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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. 

Darian Cheng is a guideline development methodologist at the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. He is currently developing the Assessment and Care of Persons at Risk for Suicidal Ideation (Second Edition) best practice guideline; and the Self-Management of Chronic Conditions best practice guideline.

Dr. Evans is 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.  Dr. Evans 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 delivery and evaluation of these programs. Dr. Evans is on the board of Wounds Canada and co-chair for the Diabetic Task Force for Wound Canada.

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.

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.

Dr Stacey is a vascular surgeon at Hamilton Health Sciences and Professor at McMaster University. He has a long standing active participation in wound healing research in Canada, Australia and internationally. His research has been primarily in the areas of the pathophysiology of wound healing, wound treatments and wound diagnostics. He was the founding Chairman of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies, and the founding President of the Wounds Australia.

Dr. Evans is 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.  Dr. Evans 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 delivery and evaluation of these programs. Dr. Evans is on the board of Wounds Canada and co-chair for the Diabetic Task Force for Wound Canada.

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.

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.

Dr Stacey is a vascular surgeon at Hamilton Health Sciences and Professor at McMaster University. He has a long standing active participation in wound healing research in Canada, Australia and internationally. His research has been primarily in the areas of the pathophysiology of wound healing, wound treatments and wound diagnostics. He was the founding Chairman of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies, and the founding President of the Wounds Australia.

Dr. Irmajean Bajnok, is currently working at Wounds Canada as an Education and Policy Specialist.  She previously worked as Interim Policy Director and then as 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.

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.

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)

Dr. Evans is 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.  Dr. Evans 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 delivery and evaluation of these programs. Dr. Evans is on the board of Wounds Canada and co-chair for the Diabetic Task Force for Wound Canada.

Corey Heerschap is the President of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada and Clinical Nurse Specialist for Wound and Ostomy at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie, Ontario. Corey completed his Master of Science in Community Health specializing in Wound Prevention and Care and the International Interdisciplinary Wound Care Course from the University of Toronto. He is a certified Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence through the Canadian Nurses Association. Corey has conducted and published research in the field of wound management, ostomy management, and nursing education, with a focus on clinical education. He is currently completing his PhD in Nursing through Queens University with a focus on nurse wound care decision making.

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.

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 Sibbald is a dermatologist and internist with a special interest in wound care and education. He is a professor of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto and an international wound care key opinion leader (educator, clinician and clinical researcher). Dr Sibbald is co-founder of the Canadian Association of Wound Care and was the former Director of the Wound Healing Clinic, Women’s College Hospital (1994-2009). He is also a previous president of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies (2012 – 2016). In 1999 he co-developed the International Interprofessional Wound Care Course and has been the director for 33 courses worldwide. He has over 200 publications and is co-editor and chapter author of the Chronic Wound Care 5 textbook. Currently he is the Co-editor in chief of Advances in Skin & Wound Care. Professor Sibbald received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal in 2013 and Honorary Doctor of Science from Excelsior College in 2014. He has is the project ECHO lead for Ontario Skin and Wound to develop interprofessional teams for all 14 Ontario Local Integrated Health Networks.

Britney Ann Butt  has worked as a clinical nurse specialist at North York General Hospital since 2015. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2012 from the University of Ottawa, her Enterostomal Therapy Nursing Certificate in 2014 from the Canadian Association of Enterostomal therapy, (now referred to as the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute) and her Master of Clinical Science in Wound Healing in 2017 from the University of Western Ontario. She became WOCC(c) certified from the Canadian Nurse Association in 2018.

In her position at North York General Hospital as Clinical Nurse Specialist she leads her hospital’s pressure injury prevention and management committee she was recently appointed as president elect for the Canadian Pressure Injury Prevention Panel. Britney also has a passion for ostomy management and standardized care having recently published a scoping review on the algorithmic approaches to ostomy care.

During her tenure with the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute, Britney was responsible for the development of educational programs including the Wound Debridement Program, Wound Care – Practice Enrichment Series for paramedics, and the Skin Wellness Associated Program (SWAN).

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.

Leigh Caplan is a Diabetes Nurse Educator in the Sunnybrook Academic Family Health Team.  Leigh has worked in the area of diabetes education for over 29 years. She was the clinical lead on the expansion of the diabetes education program at Sunnybrook and responsible for inter-professional diabetes education. In 2019, Leigh became the professional director of the Health Coach Professional Certificate at Health Leadership and Learning Network at York University.  As a Certified Health and Wellness Coach with the National Board for Health & Wellness coaching (NBHWC) and a Tiny Habits Certified Coach, she has found that the skills of coaching enhance her work with patients and learners.

Dr. Pamela E. Houghton is Full Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Western University, London, Canada. In 2007, she launched the Masters of Clinical Science program in the field of wound healing and is a full time faculty instructor. This innovative graduate program is the only one in Canada that uses distance education methods to provide specialized training for an interdisciplinary group of experienced clinicians who treat people with chronic wounds. Dr. Houghton leads an active research program at Western that is dedicated to implementing evidence informed wound assessment tools and advanced treatments for people with chronic wounds. She is best known for her research and education about electrical stimulation therapy used to accelerate wound closure of stage II, III and IV pressure ulcers as well as other complex wounds. Pamela is a licensed Physical Therapist in Ontario.

Amanda Mayo, MD, MHSc, FRCPC, is a Physiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She subspecializes in Amputee Rehabilitation and limb preservation. Dr. Mayo has a MHSc in Clinical Engineering with a focus on Human Factors Engineering and Usability of Health Technology. She is an Associate Director of the University of Toronto Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety. She is the Chief of the St. John’s Rehab Program and Division Director of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

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.

Dr Sibbald is a dermatologist and internist with a special interest in wound care and education. He is a professor of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto and an international wound care key opinion leader (educator, clinician and clinical researcher). Dr Sibbald is co-founder of the Canadian Association of Wound Care and was the former Director of the Wound Healing Clinic, Women’s College Hospital (1994-2009). He is also a previous president of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies (2012 – 2016). In 1999 he co-developed the International Interprofessional Wound Care Course and has been the director for 33 courses worldwide. He has over 200 publications and is co-editor and chapter author of the Chronic Wound Care 5 textbook. Currently he is the Co-editor in chief of Advances in Skin & Wound Care. Professor Sibbald received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal in 2013 and Honorary Doctor of Science from Excelsior College in 2014. He has is the project ECHO lead for Ontario Skin and Wound to develop interprofessional teams for all 14 Ontario Local Integrated Health Networks.

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.

Prof.  Abbas is a consultant physician, endocrinologist and diabetologist in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He is involved in the field of diabetic foot since 1992. He has been awarded FRCP honours from the Royal College of Physician and Surgeon of Glasgow and the Royal College of Physicians of London. He is currently, President of D-Foot International, Chair of Pan-African Diabetic Foot Study Group, Executive Board Member of IWGDF for International Consensus on the diabetic Foot, Vice-President of Association of International Medical Salvage of the Extremity and Chairman of the National Diabetic Foot Guidelines for specialists at the national level.

Dr. Abbas is visiting Professor of Staffordshire University, UK, faculty member for the Master in Diabetes Mellitus Education (MScDME) program, at the Centre of Diabetes Studies, University of Abuja, Nigeria.

Prof. Abbas is the founder member to start Step by Step foot project started in 2003 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. So far, this project has been implemented in 120 countries.

He is a member of the editorial boards of several international peer-reviewed journals and has published extensively on the epidemiology of diabetic limb complications and has written several book chapters and edited a book on diabetic foot for health care workers. He has also received the Karel Baker Diabetic Foot Medal of Honour (IWGDF) in 2019 and received the Life Achievement Award, World Union of Wound Healing Societies in 2022. 

Prof. Abbas received an honours award in October 2022 by the Diabetic Foot Society of India and received a recognition award for outstanding achievement services in the field to humanity in Tanzania in January of 2023.

Dr. Karen Cross, is a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon and PhD Scientist who is changing the way skin injuries are assessed. Considered a Key O pinion leader in Canada in acute and chronic wounds, Dr. Cross leads the Wound Innovation Collaborative, a center of excellence in wound innovation and the data registry for the province of Nova Scotia. 

As an Innovator in Residence at the Nova Scotia Innovation Hub, Dr. Cross fosters earlier adoption of novel technologies within the health system. Additionally, she is the Co-founder and CEO of MIMOSA Diagnostics; a company born out of a clinical need for her own practice that resulted in solving the needs of the broader healthcare system.

Her passion is creating equity within the healthcare system by improving access to care with technology and she has been recognized for her work with both humanitarian awards and recognition from the World Bank. She was recently named one of Atlantic Canada's Top 50 CEOs of the Year, Innovator of the Year in 2024, and one of Canada’s Top 14 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2023.

Allison Luther has been an Occupational Therapist since 2006.  After working in various areas of rehab, Allison observed a role for rehab professionals in wound care.   She attended the University of Western Ontario and completed the Master of Clinical Science, Wound Healing in 2020 and is currently the Manager of the Regional Wound Care Program for St Joseph’s Care Group, in Thunder Bay, Ontario.    Allison's role is focused on building cross sectoral relationships and  building capacity, equity and access to evidence informed wound care across Northwestern Ontario.  Since the fall of 2022, Allison has been the implementation lead for the Lower Limb Preservation Strategy for Northwestern Ontario.

Mayuri Mahendran is a Senior Analyst with the Population Health team at the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

The Population Health team at CIHI supports health systems with delivering equitable care, and as a Senior Analyst Mayuri has contributed to three streams of work. The first is to promote the integration of sociodemographic data standards in health care data to facilitate equity analysis. Recent work includes CIHI’s guidance for collecting race-based and Indigenous identity data.  The second is to produce stratified health system analytics that support equity-informed decision making. This includes analytic projects such as Equity in Diabetes Care: A Focus on Lower Limb Amputation and Variations in Patient Safety Across Equity-Deserving Populations.  And lastly, the team is working to convene and connect health systems, health organizations, providers, and communities to strengthen and scale health equity initiatives. This includes building capacity for carrying out health inequalities analysis through the Health Inequalities Toolkit. Mayuri completed a Master of Science in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University, with a focus on intersectional health research.  

Amanda Mayo, MD, MHSc, FRCPC, is a Physiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She subspecializes in Amputee Rehabilitation and limb preservation. Dr. Mayo has a MHSc in Clinical Engineering with a focus on Human Factors Engineering and Usability of Health Technology. She is an Associate Director of the University of Toronto Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety. She is the Chief of the St. John’s Rehab Program and Division Director of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Cathy joined Ontario Health's Population Health and Value Based Health Systems portfolio as Director of Clinical Transformation in early 2024. In this role, Cathy leads a team dedicated to co-designing innovative models of care that are enabled by technology, to improve equitable access to care for Ontarians. Prior to joining OH, Cathy worked for Lakeridge Health as Director of the Central East Regional Cancer Prevention and Screening Program, the Indigenous Cancer Program and the Department of Family and Community Medicine. In that role Cathy also led the Durham OHT Homecare Modernization Leading Project.

Dr. Kevin Woo is a Full Professor at Queen’s University, Faculty of Health Sciences in Kingston, Ontario. He is an adjunct Research Professor at Western University and an affiliate Scientist at The Institute for Education Research (TIER), University Health Network.

Dr. Woo is known as an established Canadian researcher and educator in the fields of wound management and chronic disease management. He has published over 180 peer-reviewed papers and received national and international awards for his work.

Dr. Woo serves as the Chair of the Joint Research Ethics Board for West Park Health Center and Toronto Grace Health Center in Toronto. He is a founding member and the past president of the Canadian Pressure Injury Advisory Panel.  Dr. Woo maintains an active clinical role in wound care.

Dr. Evans is 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.  Dr. Evans 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 delivery and evaluation of these programs. Dr. Evans is on the board of Wounds Canada and co-chair for the Diabetic Task Force for Wound Canada.

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.

Erin Pichora is a Program Lead with the Population Health team at the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). In this role, Erin has led a variety of projects aimed at supporting health systems with delivering equitable care. This work includes the development and promotion of socio-demographic data standards, carrying out health system analysis that supports equity-informed decision making, and leading capacity building initiatives to support others with health inequalities analysis. Most recently, Erin led the Equity in Diabetes Care: A Focus on Lower Limb Amputation project. Erin holds a master’s degree in community health and epidemiology from Queen’s University and has worked in the field of health data analysis for over 20 years

Dr. Kayssi is a vascular surgeon at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and a wound care physician at Women’s College Hospital. He obtained his medical degree from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, before relocating to Toronto to pursue training in general and vascular surgery. He subsequently completed a fellowship in limb preservation and wound care under the supervision of Dr. Richard Neville in Fairfax, Virginia. Dr. Kayssi is a graduate of the Harvard School of Public Health, where he obtained a Master of Public Health focusing on quantitative methods and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.

Sarah Gurney is a Registered Nurse and Patient Service Manager for the South West Regional Wound Care Program. Graduating with distinction in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, she earned certification as a Nurse Specialized in Wound Ostomy and Continence in 2020 and is currently pursuing a Masters of Clinical Science in Wound Healing at Western University.

With over a decade of experience in healthcare, Sarah has focused on home and community care, holding various leadership roles. She actively contributes to provincial care delivery model working groups and serves as the business lead for the Middlesex London Lower Limb Preservation Program, where she is working to develop integrated care models to enhance patient outcomes in the region.

Dr. Nasser Khalil brings extensive experience in both clinical and administrative healthcare roles. He has served as a Chief Medical Officer and Healthcare Consultant, and since 2015, he has been a Senior Consultant at the London Health Sciences Centre in Canada. In this role, Dr. Khalil has led a variety of transformation programs and is currently leading the Regional Lower Limb Preservation Program with the Middlesex London Ontario Health Team (MLOHT).

Dr. Karen Cross, is a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon and PhD Scientist who is changing the way skin injuries are assessed. Considered a Key O pinion leader in Canada in acute and chronic wounds, Dr. Cross leads the Wound Innovation Collaborative, a center of excellence in wound innovation and the data registry for the province of Nova Scotia. 

As an Innovator in Residence at the Nova Scotia Innovation Hub, Dr. Cross fosters earlier adoption of novel technologies within the health system. Additionally, she is the Co-founder and CEO of MIMOSA Diagnostics; a company born out of a clinical need for her own practice that resulted in solving the needs of the broader healthcare system.

Her passion is creating equity within the healthcare system by improving access to care with technology and she has been recognized for her work with both humanitarian awards and recognition from the World Bank. She was recently named one of Atlantic Canada's Top 50 CEOs of the Year, Innovator of the Year in 2024, and one of Canada’s Top 14 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2023.

Cathy joined Ontario Health's Population Health and Value Based Health Systems portfolio as Director of Clinical Transformation in early 2024. In this role, Cathy leads a team dedicated to co-designing innovative models of care that are enabled by technology, to improve equitable access to care for Ontarians. Prior to joining OH, Cathy worked for Lakeridge Health as Director of the Central East Regional Cancer Prevention and Screening Program, the Indigenous Cancer Program and the Department of Family and Community Medicine. In that role Cathy also led the Durham OHT Homecare Modernization Leading Project.

Cathy is a registered Occupational Therapist who spent many years practicing in the community. She previously held roles as a Care Coordinator and manager of remote care monitoring and other clinical programs in the Central East Region.

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.

John is a general surgeon and physician lead at the Fraser Health Complex Wound Centre in British Columbia. He has specific interests in the optimal delivery of interprofessional wound care as well as physician engagement in quality improvement.

Darren Levine is an independent consultant supporting organizations to reimagine possibilities in today’s changing landscape. As a grant writer, social innovator and leadership educator and coach, Dr. Levine’s work focuses on cultivating workplaces that inspire and engage, where all members can discover their creative potential and exercise leadership for innovative change. Over the past twenty-five years, Darren has held a variety of management roles and has exercised leadership in several contexts including the not-for-profit and public sectors. Darren is Associate Faculty in the School of Leadership at Royal Roads University, where he teaches graduate courses in organizational leadership and supervises student research, and is a leadership in health care course instructor at the Michener Institute of Education at UHN. Darren holds a Doctor of Education (2010) and a Master of Education (2002) from the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (2010) along with a Bachelor of Arts from York University (1999). He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Values-Based Leadership from Royal Roads University (2018) and Leadership for the 21st Century Executive Education Certificate from Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University (2015).

Dr. Michael Payne is a Physiatrist at Parkwood Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care, London.  He is the Medical Director of the Regional Amputee Rehabilitation Program.

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.

Dr. Kayssi is a vascular surgeon at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and a wound care physician at Women’s College Hospital. He obtained his medical degree from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, before relocating to Toronto to pursue training in general and vascular surgery. He subsequently completed a fellowship in limb preservation and wound care under the supervision of Dr. Richard Neville in Fairfax, Virginia. Dr. Kayssi is a graduate of the Harvard School of Public Health, where he obtained a Master of Public Health focusing on quantitative methods and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.

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. Kevin Woo is a Full Professor at Queen’s University, Faculty of Health Sciences in Kingston, Ontario. He is an adjunct Research Professor at Western University and an affiliate Scientist at The Institute for Education Research (TIER), University Health Network.

Dr. Woo is known as an established Canadian researcher and educator in the fields of wound management and chronic disease management. He has published over 180 peer-reviewed papers and received national and international awards for his work.

Dr. Woo serves as the Chair of the Joint Research Ethics Board for West Park Health Center and Toronto Grace Health Center in Toronto. He is a founding member and the past president of the Canadian Pressure Injury Advisory Panel.  Dr. Woo maintains an active clinical role in wound care.

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.

Dr. Pamela E. Houghton is Full Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Western University, London, Canada. In 2007, she launched the Masters of Clinical Science program in the field of wound healing and is a full time faculty instructor. This innovative graduate program is the only one in Canada that uses distance education methods to provide specialized training for an interdisciplinary group of experienced clinicians who treat people with chronic wounds. Dr. Houghton leads an active research program at Western that is dedicated to implementing evidence informed wound assessment tools and advanced treatments for people with chronic wounds. She is best known for her research and education about electrical stimulation therapy used to accelerate wound closure of stage II, III and IV pressure ulcers as well as other complex wounds. Pamela is a licensed Physical Therapist in Ontario.

Dr. Irmajean Bajnok, is currently working at Wounds Canada as an Education and Policy Specialist.  She previously worked as Interim Policy Director and then as 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 a wound care nurse and researcher. She is also the co-founder and lead of Patients' Voices nd Story and an advocate for patient empowerment. 

Prof.  Abbas is a consultant physician, endocrinologist and diabetologist in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He is involved in the field of diabetic foot since 1992. He has been awarded FRCP honours from the Royal College of Physician and Surgeon of Glasgow and the Royal College of Physicians of London. He is currently, President of D-Foot International, Chair of Pan-African Diabetic Foot Study Group, Executive Board Member of IWGDF for International Consensus on the diabetic Foot, Vice-President of Association of International Medical Salvage of the Extremity and Chairman of the National Diabetic Foot Guidelines for specialists at the national level.

Dr. Abbas is visiting Professor of Staffordshire University, UK, faculty member for the Master in Diabetes Mellitus Education (MScDME) program, at the Centre of Diabetes Studies, University of Abuja, Nigeria.

Prof. Abbas is the founder member to start Step by Step foot project started in 2003 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. So far, this project has been implemented in 120 countries.

He is a member of the editorial boards of several international peer-reviewed journals and has published extensively on the epidemiology of diabetic limb complications and has written several book chapters and edited a book on diabetic foot for health care workers. He has also received the Karel Baker Diabetic Foot Medal of Honour (IWGDF) in 2019 and received the Life Achievement Award, World Union of Wound Healing Societies in 2022. 

Prof. Abbas received an honours award in October 2022 by the Diabetic Foot Society of India and received a recognition award for outstanding achievement services in the field to humanity in Tanzania in January of 2023.

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.

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.

Allison Luther has been an Occupational Therapist since 2006.  After working in various areas of rehab, Allison observed a role for rehab professionals in wound care.   She attended the University of Western Ontario and completed the Master of Clinical Science, Wound Healing in 2020 and is currently the Manager of the Regional Wound Care Program for St Joseph’s Care Group, in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  Allison's role is focused on building cross sectoral relationships and  building capacity, equity and access to evidence informed wound care across Northwestern Ontario.  Since the fall of 2022, Allison has been the implementation lead for the Lower Limb Preservation Strategy for Northwestern Ontario.

Mike Setterfield is the Manager, Clinical Programs, Vascular, within the Clinical Institute and Quality Programs portfolio at Ontario Health. With a focus on vascular services, Mike is working with partners to advance initiatives to improve access, outcomes and equity of vascular services in the province, including lower-limb preservation. Prior to joining CorHealth, Mike spent several years working in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry holding positions in Clinical Research and Medical Affairs.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Mike enjoys trail running, volunteering as a trainer for his son’s hockey team and spending time with his three children.

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.

Jane is an Occupational Therapist and the Education and Research Coordinator-Wound Care for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. She is responsible for the delivery of all the wound care courses and has a tremendous team of wound care specialists to call on to develop content and teach the courses. 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 networking, wound care, and volunteering as a puppy raiser for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Dr. Irmajean Bajnok, is currently working at Wounds Canada as an Education and Policy Specialist.  She previously worked as Interim Policy Director and then as 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

Nelea Lungu, Executive Vice President of Client and Assessment Services, is a dynamic leader with over two decades of experience in both Canadian and international settings. She has a proven track record of driving impactful systemic improvements and implementing successful health care strategies, all while mobilizing teams, colleagues, partners and stakeholders to achieve meaningful goals. Nelea’s professional journey is marked by a unique blend of expertise, including a clinical background as a specialized clinician nurse, complemented by three Masters’ degrees in business development, nursing, and economics. This diverse educational foundation merges clinical proficiency with keen business acumen, enabling her to navigate complex health care landscapes with precision and insight. Fluent in English, French, Russian, and Romanian, Nelea finds joy in exploring diverse cultures, fostering connections with people, and sharing her passions for outdoor activities, culinary delights, and literature. Her life narrative serves as a testament to vision, perseverance, and empowerment in the pursuit of both professional and personal excellence.

Prof.  Abbas is a consultant physician, endocrinologist and diabetologist in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He is involved in the field of diabetic foot since 1992. He has been awarded FRCP honours from the Royal College of Physician and Surgeon of Glasgow and the Royal College of Physicians of London. He is currently, President of D-Foot International, Chair of Pan-African Diabetic Foot Study Group, Executive Board Member of IWGDF for International Consensus on the diabetic Foot, Vice-President of Association of International Medical Salvage of the Extremity and Chairman of the National Diabetic Foot Guidelines for specialists at the national level.

Dr. Abbas is visiting Professor of Staffordshire University, UK, faculty member for the Master in Diabetes Mellitus Education (MScDME) program, at the Centre of Diabetes Studies, University of Abuja, Nigeria.

Prof. Abbas is the founder member to start Step by Step foot project started in 2003 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. So far, this project has been implemented in 120 countries.

He is a member of the editorial boards of several international peer-reviewed journals and has published extensively on the epidemiology of diabetic limb complications and has written several book chapters and edited a book on diabetic foot for health care workers. He has also received the Karel Baker Diabetic Foot Medal of Honour (IWGDF) in 2019 and received the Life Achievement Award, World Union of Wound Healing Societies in 2022. 

Prof. Abbas received an honours award in October 2022 by the Diabetic Foot Society of India and received a recognition award for outstanding achievement services in the field to humanity in Tanzania in January of 2023.

Dr. Evans is 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. Dr. Evans 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 delivery and evaluation of these programs. Dr. Evans is on the board of Wounds Canada and co-chair for the Diabetic Task Force for Wound Canada.

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. 

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. 

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

Dee O'Sullivan-Drombolis has been a physiotherapist for 24 years. During that time she has worked in many various settings in North Western Ontario, including acute care, home care, LTC, and out patients. She has always had a passion for enabling everyone to participate in meaningful movement and activity. 

In 2007 she was a part of the inaugural class of Western University's Clinical Master in Wound Healing program and from that time on, she has worked hard to bring client centred and evidence based wound care to her home area, and to continue to maximize healthy lifestyle for those who suffer from wounds. She has been a part of Wounds Canada for many years, being a past member of the Board, part of many educational offerings and co-authoring many of Wounds Canada's Best Practice Guidelines. She also continues to be Adjunct Faculty at the University of Western Wound Healing Program and has published many articles around physical activity and wound healing.  Dee continues to teach wound care courses and skills in North Western Ontario as well as being part of the North Western Lower Limb Preservation Initiative.

Dee's current role at Giishkaandago'Ikwe Health Services has given her the gift of truly working within a community based framework together with client's, family's and communities to build mino ayawin or good health in a holistic manner.

Dr. Susan Vokey has been working as an orthopaedic surgeon with subspecialty interest in hand/upper extremity surgery and complex wound management for the past 30 years.  Along with her colleagues in Northeastern Ontario, she is involved in providing multidisciplinary care for patients with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease and unusual chronic infections.  She is currently also the medical director of the surgical program at Health Sciences North in Sudbury, ON.

Dr. Irmajean Bajnok, is currently working at Wounds Canada as an Education and Policy Specialist.  She previously worked as Interim Policy Director and then as 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. Irmajean Bajnok, is currently working at Wounds Canada as an Education and Policy Specialist.  She previously worked as Interim Policy Director and then as 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 a wound care nurse and researcher. She is also the co-founder and lead of Patients' Voices nd Story and an advocate for patient empowerment. 

Linda Norton is an Occupational Therapist who is passionate about the prevention and management of chronic wounds. Her diverse experience in settings that include hospital, community and industry; and roles that include clinician, educator, manager, and researcher give Linda a unique perspective. Linda is the Education and Client Relations Specialist at Motion Specialties. She teaches at two Ontario Universities. In addition to consulting on several best practice documents, she was the lead author on the Pressure Injury Prevention and Management Best Practice Recommendations for Wounds Canada (formerly CAWC).

Marlene Varga has been a Registered Nurse for over 30+ years all at Covenant Health in Edmonton, Alberta. Marlene developed an interest in skin and wound care early on in her career and was influenced by several wound care leaders. She completed a MSc in Wound Healing and Tissue Repair at Cardiff University and continues to volunteer as an honorary tutor. Marlene currently works as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Covenant Health pressure injury prevention program. She is an advocate for prevention, wound management and patient education and engagement/inclusion. Marlene enjoys animals (she has a dog named Nova), traveling, reading, golf, and yoga in her free time.

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.

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 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.

Dr. David Alper is a podiatric physician, who recently retired from working in the private solo practice he started 36 years ago in Belmont, MA. Specializing in surgical treatment and preventative diabetic foot care, he is now Emeritus Surgical staff at Mt. Auburn Hospital (a Harvard teaching hospital). He currently is a member of the Leadership Board of the American Diabetes Assn. (ADA) in New England, having served as President for over 20 years, and is an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

Since his retirement, Dr. Alper spends much of his time in the world of Limb Amputation Prevention as a result of PAD, CL(T)I and diabetes. He currently serves as a Board member of the Wound Care Collaborative Community (WCCC), The Alliance of Woundcare Stakeholders, the PAD Collaborative of the American Heart Assn. (AHA), CLI Global Communications Committee, National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) and is a founding member of the Medical Advisory Board of The Amputation Prevention Alliance (APA) of the ADA.

Dr. Alper is a noted speaker and writer on a variety of podiatric topics for both the medical professionals and the lay public, including articles published in Prevention, Health Journal, and Walking magazines, as well as various webinars and podcasts. When not in the world of feet, you can find him in his blacksmith’s forge or with his wife Pam and three wonderful children - Megan, Adam and Brian – and his equally wonderful Shih Tzu, Gizmo.

Dr. Lee Rogers is the Chief of Podiatry and Associate Professor of Orthopaedics at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He is the Louis T. Bogy endowed professor of podiatric medicine and surgery at UT.  He has authored over 150 published papers, books, and book chapters on limb salvage and policy and practice and he has delivered more than 500 lectures around the world.  

Dr. Rogers is the Immediate Past President of the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, an Associate Editor of the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, and Vice President of the International Federation of Podiatrists. He is also Fellow Faculty in Podiatric Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in Scotland.

John is a general surgeon and physician lead at the Fraser Health Complex Wound Centre in British Columbia. He has specific interests in the optimal delivery of interprofessional wound care as well as physician engagement in quality improvement. 

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.

Linda Norton is an Occupational Therapist who is passionate about the prevention and management of chronic wounds. Her diverse experience in settings that include hospital, community and industry; and roles that include clinician, educator, manager, and researcher give Linda a unique perspective. Linda is the Education and Client Relations Specialist at Motion Specialties. She teaches at two Ontario Universities. In addition to consulting on several best practice documents, she was the lead author on the Pressure Injury Prevention and Management Best Practice Recommendations for Wounds Canada (formerly CAWC).

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. 

Dr. Susan Deering is a Family Physician who has been practicing in Long Term Care for about 20 years. She currently provides primary care and consultant wound care to patients and residents within the Veterans Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.

She recently completed a Master of Public Health with a focus on the impacts of climate change on human health, particularly the health of older adult.

Lina Martins is a Clinical Nurse Specialist, certified Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence, at London Health Sciences Centre. She graduated from Western University with a BSc and MSc in Nursing and completed her wound, ostomy and continence education through the Wound, Ostomy, Continence Institute (formerly CAET Academy) (1999). Lina has published in peer reviewed journals and book chapters on both wound/ostomy issues, inclusive of peristomal skin complications, a research validated/standardized peristomal skin tool, Ontario Provincial Enhanced Recovery after Surgery and malignant wounds. She was a panel participant in the development of RNAO Best Practice Guidelines for ostomy care. Lina is the Publications Lead for Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada and the Canadian Features Editor for the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing. In her CNS role, Lina provides consultation on acute/chronic wounds, ostomy care, with a specialized focus on fistula management and complicated stoma presentations and is co-chair of an interdisciplinary team guiding wound care program and policy development.

Amanda Mayo, MD, MHSc, FRCPC, is a Physiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She subspecializes in Amputee Rehabilitation and limb preservation. Dr. Mayo has a MHSc in Clinical Engineering with a focus on Human Factors Engineering and Usability of Health Technology. She is an Associate Director of the University of Toronto Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety. She is the Chief of the St. John’s Rehab Program and Division Director of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Dr. Pamela E. Houghton is Full Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Western University, London, Canada. In 2007, she launched the Masters of Clinical Science program in the field of wound healing and is a full time faculty instructor. This innovative graduate program is the only one in Canada that uses distance education methods to provide specialized training for an interdisciplinary group of experienced clinicians who treat people with chronic wounds. Dr. Houghton leads an active research program at Western that is dedicated to implementing evidence informed wound assessment tools and advanced treatments for people with chronic wounds. She is best known for her research and education about electrical stimulation therapy used to accelerate wound closure of stage II, III and IV pressure ulcers as well as other complex wounds. Pamela is a licensed Physical Therapist in Ontario.

Dr. Evans is 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.  Dr. Evans 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 delivery and evaluation of these programs. Dr. Evans is on the board of Wounds Canada and co-chair for the Diabetic Task Force for Wound Canada.

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.