Bio for Edie Attrell
Edie Attrell, RN, BN, ET, IIWCC
Edie Attrell has been a practicing nurse for 40 years in a variety of care settings. She is a long time member of CAWC. For the past 20
years, her focus has been wound and skin related, in the areas of education, prevention, consultation, practice guideline development and
various initiatives to support moving practice forward through knowledge translation and mentorship.
Edie is currently employed by Alberta Health Services as a clinical wound consultant and clinical nurse educator. In this capacity, she
is the Provincial Team Lead for Strategic Clinical Network related to Diabetes, Obesity and Nutrition as well as working with a provincial
team standardizing Pressure Ulcer Prevention strategies across Alberta.
Bio for Dr. Shahid Aquil
Dr. Shahid Aquil
Dr Aquil studied his medical degree in Karachi, Pakistan. He is currently a Clinical Fellow in the Department of Surgery & Transplantation at London Health Sciences Center, Western University in London, Ontario. Prior to London he spent some time practicing in the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Muscat, Oman. He has numerous publications in the area of urology.
Bio for Kathy Bird
Kathy Bird
Kathy Bird is originally from Norway House MB, living in Peguis, Manitoba. She is a Community Health Nurse working in the Peguis Traditional Healing Program, Peguis Health Services, through Matootoo Lake Medicine Lodge.
Having learned traditional medicines and healing ceremonies for 35 years, she set up the Traditional Healing Program. Cree is her first language, her ancestry being Cree and Nakota. She also has a strong understanding of the Anishinabemowin. The traditional healers and knowledge keepers have given her direction to begin to share the knowledge of the medicines with aboriginal people. In 2003, along with a traditional healer, teacher and knowledge keeper, Edna Manitowabi, she set up a 4-year Aboriginal medicine program to teach and share the sacred medicine teachings with 30 Aboriginal apprentices. On June 21, 2005, Aki Maskiki Na Na Da Wil Way Win (Earth Medicine - Healing), was recognised by receiving a Spirit of the Earth Award, sponsored by Manitoba Hydro.
In 1997, Kathy was recognised by her colleagues in the provincial nurse's organisation, the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, with an award of excellence in the Clinical category for the dedication and work done in the Traditional Healing Program.
Bio for Mariam Botros
Mariam Botros, DCh, DE, IIWCC
Mariam Botros is the Executive Director of the CAWC. She is a chiropodist at Women's College Hospital Wound Healing clinic, a Clinical Director of Diabetic Foot Canada. She is co-director of the International Interprofessional Wound Care Course (IIWCC) at the University of Toronto. She has lectured on programs internationally in the area of diabetic foot complications and amputation prevention.
Mariam brings the practical and professional experience to be effective in her leadership. This is gained from roles as an executive director, healthcare practitioner, healthcare educator, researcher and faculty member for many well-recognized organizations.
Bio for Lisa Bourque-Bearskin
Lisa Bourque-Bearskin
Dr. Bourque Bearskin is a member of Treaty 6 Beaver Lake Cree Nation, in northern Alberta, Associate Professor. She is a new investigator with Thompson River University, School of Nursing. Over the years she has worked in many capacities as a Licensed Practical Nurse and then a Registered Nurse. She began her teaching career working with Maskwacis Community in partnership with NorQuest College in Alberta. She headed north to Iqaluit, Nunavut where she taught in the first Arctic Nursing program.
Over the next decade, Dr. Bourque Bearskin worked at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Nursing. Here she developed and delivered Indigenous-nursing initiatives. She recognises the rights of First Nation, Inuit, and Métis people’s health and to that end works towards enhancing people’s understanding of Indigenous health.
Under the guidance of Indigenous nursing knowledge holders, leaders, and healers her research interest lies within Indigenous research methodologies. These aim at improving Indigenous nursing led practice and promoting equitable access to health-care services for Indigenous people. Her expertise and research program is focused on creating sustainable Indigenous nurse-led programs. These support a network of professionals to create, exchange and mobilise Indigenous knowledge in their local settings.
Dr Bourque Bearskin was past President of the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association. Here, she provided leadership that enhanced understanding of Indigenous nursing knowledge based on Indigenous social determinants of health. Her focus is on Indigenous Wellness. This includes maintaining cultural integrity of clients and nurses in support of Indigenous sovereignty, as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Bio for Treena Brown
Treena Brown, RN, IIWCC
Treena Brown has been a nurse for 23 years and actively involved in providing best evidence based practices in wound care to the interprofessional health care team in Interior Health. These areas include acute, community, and residential care from West Chilcotin, Lower Nicola Valley and into the North Thompson Valley.
After completing the IIWCC in 2014 through the University of Toronto, Treena has been working part time as a Rural Nurse Educator specializing in wound care. This involves travelling to rural sites providing education and consulting with clients for better outcomes in their health.
Bio for Dr. Barbara Jean Buckley
Dr. Barbara Jean Buckley, PhD, MScN, BScN, RN
Dr. Buckley is a nurse educator and health researcher with interest in ethics, policy, and healthcare law. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at Thompson Rivers University School of Nursing.
Dr. Buckley's research and publication focus are in the moral climate of healthcare delivery and ethical policy making. She has a particular interest on how increasing healthcare inequities in rural and remote Canada are impacting the health of marginalised populations. The aim of her program of research is improving the moral climate of rural healthcare delivery. This advances a more socially just, equitable, and ethical healthcare policy development.
Bio for Dr. Karen Campbell
Dr. Karen Campbell, RN, PhD
Karen Campbell is a nurse and current field leader for the Master’s of Clinical Science in Wound Healing at Western University in London, Ontario. As well, she is an associate scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute, and President-Elect on the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP). She has functioned as an advanced practice nurse in Wound Care, Continence & Geriatrics.
Karen was the co-chair of the RNAO new Best Practice Guide (BPG) on Pressure Injuries and the Canadian BPG on Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Treatment in the Spinal Cord Injury populations. She has been a panel member on the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel and Incontinence Associated Dermatitis International Best Practice Principles. Karen has a strong interest in skin health and frequently speaks and publishes on this topic.
Bio for Sharon Campbell
Sharon Campbell, BMR(OT), MA
Sharon Campbell has been an Occupational Therapist for 37 years. Her interests include leadership, geriatric care, mental health, wound care, and equipment prescription. She is a past member of the Standards Committee for the College of Occupational Therapists of BC and is a clinical advisor for CAOT BC. She is also a member of the Provincial Skin and Wound Care Committee.
Sharon is employed as a Professional Practice Leader in Interior Health, Central Okanagan, covering Acute, Community, Residential and Mental Health portfolios. She coordinates the Specialty Surface team at Kelowna General Hospital, where the right surface is under the right patient at the right time. This program has decreased rental costs by $300,000 a year. This initiative was published in CanadianHealthcarenetwork.ca.
Bio for Janice de Boer
Janice de Boer, RN, BScN, IIWCC
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.
Bio for Dr. Robyn Evans
Dr. Robyn Evans, BSc, MD, CCFP
Dr. Robyn Evans is a lecturer at university of Toronto and 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. She is part of the faculty of the International Interprofessional Wound Course through the University of Toronto. She is senior faculty for the Canadian Association of Wound Care to support the development of inter-professional education programs for clinicians as well as delivery and evaluation of these programs.
Bio for Dr. Robert Fridman
Dr. Robert Fridman, MD
Dr. Fridman is a fellowship-trained foot and ankle specialist and holds an appointment in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at New York-Presbyterian Columbia University Medical Center and in the Department of Surgery at New York-Presbyterian Weil-Cornell Medical Center. He has been the Podiatry Captain for the TCS New York City Marathon since 2008 and is President of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons - Division IX since 2016. Dr. Fridman received his doctorate from the NY College of Podiatric Medicine. He was Chief Resident at The Mount Sinai Hospital Podiatric Surgery Residency Program, and completed a fellowship in Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgery & Research at the Weil Foot & Ankle Institute in Chicago. Dr. Fridman is Board-Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. He is a Fellow of American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons.
Dr. Fridman is a noted expert in the field of diabetic wounds, regenerative medicine, and reconstructive foot surgery. He has authored scientific papers on reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for heel pain, diabetic wound healing, and tendon injuries. He has lectured nationally and internationally on the science of complex diabetic wounds and regenerative tissues. He is currently involved in a number of research studies on the diabetic foot, chronic tendon disease, and the use of implants in foot surgery.
Bio for Shannon Handfield
Shannon Handfield, RN, BSN, WOC Nurse
Shannon Handfield started her career as a Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse in 2000. She was the Clinical Lead for Vancouver Coastal Health Authority's electronic Wound Management System, Pixalere. She is now the Vancouver Coastal Health Regional Professional Practice Initiative Lead for Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing.
Shannon also is the Chair for the British Columbia Provincial Nursing Skin and Wound Committee.
Bio for Rosemary Hill
Rosemary Hill, RN, BSN, CWOCN
Rosemary Hill is a graduate from the Vancouver General Nursing program, then later in 1993 she completed her BSN at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She completed the Wound Ostomy Continence program at Emory Medical University in 2004, and has been practicing as an Enterostomal Therapist, within Vancouver Coastal Health – Lions Gate Hospital.
Rosemary is the president of CAET, and involved in both provincial nursing committee – Skin and Wound care, and Ostomy. Her experience in ostomy and wound care has afforded her opportunities to speak both nationally and more recently internationally at the WUWHS 2016 and EWMA 2017.
Bio for Kerstin Lewis
Kerstin Lewis, RN, BScN, IIWCC
Kerstin Lewis works as a Practice Support Nurse with Home and Community Care in Island Health. Her focus is to support evidence-based practice for skin and wound care in the community. She is Chair of the Island Health Skin and Wound Clinical Care Collaborative and a member of the Provincial Nursing Skin and Wound Committee.
Kerstin has helped to create many practice support tools and resources and continues to help move skin and wound practice forward in Island Health.
Kerstin graduated from the University of Victoria with a BScN in 2005, completing the International Interprofessional Wound Care Course (IIWCC) in 2014. Next, she will likely turn her sights towards a Masters in Nursing.
Bio for Shelley Masyoluk
Shelley Masyoluk, RN, BSN, WOC Nurse
Shelley Masyoluk’s passion for wound care has extended for 25 years. Her early years as a home care nurse in Regina was where her passion for wound care began.
Shelley was hired as a Wound Care Specialist for Smith & Nephew, where she continued her wound care education by completing the IIWCC and then the WOC Nursing program. Over the years, there have been many opportunities for Shelley to work with other wound clinicians across BC and more recently, across Canada. Shelley currently leads a team of nurses in the development of educational and clinical initiatives at Smith & Nephew.
Bio for Crystal McCallum
Crystal McCallum, RN, MCISc
Crystal McCallum is the Education Manager for Wounds Canada. Her formal education includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Windsor, in 2004. She also has a Master of Clinical Sciences (MCISc) in Wound Healing from Western University, from 2009.
Crystal has worked in the acute, community and long term care sectors. After obtaining her MCISc degree, she worked as an independent wound consultant and educator in the South West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).
In addition, Crystal works as a Clinical Lead for the South West Regional Wound Care Program. She is the Clinical Mentorship Course Manager for Western University's MCISc (Wound Healing) Program. She is a member of the Continuing Education Faculty at Georgian College (Advanced Wound Care Course).
Crystal is a member of Wounds Canada and the Ontario Woundcare Interest Group.
Bio for Dr. Patrick McGowan
Dr. Patrick McGowan, PhD
Dr. McGowan is a Professor with the School of Public Health and Social Policy at the University of Victoria. His research career over the last 30 years has focused on aspects of health education for persons experiencing chronic health conditions. He has been implementing and researching effectiveness of self-management interventions for chronic health conditions. This research is being conducted at the community, provincial, national, and international levels.
Dr. McGowan participates on provincial, federal and international committees. He is based in Delta, BC, where he directs the Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health Ladner Office. http://www.selfmanagementbc.ca.
Bio for Robert Stephen Meyer
Robert Stephen Meyer
Robert Meyer experienced stress as a correctional officer at Edmonton’s Maximum Security prison.
He witnessed the deteriorisation and death of his mother due to complications of diabetes. Years later his father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In the same year, Robert presented with a diabetic foot ulcer and blood sugar levels of 26.9. This marked the start of his journey into the world of wound care.
With poor outcomes and experience of the healthcare system, he decided he needed to know more about wounds. Robert’s search led him to Wounds Canada, where he attended the Niagara conference.
His sense of urgency at the conference inspired him to talk to others, resulting in him healing his wound three weeks after leaving Niagara Falls.
Bio for Paul Michel
Paul Michel
Paul Michel belongs to the Secwepemc Nation, and he is traditionally from Hust’alen (Adams Lake First Nations). Paul is honoured to work as Aboriginal Executive Director at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). He recognises that this wonderful university is situated in the traditional territory of Tk’emlups.
Paul has broad-based Aboriginal experience in the areas of administration, student support services, university instruction, Aboriginal research and governance.
Paul is responsible for the successful campus-wide implementation of Aboriginal Education. He corresponds with students, elders, staff, faculty, administrators, researchers and community partners to enhance the quality of Aboriginal Education at TRU. He respects, honours and empowers the Thompson Rivers University vision to make this the university of choice for Aboriginal learners.
Bio for Heather L. Orsted
Heather L. Orsted, RN, BN, ET, MSc
Heather Orsted is a past president of the Canadian Association of Wound Care and currently Director, Education and Professional Development for Wounds Canada.
Bio for Petra O'Connell
Petra O'Connell, BSc, MHA
Petra O’Connell is the Senior Provincial Director of the Diabetes, Obesity and Nutrition - Strategic Clinical Network (DON SCN) at
Alberta Health Services. The DON SCN’s vision is: All Albertans have access to services and supports that optimize their nutritional status,
prevent or reduce the risks of diabetes and obesity, and enable those living with these chronic diseases to be healthy and well.
Since 2012, Petra has been responsible for developing this diverse clinical and research network. This includes overseeing the design,
evaluation and spread of initiatives that transform the delivery of health-care services, in these three interconnected clinical streams,
across Alberta. Two of these initiatives involve the development of a provincial diabetic foot care pathway for use in Primary Care and
the improvement of diabetes management in hospitals. She co-chairs Provincial Steering Committees for both initiatives for Alberta Health
Services. 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 Bachelor degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences and a Masters in Health Services Administration from the University of
Alberta. She has published in the areas of health technology assessment, clinical practice guidelines, and innovations in health-care
organizations.
Bio for Deirdre O'Sullivan Drombolis
Deirdre O'Sullivan Drombolis, BSc, PT, MCISc (Wound Healing)
Deirdre O’Sullivan Drombolis is a physical therapist who is passionate about physical activity and how important it is for everyone to care for their bodies, spirits and minds. This passion spills over into her practice in wound care, with the belief that to help patients with chronic wounds we must help them to live healthier lives.
Born and raised in North Western Ontario, she is also a determined advocate for equal and timely access to effective and efficient care for all. She practices this, teaches this, writes about this, and advocates for this locally and nationally.
Bio for Dr. Simon Palfreyman
Dr. Simon Palfreyman, RN, PhD
Dr. Palfreyman is Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta, having moved there from the UK in 2015. His UK role was as a clinical academic based in Tissue Viability (wound care).
Dr. Palfreyman’s research interests are in the areas of wound care in vulnerable populations, nursing outcomes, evidence-based practice and Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs). His doctoral and post-doctoral research were focused on measuring the impact of venous leg ulcers and pressure ulcers. Both projects used quantitative and qualitative research methods to validate the quality of life questionnaires for use in the economic evaluation of treatment interventions.
Bio for Dr. Laurie M Parsons
Dr. Laurie M Parsons, BSc, BMedSc, MD, FRCP(C)
Dr. Parsons is a Dermatologist who has spent 20 years in the area of chronic wounds and the skin diseases associated with chronic wounds. She is a graduate of the IIWCC program from the University of Toronto and is currently working on her Master’s dissertation for Cardiff University’s masters’ program in Wound Healing and Tissue Repair.
Dr. Parsons has worked extensively in Canada, the UK and the Middle East in wound clinics. She has participated in CME’s on wound healing in Canada, the US, Qatar and London, UK. Dr. Parsons is the Medical Director for the Sheldon Chumir Wound Clinic in southern Alberta, a multidisciplinary clinic with wound care services provided by Family Medicine, Vascular Surgery, Podiatry, Orthotics, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dermatology, Geriatrics and Orthopedic Surgery. She is also the Co-Chair for the Clinical Pathway to Care for the Diabetic Foot in Alberta.
Bio for Dorace Ramage
Dorace Ramage, RN
Dorace is a registered nurse and has extensive experience as an operating room charge nurse and educator and as coordinator of a busy surgical skills lab. She has been with Perfuse for over 4 years, since the inception of the company and has been an integral part of the introduction and development of the geko™ device in Canada.
Bio for Anna Slivinski
Anna Slivinski, RD
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 on The 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.
Bio for Dr. Ranjani Somayaji
Dr. Ranjani Somayaji, BScPT, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Dr. Somayaji is an Infectious Disease specialist from Calgary, Alberta. She currently serves as a faculty member of the International Interprofessional Wound Care Course (IIWCC) offerings and works at the central diabetes wound care clinic in Calgary. She has an interest in outcomes research in wound care.
Bio for Marlene Varga
Marlene Varga, MSc, RN, BScN, IIWCC
Marlene Varga has been a registered nurse for 28 years; all in the acute care area. After completing the International Interprofessional Wound Care Course (IIWCC) at the University of Toronto, she went to Cardiff University to complete the MSc in Wound Healing and Tissue Repair in 2013.
Marlene is an educator, a consultant and an advocate for patient-centered care, patient and family empowerment. She works at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton Alberta as a Wound Care Nurse. She is also an honorary tutor at Cardiff University where she continues to develop and share her knowledge and experiences.
Bio for Dr. Nicola Waters
Dr. Nicola Waters, PhD, MSc (Wound Healing and Tissue Repair), RN
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.
Bio for Dr. Kevin Woo
Dr. Kevin Woo, PhD, RN, FAPWCA
Dr. Woo is an Associate Professor at School of Nursing, Queen's University. His research interests focus on enhancing chronic disease self-management, developing quality benchmarks for wound management, and implementing best practices for difficult to heal wounds.
Dr. Woo is the Early Researcher Award recipient 2014-2019 from the Ministry of Research and Innovation. He is leading the development of an online community to promote self-management of diabetes and related foot complications. He had served on expert panels to develop Best Practice Guidelines (BPG).
Additionally, he is the Web Editor for Advances in Skin and Wound Care journal website, and he is a member of several editorial boards.
Bio for Genevieve Wright
Genevieve Wright, RN
Genevieve Wright graduated from the Foothills Hospital School of Nursing in Calgary, 34 years ago. She has spent the majority of her career in the acute care sector, mainly emergency and intensive care.
Genevieve is Clinical Nursing Coordinator at the Calgary Drop-In Centre, a homeless shelter of 1200 people. She facilitates continuing education, professional development and evaluation of clinical skills for nursing staff and non-nursing front-line workers at the shelter. Genevieve has her S.W.A.T (skin-wound-assess-treat) Advanced Level II certificate of completion. She co-authored Wound Care in a Drop-In Rehabilitation Centre: A Calgary Perspective published in Wound Care Canada, in 2015.