellow
Geriatric Education and Research in Aging Science Centre (GERAS), McMaster University
Caitlin is a registered physical therapist and post doctoral fellow at the Geriatric Education and Research in Aging Science Centre (GERAS) at McMaster University. She recently completed her PhD in the Kinesiology department at the University of Waterloo with a specialization in aging, health, and well-being. Caitlin’s research focuses on improving rehabilitation across the continuum of care, including long-term care and home care. She also has expertise in bone health, exercise, and physical activity. Caitlin is the recipient of several awards including the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association’s Silver Quill Award.
 
Susan McNeill
International Affairs and Best Practice Guidelines Centre
Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario
Susan McNeill is a mastered-prepared nurse who has a passion for dignified, quality care. She has a background in clinical nursing, program development, education, and population health promotion. She has practiced nursing in Canada, New York and Bangladesh. At the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario she has been the guideline development lead for three evidence-based best practice guidelines: Preventing and Addressing Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults: Person-Centred, Collaborative, System-Wide Approaches; Delirium, Dementia, and Depression in Older Adults: Assessment and care, (2nd ed.); and Preventing Falls and Reducing Injuries From Falls (3rd ed.). Her current role at the RNAO is focused on supporting the uptake of best practices through implementation science.
 
Raquel Meyer
Manager
Baycrest Centre for Learning, Research & Innovation in Long-Term Care
Raquel Meyer RN, PhD, manages the Baycrest Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) which is part of a provincial program that aims to enhance the quality of care and living in the long-term care sector through education, research, innovation, evidence-based service delivery and knowledge exchange. The Baycrest CLRI focuses on the design, delivery and evaluation of educational innovations to enhance interprofessional competencies in the current and future long-term care workforce. Raquel completed her doctorate in nursing health systems and an early career research award at the University of Toronto. Her career includes over 15 years of policy-responsive evaluation and research examining the effects of system and organizational change on clinical practice, quality and outcomes. Raquel’s expertise integrates the areas of education, health human resources, care delivery models, health policy and leadership.
 
Saurabh Mukhi
Chief Technology Officer
Think Research
As Chief Technology Officer for Think Research, Saurabh leads a growing team of highly skilled developers and IT professionals. Saurabh has been central in developing collaborative software solutions with industry partners like MED-PASS, INTERACT and Health Outcomes Worldwide. He also oversees the development of all Think Research products, from conception to deployment. Saurabh brings years of high-level management and stakeholder engagement experience, and always strives to ensure that projects align with technical as well as strategic objectives. Previously, Saurabh worked as a management consultant with KPMG within their IT strategy services practice.
 
Cyrelle Muskat
Manager of Quality and Accreditation & Manager of Seniors Quality Leap Initiative (SQLI)
Baycrest Health Sciences
Cyrelle Muskat works at Baycrest Health Sciences and is the Manager of Quality and Accreditation. She is also the Manager of the Seniors Quality Leap Initiative (SQLI), a quality improvement consortium comprised of 12 high performing long-term care/post-acute care facilities across Canada and the United States. In this capacity, Cyrelle leads SQLI’s strategy execution, including the design and implementation of a novel improvement approach for long-term care. Cyrelle has a Master of Health Service Administration from Dalhousie University, a Certificate of Quality Improvement from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine and is Lean certified.
 
Jill Oliver
Ethicist
William Osler Health System’s Community
Dr. Jill Oliver is William Osler Health System’s Community Ethicist. Jill has completed a PhD in Philosophy at the University of Waterloo, and a Fellowship in Clinical and Organizational Ethics at the University of Toronto’s Joint Centre for Bioethics. In her current position Jill provides consultation to long term care (LTC) residents, family members, staff, and physicians. In addition to this, Jill also leads hospital/LTC collaborative Ethics Quality Improvement Projects (E-QIPS) for Osler.
 
Connie Paris
Canadian Institute for Health Information
Connie has been with the Canadian Institute for Health Information since 2004, working with a number of reporting systems, including Inpatient Rehabilitation, Inpatient, and Community Mental Health, and now Home and Continuing Care. She has had the privilege of working closely with these sectors as they have met the challenge of collecting standardized, comparable information, and have evolved and improved through the use of that information. Most recently, Connie led the work to include quality indicator results for 1200 long-term care homes into CIHI’s Your Health System web tool. In a previous life, Connie practiced as a physiotherapist in a number of health sectors in both Canada and the US. She also holds a Master in Business Administration.
 
Jacquelyn Quirk
Evaluation Specialist
Infection Prevention and Control Department, Public Health Ontario
Jacquelyn is an Evaluation Specialist with the Infection Prevention and Control Department at Public Health Ontario (PHO). Jacquelyn has worked on various implementation science and knowledge translation projects in both the research and non-profit sectors, with roles that have included program development, implementation coaching, and evaluation. Jacquelyn has a Master of Public Health from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honors Specialization in Health Promotion) from the University of Western Ontario.
 
Diana Sarakabi
Improvement Lead
Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement
Diana is an Improvement Lead at the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI). She is supporting the implementation of PREVIEW-ED© and CARES in Fraser Health, and planning a pan-Canadian spread of innovations to help reduce transfers to the Emergency Department from long-term care. Diana’s previous role was at Accreditation Canada where she worked in program development for 8 years. She led the development and evaluation of Canadian and international quality improvement programs and standards, and worked on several international projects which included the European Commission, and the Ministries of Health in Kuwait and Qatar. Diana holds a BSc in Psychology from l'Université de Montréal and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa. Diana is multilingual, fluent in English, French and Arabic.
 
Donna Scully RN, MA
Principal
Sterling Senior Living
Donna is the principal of Sterling Senior Living, a healthcare consulting practice specializing in senior care organizations and agencies. Currently she owns and manages a 174-bed nursing home. Her involvement as a health professional ranges from management of nursing homes, retirement lodges, non-profit housing complexes and community agencies to the intricacies of managing a successful consulting practice. 

Donna joined the WeedMD Team this year as the Director, Clinical Education. Specializing in medical cannabis and the implementation of programs within the long-term care and retirement communities. 

She has completed the Certificate Program in Advancing Practice for Medical Cannabis.
 
Elaine Shantz
COO
peopleCare
Elaine is the President and Chief Operating Officer for peopleCare Inc. a senior care organization that owns and operates seven long term care homes. Elaine has a wealth of experience in senior care, including opening numerous long term care and retirement homes. Elaine supports quality improvement and best practice in her role as a surveyor for Accreditation Canada and member of the Ontario Long Term Care Association Quality Committee. She serves as chair of MAX Canada Insurance Board of Directors. Previous careers included leadership roles in banking and hospitality. Elaine completed her MA Leadership at the University of Guelph. Her passion for ongoing leadership development includes customer service training, employee incentive, and succession and performance management programs for the senior care sector.
 
0Karen Simpson
Director
Licensing and Policy in the Long Term Care Homes Division, MOHLTC
Karen Simpson is the Director of the Long-Term Care Inspections Branch; she is Director under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 as well as the Healing Arts and Radiation Protection Act. The Long-Term Care Inspections Branch is responsible for conducting inspections of long-term care homes as well as X-ray equipment in a variety of settings across Ontario. The branch was formed as part of the implementation of the new Long-Term Care Homes Division in November, 2015. Karen was formerly the Senior Manager, Compliance and Enforcement, also responsible for inspections of long-term care homes.
 
Kim Stelmacovich
Director of Quality Transformation
Revera
Kim Stelmacovich is the Director of Quality Transformation at Revera, where she provides leadership, strategic guidance and operational support to advance Revera's quality agenda across the enterprise. Kim brings extensive experience to this role; building successful local, National and International partnerships, aligning with stakeholders, modernizing services, facilitating the culture change and promoting the learning systems required to implement and sustain evidence-based improvements to care and service. She is a contributing author to Dr. G. Ross Baker’s research: High Performing Healthcare Systems: Delivering Quality by Design (2008) and has completed a multitude of courses in quality improvement through organizations such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Kim holds a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from the University of Toronto Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, where she is Adjunct Faculty. She also holds a Bachelor Degree in Occupational Therapy from Western University.
 
Tommy Tam
Senior Methodologist for Long-Term Care
Health Quality Ontario
Tommy Tam is the Senior Methodologist for Long-Term Care at Health Quality Ontario. For long-term care reporting, he leads indicator development and provides expertise on long-term care indicators for public reporting and quality improvement. He is also responsible for developing precise technical specifications for indicators, working in partnership with the organizations that own these data, assessing the validity and reliability of these data, and leading data analyses. He holds a Master of Science in Health Services Research with a specific focus on health-related quality of life measurement in long-term care.
 
Alisha Tharani BSc, MHA
Manager Strategic Partnerships
Canadian Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation
Alisha Tharani is Manager of Strategic Partnerships at CABHI. She is responsible for identifying, building and leading relationships with key CABHI partners, including government, SQLI, and other network partners. Alisha has more than ten years of experience in the healthcare system, with a focus on driving and executing strategic collaborations between policy makers, industry, academia and healthcare providers. 

Most recently, Alisha was Manager at the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) and the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario (CAHO) where this dual role encompassed shared responsibilities for both organizations in the areas of health research policy and academic collaborations. In addition to her professional experience, Alisha received a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from the University of Ottawa, a Certificate in Health Service Management from Ryerson University and Bachelor of Science in the field of Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo.
 
Kristine Theurer MA (Gerontology)
MTA Founder, President
Java Group Programs
Kristine Theurer is a researcher and has worked in the long-term care sector for over 20 years. She has pioneered the use of standardized peer support groups within senior living. Kristine is a published author of a number of research articles, the most recent of which The Need for a Social Revolution in Residential Care in the Journal of Aging Studies. She is a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia and recipient of numerous research awards including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada doctoral grant and the University of British Columbia Public Scholars Initiative.
 
0Dr. Tamara Wallington
Medical Director, Quality and Patient Safety
William Osler Health System, Dept. of Medicine
Dr. Tamara Wallington is currently a staff physician at William Osler Health System in the Department of Medicine. She is also the Corporate Medical Director for Quality and Patient Safety at Osler which is a large multi-sited community hospital. She has led and executed several corporate wide quality initiatives including the implementation of an integrated diagnostic and management process for Sepsis, the development of an integrated and inter-collaborative evidenced based cardiovascular clinic for high risk patients, and a standardized process for the development and evaluation of clinical decision tools including order sets, clinical protocols, pathways, and medical directives.

Prior to working at William Osler Health System, she was an Associate Medical Officer of Health for Toronto Public Health directing the largest TB program in the country and managed the largest TB outbreak in Canada in 2004. In 2003, as a medical consultant to Public Health, she led the SARS outbreak investigation team at North York General Hospital. This involved collaboration with Health Canada as well as the CDC epidemic intelligence team in the investigation into the origin and propagation of SARS at NYGH.

Dr. Wallington attended medical school at McMaster University and graduated in 1997. She trained in both General Internal Medicine and Public Health and Preventive Medicine at both McMaster University and University of Toronto. She is a graduate of the Intermountain Institute for Healthcare Delivery and Research program, and attended through a scholarship from Intermountain Health, Salt Lake City, Utah in 2010.
 
Stephanie Walpole
Care Services Coordinator
Jarlette Health Services
Stephanie Walpole is knowledgeable, innovative and is passionate about those we serve in Long Term Care. An effective communicator and leader, she currently holds the position of Care Services Coordinator at Jarlette Health Services. Previously she held the position of Administrator in Long Term Care and Executive Director of a Retirement Community. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Ottawa.
 
Hui Wang
Methodologist for Home and Continuing Care
Canadian Institute for Health Information
Hui Wang is the Methodologist for Home and Continuing Care (HCC) at the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). His role includes providing leadership for knowledge exchange and analytical activities that contribute to the priorities of HCC team and CIHI. Hui also lead projects, conduct and guide analyses, and communicate results with CIHI stakeholders. Hui holds a Master of Science in Statistics from McMaster University and Bachelor's degrees in Statistics and in Computer Science.
 
Helen Wei-Randall
Program Lead, Home and Continuing Care Data Management
Canadian Institute for Health Information
With over a decade in healthcare information, Helen Wei-Randal has worked in the areas of pharmaceutical economics research, health work force information, population health analysis, and currently home and continuing care data management. Her work interests include interpreting data into the narrative for publication and educational purposes to support the best use of data at all levels.
 
Andrea Wilkinson
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto
Andrea Wilkinson has a PhD in Psychology with a specialization in cognitive aging. She is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto, and is also a CIHR-Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) Health System Impact Fellow. Her research focuses on evaluating and enhancing quality of care and well-being for residents living in long-term care (LTC) homes, their families and LTC staff.
 
0Sheelagh Willett
Nurse Practitioner
William Osler Nurse Led Outreach Team
Sheelagh holds a baccalaureate degree from Queen’s, and a Masters of Nursing Science and an Adult Nurse Practitioner degree from Arizona State University. She has been a Nurse Practitioner for over ten years, with a focus in geriatrics. She has worked for organizations in both Canada and the US; with experience in Long Term Care, inpatient geriatric consults, and outpatient geriatric clinics. She has presented at recent conferences related to projects involving telemedicine and neuropsychiatric features of dementia. Sheelagh has been part of the William Osler Nurse Led Outreach Team for the past seven years, where she has led multiple pilots to improve access to long-term care. Most recently she received a research award by Canadian Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation, Spark program and is currently conducting an evaluation study related to the development of a clinical process for the management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in the long-term care setting. In addition, within the Central West LHIN, the new neurobehavioral Nurse Practitioner role is based on her work in this area.
 
Tommy Wong
Director, Data and Analytics
Ontario Long Term Care Association
As the Director, Data and Analytics, Tommy provides leadership to the Association’s data infrastructure, develops business intelligence solutions and conducts analyses from several key long-term care data sources. He has conducted affordability analyses related to increasing preferred accommodation rates, developed the Association’s home-level financial benchmarking reports, and created a series of home and regional dashboard tools. 

Tommy has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto related to finance and economics and has previously worked at several not-for-profit organizations. Tommy enjoys playing volleyball in his spare time.
 
Sarah Wu
PhD Candidate, Aging, Health and Well-Being doctoral program
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo
Sarah Wu is a PhD Candidate at the University of Waterloo in the Aging, Health and Well-Being doctoral program. For her training, she is working alongside her supervisor Professor Heather Keller and an inter-disciplinary team of experts in the Making the Most of Mealtimes (M3) Project to examine the interaction of multi-level factors associated with food intake among residents living in long-term care. Sarah also works collaboratively with the UW-Schlegel Research Institute for Aging in the development and implementation of a relationship-centered intervention to improve the mealtime experience for long-term care residents. Her own dissertation work looks to explore how meals in this setting can become more relational to include family members in mealtime processes. 

Sarah completed both her BA in Health and Society and Bachelor of Health Studies (Hons) in Health Policy, Management, and Informatics at York University in Toronto. She completed her Masters of Arts in Gerontology at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver where her research focused on mealtime experiences and care delivery for residents living with dementia in specialized care units. 


Contact Information: sarah.wu@uwaterloo.ca