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Chair, 2023-2025

Andrew Springer, BSc, D.Ch, FRSH

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.

Directors

Virginie Blanchette, BSc, MSc, DPM, PhD

IMG 0145 edit 2Dr 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.

(On Leave) Janet Kuhnke, RN, BA, BScN, MSc Family Systems, NSWOC, DrPsychology

Janet Headshot Janet L. Kuhnke RN, BA, BScN, MSc Family Systems, NSWOC, DrPsychology is a nurse researcher and is specialized in wound, ostomy, and continence care (NSWOC).
She is an Associate Professor of Baccalaureate Nursing in the School of Nursing, at Cape Breton University.
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.

Please reach Janet at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 1 902 563 1209.

Past Chairs

  • Barbie Murray, BScN, RN MCISc-WH 2020-2023
  • Morty Eisenberg, MD, MScCH, CCFP, FCFP 2016-2020
  • Gregory Archibald, MD,CCFP, FCFP 2013-2016
  • Patricia Coutts, RN, IIWCC 2010-2012
  • Cathy Burrows, MScCH 2007-2009
  • David Keast, MSc, MD, FCFP 2004-2006
  • Heather Orsted, RN, BN, ET, MSc 2002-2003
  • Heather Orsted, RN, BN, ET, MSc / Karen Campbell, RN, PhD 2001 (Co-chairs)
  • R. Gary Sibbald, BSc, MD, FRCPC (Med, Derm), MACP, DABD 1995 - 2000 (Chair)