2025 Wounds Canada National Hybrid Conference
October 2-4, 2025

Dr. Irmajean Bajnok, is currently working at Wounds Canada as the Education and Policy Director and Director of the Wounds Canada Institute. She previously worked as Director of Director and Senior Policy Analyst at the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). Irmajean has also held leadership positions at RNAO including Director of the International Affairs and Best Practice Guideline Program and the Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence, as well as in practice settings and international portfolios. Much of her career has been in academia where she has worked in administrative and professional roles at Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Toronto, and Western University. Dr. Bajnok is recognized internationally as a knowledgeable and engaging speaker and consultant focusing on evidence-based practice and education, healthy work environments, leadership and change management.

Robyn Evans is the Medical Director of the Wound Healing Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and is 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 Care Course (IIWCC) through the University of Toronto. She is senior faculty for Wounds Canada to support the development of interprofessional education programs for clinicians as well as the delivery and evaluation of these programs. She is the co-chair for this year’s Wounds Canada National Conference, the co-chair for the Diabetic Task Force for Wound Canada and on the Wounds Canada Board.

Dr. Douglas Queen, an international wound care consultant and researcher, co-founded the International Wound Journal alongside Dr. Keith Harding in 2004. Dr. Queen brings over 38 years of international expertise in commercial development, market access and med-tech R&D. Dr. Queen is one of the industry’s foremost experts in wound care and brings a unique combination of clinical knowledge and business acumen to the broader healthcare arena. Douglas received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering studying Wound Care Dressings in 1986 from University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK, and also earned his MBA from Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, UK in 1996. After completing his education, Douglas spent the initial part of his career working for ConvaTec, a medical device company focused on delivering products and services in the areas of skin, wound and ostomy care. His tenure at ConvaTec included roles in Research & Development and Sales and Marketing, spanning European and North American markets. Douglas has also worked as an independent medical device consultant specializing in the wound care field, for the past 24 years. During this time, he has advised key opinion leaders, large, multinational companies, and smaller start-up companies in the areas of education, research, development, commercial development and market access.

Prof. Andrea Pokorná, Ph.D., RN is a Full Professor of Nursing at the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Czech Republic. She serves as Vice-Dean for Non-Medical Study Programmes and Information Technology. Nationally, she holds the position of Vice-Chair of the Association of University Educators of Non-Medical Health Professions, supporting academic excellence across 24 higher education institutions. She actively collaborates with the Ministry of Health to advance the education of allied healthcare professionals.

Her research focuses on nursing education, patient safety, quality of care, missed nursing care, and wound care, with a special emphasis on pressure ulcer prevention. She currently serves as President of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP, 2023–2025) and is the Scientific Recorder for the European Wound Management Association (EWMA). Prof. Pokorná is the author or co-author of over 120 publications indexed in Web of Science, with more than 1,000 citations.

Dr. Irmajean Bajnok, is currently working at Wounds Canada as the Education and Policy Director and Director of the Wounds Canada Institute. She previously worked as Director of Director and Senior Policy Analyst at the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). Irmajean has also held leadership positions at RNAO including Director of the International Affairs and Best Practice Guideline Program and the Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence, as well as in practice settings and international portfolios. Much of her career has been in academia where she has worked in administrative and professional roles at Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Toronto, and Western University. Dr. Bajnok is recognized internationally as a knowledgeable and engaging speaker and consultant focusing on evidence-based practice and education, healthy work environments, leadership and change management.

Dr. Idevania Costa is an advanced clinical nurse with expertise in the management of complex wounds. She was educated in Brazil and Canada as a registered nurse and researcher and has over 24 years’ combination of clinical, teaching and research experience. Dr. Costa is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at Lakehead University, Founder of Advanced - Wound Care Consultancy & Education Inc., and a member of national and international wound care societies. She has published articles in peer-reviewed journals, lectured nationally and internationally, and has been the recipient of multiple national and international awards in recognition of her work as wound care nurse and researcher. She is also the co-founder and lead of Patients' Voices and Story and an advocate for patient empowerment.

Dr. Irmajean Bajnok, is currently working at Wounds Canada as the Education and Policy Director and Director of the Wounds Canada Institute. She previously worked as Director of Director and Senior Policy Analyst at the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). Irmajean has also held leadership positions at RNAO including Director of the International Affairs and Best Practice Guideline Program and the Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence, as well as in practice settings and international portfolios. Much of her career has been in academia where she has worked in administrative and professional roles at Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Toronto, and Western University. Dr. Bajnok is recognized internationally as a knowledgeable and engaging speaker and consultant focusing on evidence-based practice and education, healthy work environments, leadership and change management.

Robyn Evans is the Medical Director of the Wound Healing Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and is 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 Care Course (IIWCC) through the University of Toronto. She is senior faculty for Wounds Canada to support the development of interprofessional education programs for clinicians as well as the delivery and evaluation of these programs. She is the co-chair for this year’s Wounds Canada National Conference, the co-chair for the Diabetic Task Force for Wound Canada and on the Wounds Canada Board.

Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi is a community-based dermatologist, Clinical Associate Professor, former Assistant Dean of Social Accountability at Memorial University Faculty of Medicine and President-Elect of the Canadian Medical Association.

He researches, writes and advocates in the areas of health policy, anti-racism, social accountability, medical education and diversity & inclusion. A TEDx speaker, Dr Ogunyemi has been published in The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, CBC and National Post. He advised the Federal Government on public health issues of national significance as a member of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Ethics Consultative Group and completed a Fellowship in Health Systems Improvement from the University of Alberta School of Public Health.

Dr. Valerie Grdisa brings over thirty years of diverse experience across public, private, not-for-profit, and senior government roles, with deep knowledge of Canada’s health system. She has worked in Alberta and Ontario and served in various capacities in 11 of the 13 provinces and territories, including the federal government. She has led transformation initiatives focused on care system redesign, health and human service integration, and workforce strategies both nationally and internationally.

Beginning her nursing career in 1988 at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Valerie has held roles from RN and NP to clinical educator, senior management, and Chief Nurse Executive. Her extensive academic background includes faculty appointments at seven Canadian universities, with a focus on health and human services integration. Previously, she served as CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Simcoe County Branch.

Valerie is committed to optimizing the role of regulated nurses and ensuring the voices of 478,000+ nurses and nursing students are heard. She is dedicated to advancing national nursing and health policy in collaboration with the Board of Directors, CNA members and partners across Canada.

Rebecca Dyck has been nursing for fifteen years, and is a strong advocate for justice and equity in health care.  She has spent a number of years learning how systemic racism and intersectionality affect the health of individuals and communities.  After earning a Master of Clinical Science in Wound Healing at Western University ten years ago, Rebecca has been working with patients virtually and at the bedside to solve the puzzle that each wound presents.  Rebecca also tutors students in the research course of the master’s program.  More recently, Rebecca became a Nurse Specialized in Wound Ostomy and Continence and earned her national certification. 

Rebecca currently works as a Nurse Clinician on the Skin Wound Ostomy team at Hamilton Health Sciences, mainly with children and families at McMaster Children's Hospital.  Her role encompasses direct patient care, staff education, and committee work to improve patient care within the organization.  A recent focus has been hospital-acquired pressure injuries and developing resources to improve assessment of darker skin tones. 

Rebecca has volunteered with preteens, the Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle, and Caribbean migrant farm workers in Niagara.  She keeps busy with her three children, can often be found with a book in her hand, and enjoys “old lady hobbies” such as sewing, gardening, and canning. 

Ellen is a Clinical Dietitian with over 3 decades of experience in a wide range of nutrition specialty areas including diabetes management, wound care, heart disease, weight management, enteral nutrition, pediatric care and eating disorders. She is registered with the College of Dietitians of British Columbia, Dietitians of Canada and is a professional member of the Canadian Diabetes Association and Wounds Canada. She volunteers as a Board of Director for Wounds Canada. Ellen received her Bachelors of Science in Dietetics and her Masters degree in Human Nutrition from the University of British Columbia. Ellen works in a variety of settings including one-to-one counseling, small group and nutrition education seminars to help clients attain their nutrition and health goals.

Dr. Rogers completed his medical degree at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2002. Following internship and community service, he was a clinical fellow in plastic surgery at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead in England (2005/2006). He undertook general surgery (2007 to 2010) and plastic surgery (2010 to 2014) specialty training in Cape Town. After a fellowship in Total Burn Care at the Ross Tilley Burn Centre (RTBC) at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, he took up his current position as attending burn surgeon. Dr. Rogers was awarded an FRCSI in 2016 and an MSC in Quality lmprovement from the University of Toronto in 2017. His clinical and research interests include reconstructive surgery for burn injuries, complex wounds, pressure sores and scars.

Helen Arputhanathan is a Registered Nurse with over 30 years of international experience in the field of Medical Surgical, Cardiology and Wound Care Nursing. Helen graduated with a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Nursing) from Victoria University, Australia, completed her International Interprofessional Wound Care Course (IIWCC-SA) from University of Toronto and subsequently her Master in Wound Care from Monash University in Australia. She is also a Nurse Specialized in Wound Ostomy and Continence (NSWOC) and CNA Certified. Helen worked in an acute care setting for 17 years before working in home and community care in Canada for Victoria Order of Nursing (VON), CALEA (Nursing clinic), Waterloo Wellington and Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Home and Community Care Support Services. Helen currently works in the capacity of a Clinical Manager and Wound Lead in Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant and Erie St. Claire Home and Community Care Support Services. Her role is to liaise with primary care physicians and contracted service providers to identify issues of concern, collaboratively develop strategies to work towards improvements, and provide recommendations for policies, procedures, and approach to wound care to improve patient outcomes utilizing a patient-centered approach and patient navigation to properly assess needs of patients within the Wound Care Program setting, including providing leadership and oversight to the Wound Care Team. She is currently involved in the Lower Limb Preservation Initiative with Ontario Health to support the community patients to reduce avoidable, non-traumatic major lower-limb amputations in Ontario and to improve equitable access to high-quality best-practice early screening, cardiovascular risk factor modification and integrated lower-limb wound care.

For Anne Shantz, the nursing journey was a second career opportunity following a profession in social services. While completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Western University, one of her first clinical experiences ignited a passion for caring for patients with wounds and ostomies. After graduating, Anne went on to become an Enterostomal Therapist and then several years later returned to Western University to complete a Master’s in the Clinical Science of Wound Healing.

Anne has practiced in a variety of roles supporting wound and ostomy expertise as a front-line clinician, as an educator and in program lead positions. Anne is employed with the South West Home and Community Care as the Clinical Lead for the South West Regional Wound Care Program. In this role, Anne supports patient consultation, cross-sectorial wound care education and regional wound program development.

Joumana Fawaz has been a nurse for 23 years and actively involved in nursing education for over 15 years. 5 years ago, she discovered her passion for wound care and has been actively involved ever since in many initiatives in wound care and associations. She currently works as a clinical nurse specialist in wound care and head of the wound, ostomy and continence service at the Montreal University Health Center where she juggles several wound care projects at the same time.Recently, she has been elected president of the Regroupement Québécois en soins de plaies.

Paul Bunce is an Internist and Infectious Diseases specialist based at Sinai Health System in Toronto, and an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto  He divides his time between clinical care, teaching and education.

Rosemary Hill has been a nurse for over 35 years and is the recipient of the Award of Excellence in Practice from the Association of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (ARNBC). She works at Lions Gate Hospital as a Nurse Specialized in Wound Ostomy and Continence (NSWOC). Her past volunteer activities include the role of President for Nurses Specialized in Wound Ostomy Continence Canada (2016-2018). As well, she participates as a member on the BC provincial Skin and Wound committee, Chairs the Provincial Ostomy committee, and is an expert speaker at national and international events. Recently Rosemary has been invited to participate as a panel member for the International Pressure Ulcer/Injury Guideline (fourth edition). In September she was honoured with the NSWOC award of 2024 from Ostomy Canada Society.

Patricia Coutts is a registered nurse and a past president of Wounds Canada formally the Canadian Association of Wound Care. A leading wound expert who has lectured across the world, she has published in numerous journals and has been involved in wound research. She has been a preceptor for hundreds of health care professionals. She has experience in many areas of nursing, including medicine, surgery, family practice, psychiatry. Pat is currently employed as a consultant for Wounds Canada and the Woundpedia in Ontario. Patricia is a member of the Faculty of the International Interprofessional Wound Care Course (IIWCC) at the University of Toronto and the Wounds Canada SHARP program.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors of DEBRA Canada (Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association Canada) and The Canadian Hidradenitis Suppurative Foundation.

Professor Gary Sibbald has been a wound care leader for over 35 years in Canada and internationally. As a dermatologist and internist early in his career, he recognized the chronic wound patient care gap. 

His clinical patient-centric care has successfully treated complex wounds reducing excessive pain, improving management of infection, the increased healing of chronic wounds or improved everyday living for patients with maintenance or non-healable wounds. 

As an educator, Dr. Sibbald was co-founder of a key opinion leader course (International Interprofessional Wound Care Course-IIWCC) accredited by the University of Toronto.  Since 1999, there have been 49 courses both in Canada and internationally (with the 50th course starting in September). Professor Sibbald has mentored and educated not only IIWCC graduates but also fostered interprofessional leadership of nurses and allied health professionals. 

Professor Sibbald has been involved in many projects on an international level to improve the health qualities in various countries. One example is the Guyana Diabetes Foot Project, where Dr. Sibbald, along with an interprofessional team of nurses and chiropodists, travelled to Guyana, South America to assess and treat the high rate of diabetes in the country, along with reducing diabetes-related lower limb amputations. 

He is the founder of WoundPedia, a not-for-profit educational initiative. He is also Project Lead for both ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Ontario Skin & Wound and Indigenous ECHO Canada Skin & Wound that virtually reached 600+ healthcare professionals, including Northern and Indigenous centres, to create interprofessional skin and wound teams provincially and nationally .  

He is an accomplished author and co-editor-in-chief with over 270 peer-reviewed publications. He was also an investigator on numerous clinical trials leading to the launch of new products and innovations.

His continuing healthcare innovations in patient care, education and research have contributed to Canada’s leadership in wound management. 

Dr Zhao is a family physician who has completed the IIWCC course in 2013 and works part time in a wound clinic in Mississauga, Ontario. She spends the rest of her time at the Trillium-Summerville Family Medicine Teaching Unit doing comprehensive family medicine, long term care and teaching of medical learners from the University of Toronto.

Robyn Evans is the Medical Director of the Wound Healing Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and is 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 Care Course (IIWCC) through the University of Toronto. She is senior faculty for Wounds Canada to support the development of interprofessional education programs for clinicians as well as the delivery and evaluation of these programs. She is the co-chair for this year’s Wounds Canada National Conference, the co-chair for the Diabetic Task Force for Wound Canada and on the Wounds Canada Board.

Eliot To graduated from the Chiropody program at The Michener Institute of Education at UHN in 2011. He previously practiced at Unity Health Toronto (previously St. Joseph’s Health Centre), where he provided preventative foot and wound care to patients at a high risk for ulcerations and amputations. Eliot has a keen interest in wound care; He completed the Master of Clinical Science (Wound Healing) from Western University in 2014. Eliot is also passionate about education. He joined the Chiropody faculty at Michener in 2017. He is actively involved in lecturing, lab simulation and provides foot and wound care at the Michener Chiropody Clinic. Recently, Eliot completed the Master of Health Administration (Community Care) from Toronto Metropolitan University. He aspires to influence change in the health care system to reduce the burden of foot ulcers and lower limb amputations.

Sunita Coelho is a wound care nurse with over 25 years of experience in wound care. She was the charge nurse for the Wound Care Clinic at Women’s College Hospital from its inception in 1995 until 2018. During her time at Women’s College Hospital, she was preceptor to nursing students from the Lawrence S. Bloomberg, School of Nursing, U. of T., many of whom went on to pursue careers in wound care. In 2011, she was the recipient of the Preceptor Recognition Award awarded by the Council for Ontario Universities Programs in Nursing (COUPN) for demonstrating outstanding performance in her role as preceptor and mentor for a nursing student. She is on the faculty of the IIWCC (International Interprofessional Wound Care Course)

Sunita currently works at the Toronto Regional Wound Healing Clinic and at the Toronto East Vascular Clinic.

Sheena Fortuna is a Registered Nurse with a Masters of Nursing Degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. She works as a Wound Care Consultant at Oak Valley Health, overseeing wound care program in Markham Stouffville, Uxbridge Hospital and Reactivation Care Centre. She previously held the position of lead registered nurse at Women’s College Wound Care Centre. She is an executive member of the Canadian Dermatology Nurses’ Association (CDNA). She is currently enrolled in the Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate program at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Dr. Irmajean Bajnok, is currently working at Wounds Canada as the Education and Policy Director and Director of the Wounds Canada Institute. She previously worked as Director of Director and Senior Policy Analyst at the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). Irmajean has also held leadership positions at RNAO including Director of the International Affairs and Best Practice Guideline Program and the Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence, as well as in practice settings and international portfolios. Much of her career has been in academia where she has worked in administrative and professional roles at Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Toronto, and Western University. Dr. Bajnok is recognized internationally as a knowledgeable and engaging speaker and consultant focusing on evidence-based practice and education, healthy work environments, leadership and change management.

Melissa Gosse joined the development and implementation of Nova Scotia’s Provincial Wound Program in 2021. Completed SHARP program by Wounds Canada in 2022. Completed IIWCC in 2022. Currently employed as the Wound Management Consultant for the Western Zone with Health Association Nova Scotia (Provincial Wound Program). The role developed into Provincial Professional Development Coordinator and Consultant in April 2023. -MSc of Skin Integrity and Wound Management at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK. Completion 2024. -Co-presenter with Wounds Canada at EWMA 2024.

Sandra Young is an innovative healthcare leader with 35 years of experience in advanced practice nursing, senior leadership, patient safety, quality improvement and project management, research, education, policy and regulation. As Managing Director, Standards at Health Standards Organization (HSO), she drives evidence-informed strategies for standards development, integration, education, and the QMentum program; with a focus on reliable safety practices and integrated people centered care. With a proven track record in strategic leadership, quality improvement, and policy development, she has held senior roles across multiple sectors, elevating healthcare excellence. Sandra was the first graduate of a Nurse Practitioner program in Western Canada and has practiced in advanced practice nursing in both Canada and the United States in fetal, neonatal and pediatric intensive care and community-based follow-up care for mothers and babies for the first 23 years of her career. Sandra has served as the Chief Professional Practice Officer for the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta, and the Standards and Practice Director for respite, supportive, long-term care, mental health, palliative and hospice care across two provinces with Age Care. She holds extensive experience in improving patient flow and patient experience across sites and sectors especially during the pandemic focused on emergency care. Sandra also led the clinical project management of a 189-bed pandemic response unit, constructed and commissioned within 16 weeks.

Charlene Brosinsky has been a registered nurse for 42 years. Since 2014, she has worked as am Accreditation Advisor at Alberta Health Services networking with sites, programs and provincially to support the implementation of Accreditation Canada's standards. During that time, one of her roles is supporting pressure injury provincially. One of the recent projects that Charlene was involved with was related to Alberta's Atlas of Healthcare Variation and its topic of "Pressure Injury in Long Term Care". Charlene values patient centered care and recognizes that importance of advocacy for patients, especially those that cannot advocate for themselves. Charlene's nursing experience also encompasses frontline, management and leadership in the areas of rural nursing, neurosurgery, communicable disease, public health and continuing care in the provinces of B.C. and Alberta. Outside of work, you'll find her enjoying farm life and playing with a camera.

Jane is the Education and Research Coordinator-Wound Care for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. An Occupational Therapist by training, Jane is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and the University of Manitoba. For the last 10 years, she has been coordinating and teaching wound care courses with a tremendous team of wound care specialists. Jane enjoys being a resource to the health care community for problem solving, networking and connecting people with each other and is thrilled when she can make someone’s day a bit easier. Ask her about volunteering as a puppy raiser for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Maryanne D’Arpino is Chief Nursing Executive and Vice President Quality and Professional Practice. With a background deeply rooted in health care quality and safety and a passion for improving the patient experience and outcomes, Maryanne is responsible for setting the strategic vision for Nursing, Allied Health and Personal Support at Spectrum Health Care. Her role also encompasses executive sponsorship of new clinical and quality programs, and she also oversees the development of Spectrum’s education strategy and program development with the aim of supporting staff in delivering safe high-quality home care. Maryanne also leads Spectrum’s Quality and Performance Measurement strategy and outcomes.

With experience spanning both provincial and national organizations, Maryanne has held leadership roles at Health Quality Ontario, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, and Healthcare Excellence Canada. She has designed large scale quality improvement initiatives and programs that have supported clinical evidence based practices to improve safe care across healthcare sectors.

Dr. Irmajean Bajnok, is currently working at Wounds Canada as the Education and Policy Director and Director of the Wounds Canada Institute. She previously worked as Director of Director and Senior Policy Analyst at the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). Irmajean has also held leadership positions at RNAO including Director of the International Affairs and Best Practice Guideline Program and the Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence, as well as in practice settings and international portfolios. Much of her career has been in academia where she has worked in administrative and professional roles at Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Toronto, and Western University. Dr. Bajnok is recognized internationally as a knowledgeable and engaging speaker and consultant focusing on evidence-based practice and education, healthy work environments, leadership and change management.

Sue Owen currently serves as President & CEO of the Canadian College of Health Leaders. She is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and obtained a Master’s degree from the University of Toronto. Sue has worked across all healthcare sectors including Acute Care, Academics & Research, Mental Health & Addictions, Pediatrics, Faith-based organizations, Private Sector, Industry, National Associations and Community & Home Care. She is currently working on her PhD at York University where she will focus her studies on the impact of Empathy on health outcomes.

Sue is well-known for her experience in Strategic Planning, Executive Facilitation, Stakeholder Engagement and Governance. Having worked with over 50 healthcare organization and Boards of Directors, Sue rounds out her expertise with an appointment as an Adjunct Professor at York University.

Prior to embarking on her current role, Sue held senior positions including CEO of Impreza Consulting, Principal & National Head of Consulting for Philips Canada and Director of Strategy at Mount Sinai Hospital. Sue’s Board work includes serving on the Board of Swimming Canada (Board Chair) and prior to this, Sue served on the Boards of Healthcare Excellence Canada,  Canadian Patient Safety Institute, the Canadian College of Health Leaders, where she served as Chair from 2016  to 2018 and the Board of Trustees for Hillfield Strathallan College in Hamilton. 

Cindy MacQuarrie is currently the Chief Nursing Officer at VON Home and Community Care. Prior to this role, Cindy held various positions in healthcare and academia, including Senior Director of Interprofessional Practice and Learning at Nova Scotia Health Authority. Cindy has a strong background in nursing education and interprofessional practice, with a PhD in Nursing from the University of Alberta.

Robyn Evans is the Medical Director of the Wound Healing Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and is 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 Care Course (IIWCC) through the University of Toronto. She is senior faculty for Wounds Canada to support the development of interprofessional education programs for clinicians as well as the delivery and evaluation of these programs. She is the co-chair for this year’s Wounds Canada National Conference, the co-chair for the Diabetic Task Force for Wound Canada and on the Wounds Canada Board.

Sheena Fortuna is a Registered Nurse with a Masters of Nursing Degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. She works as a Wound Care Consultant at Oak Valley Health, overseeing wound care program in Markham Stouffville, Uxbridge Hospital and Reactivation Care Centre. She previously held the position of lead registered nurse at Women’s College Wound Care Centre. She is an executive member of the Canadian Dermatology Nurses’ Association (CDNA). She is currently enrolled in the Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate program at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Dr. Karen Chien MD MSc CCFP (PC,COE) FCFP IIWCC is an academic hospitalist at the Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM), University of Toronto. She works in Medical Rehabilitation at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital, Sinai Health and serves as a Wound Care consultant in the specialized Wound Care Centre at Women’s College Hospital. Dr. Chien also has extensive experience as a Palliative Care consultant at St. Michael’s Hospital. She is the recipient of numerous teaching awards at U of T. Dr Chien has a keen interest in enhancing the care of people with complex wounds and is passionate about fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. spearheading curriculum development in medical education and providing resource outreach to hospital and community providers.

Outside of her professional life, Dr Chien loves endurance running and cycling, gardening, playing the guitar or just hanging out with her husband, kids and dog.

Dr. Irmajean Bajnok, is currently working at Wounds Canada as the Education and Policy Director and Director of the Wounds Canada Institute. She previously worked as Director of Director and Senior Policy Analyst at the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). Irmajean has also held leadership positions at RNAO including Director of the International Affairs and Best Practice Guideline Program and the Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence, as well as in practice settings and international portfolios. Much of her career has been in academia where she has worked in administrative and professional roles at Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Toronto, and Western University. Dr. Bajnok is recognized internationally as a knowledgeable and engaging speaker and consultant focusing on evidence-based practice and education, healthy work environments, leadership and change management.

Holly Calliou has been a nurse for 18 years. After completing her BScN at the University of Alberta she worked at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. She then moved on to Indigenous Services Canada working in Public Health for Maskwacis First Nation and then Enoch Cree Nation. While working at Enoch Holly was offered the position of Home Care Coordinator where she has been since 2015.

For Anne Shantz, the nursing journey was a second career opportunity following a profession in social services. While completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Western University, one of her first clinical experiences ignited a passion for caring for patients with wounds and ostomies. After graduating, Anne went on to become an Enterostomal Therapist and then several years later returned to Western University to complete a Master’s in the Clinical Science of Wound Healing.

Anne has practised in a variety of roles supporting wound and ostomy expertise as a front-line clinician, as an educator and in program lead positions. Anne is employed with the South West Home and Community Care as the Clinical Lead for the South West Regional Wound Care Program. In this role, Anne supports patient consultation, cross-sectorial wound care education and regional wound program development.

Dr. Rosanra (Rosie) Yoon's (she/her) research area focuses on health services evaluation with a particular focus in integrated care for people experiencing structural vulnerabilities, substance use and mental health challenges. Dr. Yoon employs participatory and collaborative evaluation methods for system improvement through her Better Together Research Hub. As a nurse practitioner, her clinical area of expertise is in the areas of substance use, concurrent mental health conditions, trauma and gender-informed care. Bridging between community-based grassroots programs and larger systems – to collaboratively meet the needs of people and communities – is a core value that guides her clinical and research work. Her firm belief is that health is achieved through our communities where we all work, live, play and belong.

Ellen is a Clinical Dietitian with over 3 decades of experience in a wide range of nutrition specialty areas including diabetes management, wound care, heart disease, weight management, enteral nutrition, pediatric care and eating disorders. She is registered with the College of Dietitians of British Columbia, Dietitians of Canada and is a professional member of the Canadian Diabetes Association and Wounds Canada. She volunteers as a Board of Director for Wounds Canada. Ellen received her Bachelors of Science in Dietetics and her Masters degree in Human Nutrition from the University of British Columbia. Ellen works in a variety of settings including one-to-one counseling, small group and nutrition education seminars to help clients attain their nutrition and health goals.

Dr. Michael N. Desvigne is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with additional certifications in general surgery, wound care, and hyperbaric medicine. He specializes in wound reconstruction and pioneered Outpatient Wound Reconstruction (OWR), performing advanced procedures under local or twilight anesthesia to improve outcomes and reduce risk. 

A fellow of the American College of Surgeons and an active member of multiple surgical and wound care societies, Dr. Desvigne is a recognized speaker and consultant in wound healing technologies. He served 12 years in the U.S. Air Force and completed his plastic surgery training at the University of Texas at San Antonio, followed by a cosmetic fellowship in Hawaii. 

Outside of work, he enjoys travel, fitness, and humanitarian missions with his wife.

Britney Butt is a certified wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nursing specialist with experience in clinical practice, education, and research. She holds a Master of Clinical Science in Wound Healing from the University of Western Ontario and dual Canadian and American professional certifications, including WOCC(C) and CWOCN. With active nursing licenses in both Canada and the United States.

Currently serving as the Wound & Ostomy Care Coordinator at Keck Medicine of USC, Britney leads clinical initiatives focused on skin injury prevention, policy development, and enhancing patient outcomes. Prior to this, she worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at North York General Hospital for a decade, where she played a pivotal role in patient care, staff education, and policy implementation related to wound and ostomy management. As the former Program Development Coordinator Lead for the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Institute, Britney was instrumental in designing and modernizing advanced wound care education, including the Wound Debridement Program and the Skin Wellness Associated Program (SWAN). She has also provided consultancy and educational services through Derma Specialist Consultancy Inc.

Britney has served on expert panels, including the Canadian Pressure Injury Advisory Panel, the Canadian Nurses Association Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Certification Exam Question Development Group and is a contributing author in the upcoming Canadian textbook for Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing.

Dr. Karima Velji is Chief of Nursing and Professional Practice and an Assistant Deputy Minister for Ontario. She is leading the integrated health human strategy for the province of Ontario which includes a focus on education expansion/clinical support  (including creation of two new medical schools), scope of practice expansion (including pharmacy minor ailment program and RN prescribing), expediting pathways for interjurisdictional and international practitioners (including launching practice ready assessment program and operationalizing the As of Right legislation) and retention/distribution programs (including locums, clinical scholars and extern program).  She is a Registered Nurse and has held senior leadership positions in several academic health science centres and boards. She is cross-appointed to a number of universities and has received an honorary degree from Loyalist College. Dr. Velji is a sought-after consultant for system level projects and has led external reviews of several organizations. She is a surveyor with Health Standards Organization (HSO), Accreditation Canada.

As chief executive officer of Wounds Canada, Mariam is responsible for both the implementation of the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the organization. She is a chiropodist and diabetes educator by training and completed her Master’s in Educational Leadership. Mariam has also published, developed and lectured in multiple programs both nationally and internationally. She is also the vice president of D foot International. Through her different roles as an executive director, health-care practitioner and educator, researcher and faculty member for many well-recognized organizations, Mariam has extensive practical and professional experience in advancing public health policy and is  respected as a strategic, visionary, system thinker. 

Joel Alleyne has worked in Management Consulting in the health care industry for over thirty years across the Americas and Europe.  He has taught in: 1) the Masters of Health Informatics Program with the Institute of Health Policy Evaluation and Management, Faculty of Medicine (University of Toronto); 2) the Faculty of Information (University of Toronto) — currently Assistant Professor; and, 3) the Faculty of Information and Media Studies (University of Western Ontario). He has been Practitioner in Residence at the Knowledge Media Design Institute (University of Toronto).

Joel has held senior management roles (Chief Information Officer, Chief Knowledge Officer) and has been involved in several projects involving mobile health (mHealth), eHealth, health networking, electronic medical records, knowledge management, strategic planning, and inter-professional care (IPC). He has also done research in these areas and led industry working groups involving both health providers and vendors. He has worked across the continuum of care – from solo practitioner offices to acute and ambulatory care facilities, laboratories, hospitals, long term care facilities and health care funding and management organizations. His current research involves information and knowledge management (including the phenomenon of expertise networks in healthcare). 

Joel is CEO, Alleyne Inc., Founder Abraxas International Inc., Founder and Chairman Crucible International, and Founder Tranzform (a non profit). He is a member of the Entovation 100 Global Knowledge Leaders; which includes several global thought leaders and practitioners in the field who play a role in shaping the new knowledge based economy. Joel is also a faculty member with the Kaieteur Institute for Knowledge Management.

Ronni Bellefontaine is a registered nurse, starting out her career in cardiac care nursing, before transitioning to the Health Innovation Hub to use her skills and education to impact patients in another way. Now acting as the Clinical Manager of Innovation, she feels that the knowledge and experience she gained at the bedside has given her the tools to provide insight on what new technologies and solutions to deploy, where and when. Additionally, Ronni leads the Wound Innovation Collaborative, an initiative focused on enhancing wound care across the province.

Joumana Fawaz has been a nurse for 23 years and actively involved in nursing education for over 15 years. 5 years ago, she discovered her passion for wound care and has been actively involved ever since in many initiatives in wound care and associations. She currently works as a clinical nurse specialist in wound care and head of the wound, ostomy and continence service at the Montreal University Health Center where she juggles several wound care projects at the same time.Recently, she has been elected president of the Regroupement Québécois en soins de plaies.

Nyechuor Deng is a fourth-year nursing student at Western University in London, Ontario. She serves as the Vice President of Outreach for Canadian Black Nurses Alliance at Western University and is an active member of the Western-Fanshawe Nursing Student Association. 

Nyechour’s passion is making positive change which has led her to an internship with the London Health Sciences Centre and Western’s Black Leadership University Experience (BLUE), where she worked on initiatives such as using the Monk Skin Tone Scale to improve the detection of stages 1 and 2 pressure injuries on darker skin tones. These experiences have shaped her into an advocate for equitable care, particularly for people of colour and individuals with darker skin tones. Nyechour is committed to advancing health equity and representation in nursing and beyond.

Rebecca Dyck has been nursing for fifteen years, and is a strong advocate for justice and equity in health care.  She has spent a number of years learning how systemic racism and intersectionality affect the health of individuals and communities.  After earning a Master of Clinical Science in Wound Healing at Western University ten years ago, Rebecca has been working with patients virtually and at the bedside to solve the puzzle that each wound presents.  Rebecca also tutors students in the research course of the master’s program.  More recently, Rebecca became a Nurse Specialized in Wound Ostomy and Continence and earned her national certification. 

Rebecca currently works as a Nurse Clinician on the Skin Wound Ostomy team at Hamilton Health Sciences, mainly with children and families at McMaster Children's Hospital.  Her role encompasses direct patient care, staff education, and committee work to improve patient care within the organization.  A recent focus has been hospital-acquired pressure injuries and developing resources to improve assessment of darker skin tones. 

Rebecca has volunteered with preteens, the Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle, and Caribbean migrant farm workers in Niagara.  She keeps busy with her three children, can often be found with a book in her hand, and enjoys “old lady hobbies” such as sewing, gardening, and canning. 

Tobi is a registered chiropodist with a special interest in high risk feet and diabetic foot wounds. She has worked in public and private settings in Toronto and in Bermuda. Tobi holds a Master of Education in Adult Education and Community Development and is an Associate Professor of Chiropody at the Michener Institute of Education at UHN.

Michele is a Nurse Practitioner who is passionate about complex wound management in the context of chronic disease management particularly in people with lower leg ulcerations and diabetic foot complications.

She has focused her expertise in this area for over 30 years and is actively involved in clinical research, consensus, pathway and practice guideline development and in implementation of evidence based care.  As a wound consultant, she provides wound and infection management education to health care professionals in numerous settings. Michele practices in an out-patient wound clinic and ambulatory infusion therapy clinic. She is also a sessional instructor at MacEwan University in Edmonton.

Crystal is a private wound consultant and Lecturer for Western University’s Advanced Health Care Practice (Wound Healing) Program. Her education includes:

• A Degree in Nursing from the University of Windsor, in 2004

• A Master of Clinical Science (MClSc) in Wound Healing degree from the Western University, in 2009

Crystal has worked in the acute, community and long-term care sectors in both a traditional nursing role and as a wound consultant and is the former Director of Education at Wounds Canada.

Patricia Coutts is a registered nurse and a past president of Wounds Canada formally the Canadian Association of Wound Care. A leading wound expert who has lectured across the world, she has published in numerous journals and has been involved in wound research. She has been a preceptor for hundreds of health care professionals. She has experience in many areas of nursing, including medicine, surgery, family practice, psychiatry. Pat is currently employed as a consultant for Wounds Canada and the Woundpedia in Ontario. Patricia is a member of the Faculty of the International Interprofessional Wound Care Course (IIWCC) at the University of Toronto and the Wounds Canada SHARP program.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors of DEBRA Canada (Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association Canada) and The Canadian Hidradenitis Suppurative Foundation.

David Croitoru is a clinical associate at Women’s College Hospital specializing in complex medical dermatology and wound care. He completed his residency training at the University of Toronto Division of Dermatology as co-chief resident with a concomitant master’s degree from the Graduate Department of Immunology. He is the clinical lead of the only specialized wound clinic for patients with Pyoderma Gangrenosum in Canada and conducts translational research in prospective cohorts of neutrophilic inflammatory and connective tissue disease.

Robyn Evans is the Medical Director of the Wound Healing Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and is 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 Care Course (IIWCC) through the University of Toronto.

She is senior faculty for Wounds Canada to support the development of interprofessional education programs for clinicians as well as the delivery and evaluation of these programs. She is the co-chair for this year’s Wounds Canada National Conference,  the co-chair for the Diabetic Task Force for Wound Canada and on the Wounds Canada Board.

Erin is a Registered Nurse practicing at the Moss Park Consumption and Treatment Service, a satellite service of South Riverdale Community Health Centre, as well as Casey House Hospital for HIV Care, and the Wound Healing Clinic at Women's College Hospital. From 2017-2018, Erin was one of approximately 150 volunteers who supoorted  the Toronto Harm Reduction Alliance and Toronto Overdose Prevention Society in operating an unsanctioned Overdose Prevention Site in Toronto's Moss Park. This was the first supervised consumption service in Ontario, and its roots in direct action and community self-determination have profoundly shaped Erin's Philosophy of Care in her nursing practice. Erin is the 2021 recipient of the Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care Award for Excellence in Advocacy, and recently completed an RNAO Advanced Practice Fellowship focusing on Leadership in CTS Nursing. Erin is passionate about supporting the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs

Dr Virginie Blanchette is the first podiatrist PhD in Québec and has been an associate professor in the podiatric medicine program at Université du Québec at Trois-Rivières since 2014. Her research specialty is limb preservation, dedicated to the prevention and management of diabetic foot ulcers and their complications, with a team approach within a patient-oriented research.  She is a Diabetes Action Canada trainee as well as a research fellow among David G Armstrong's team in Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Wounds Canada since June 2021. 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 for people living with diabetes in Canada.

Dr. Irmajean Bajnok, is currently working at Wounds Canada as the Education and Policy Director and Director of the Wounds Canada Institute. She previously worked as Director of Director and Senior Policy Analyst at the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). Irmajean has also held leadership positions at RNAO including Director of the International Affairs and Best Practice Guideline Program and the Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence, as well as in practice settings and international portfolios. Much of her career has been in academia where she has worked in administrative and professional roles at Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Toronto, and Western University. Dr. Bajnok is recognized internationally as a knowledgeable and engaging speaker and consultant focusing on evidence-based practice and education, healthy work environments, leadership and change management.

Robyn Evans is the Medical Director of the Wound Healing Clinic at Women’s College Hospital and is 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 Care Course (IIWCC) through the University of Toronto. She is senior faculty for Wounds Canada to support the development of interprofessional education programs for clinicians as well as the delivery and evaluation of these programs. She is the co-chair for this year’s Wounds Canada National Conference, the co-chair for the Diabetic Task Force for Wound Canada and on the Wounds Canada Board.