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.

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.

Dr. Keast is the Medical Director of the Chronic Wound Management Clinic at the Parkwood Institute in London Canada. He is Clinical Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University (London). Dr. Keast is an Associate Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute, Parkwood Institute Research. He is Co-director of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework and President of the World Alliance for Wound and Lymphedema Care.

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. 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.

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. 

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.

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.

Janet L. Kuhnke is an Associate Professor School of Nursing at Cape Breton University and NSWOC with a strong background of community practice. Her recent studies include qualitative studies related to community members & IV abscess prevention, living with diabetes mellitus and being at risk for foot ulcerations. She is focusing on barriers and inequities in delivering best practices in skin and wound care in rural and remote communities. She is studying narrative inquiry and reflexive practice.

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.

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.

Dr. Kathleen Stevens is an Assistant Professor at Memorial University Faculty of Nursing and an advanced foot care nurse. Dr. Stevens is a mixed-methods and patient-oriented researcher with expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods. Her program of research is focused on preventative foot health and foot self-management interventions, and diabetes with the goal of preventing skin breakdown and devastating complications such as foot ulceration and amputation. Through her research and service she endeavors to impact health policy and implement knowledge translation initiatives that reduce diabetic foot complications. Dr. Stevens is a leader in foot health and diabetes at the provincial and national level. She is a member of the executive of the Newfoundland and Labrador Advanced Foot Care Nurses Special Interest Group. She has been involved with the Canadian Association of Foot Care Nurses Association as a Board Member for six years. Dr. Stevens is involved in multi-disciplinary work and research as a member of Wounds 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.

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. 

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. 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. 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.