Menu 72 Begins - Skip Menu

Health Professionals Advisory Committee - HPAC - updated April 29, 2013

Each LHIN has established a Health Professionals Advisory Committee. These committees are responsible for assisting the Network in carrying out its responsibilities by providing advice on how to achieve patient-centered health care. The current membership of the Central East LHIN HPAC is detailed below.

Opportunities to join the Central East LHIN HPAC continue to be available. To complete a web-based application form, please click here. For more information on HPACs, please visit the Ontario LHINs website by clicking here.

	Michelle Acorn, Nursing As a Registered Nurse in the Extended Class in Ontario, Michelle Acorn holds dual specialty certifications as a Primary Health Care and Adult Nurse Practitioner. She also holds nursing certifications in both emergency and gerontology and is a certified geriatric and anticoagulation prescriber. Michelle successfully innovated multiple NP roles at Lakeridge Health starting in the Emergency, then as a Hospitalist, SAFE Clinic, and GAIN Clinic and currently returning to Whitby NP led hospital focusing on seniors and complex continuing care. Michelle holds academic cross appointments at the University of Toronto and the University Of Ontario Institute Of Technology. She is the Immediate Past President of the Nurse Practitioner Association of Ontario. Michelle is the Advance Practice Nursing Professional Practice Leader at Lakeridge Health and Lead NP. Michelle has been awarded the Gerow NP Leadership Award and Lakeridge Awards of Excellence. She co chairs the RNAO/NPAO Admit Treat Discharge working group and sits on the OHA working group.
	Helen Briggs, Pharmacy Helen Briggs brings many years of experience in health care field to the Central East LHIN Health Professionals Advisory Committee. She has worked as a pharmacist in the public and private sectors as well as at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto in a teaching role. Helen worked at Lakeridge Health for over 22 years, where she was most recently the Drug Use and Evaluation Pharmacist responsible for drug formulary management. Her visionary leadership and proven ability to lead projects and people successfully led to the success of the Hypoglycaemic Protocol Initiative and the VTE Prophylaxis Project. These best practice initiatives were accepted for publication at the Ontario Hospital Health Achieve Conference and the International Forum on Patient Safety. Helen is a recipient of the 2012 Service Excellence Award from Lakeridge Health. A graduate of the University of Toronto, Helen holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree. She is the author and coauthor of several health publications and most recently served as the chair of the Methadone Best Practice Task Force for the CSHP, Ontario Branch. Helen is the current Co-Chair of the Health Professionals Advisory Committee for the Central East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), current Treasurer and past Chapter Chair, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP), Ontario Branch. Helen currently holds the position of Pharmacist Manager, Sunnybrook St Johns Rehabilitation.
	Susan Fergusan, Physiotherapist Susan has been a practicing physiotherapist for many years with experience in hospital, out-patient clinic and most recently for the past twenty-five years in the Home Care sector which provides her with a broader view of challenges and opportunities within the Central East LHIN area. She has also supported better health care provision as a volunteer by working to bring an expanding Family Health Team to her local area. Currently serving on an advisory committee for the Ontario Physiotherapy Association, Susan was recently honoured by the OPA for her external contribution to her profession. She is looking forward to her role on HPAC as a representative of the physiotherapy profession and ensuring the value-added contribution physiotherapists make to the health of the community, in hospital, out-patient rehabilitation, chronic disease management and in the homecare sector, is considered.
	Lori Halliwushka, Dietary Ms. Lori Halliwushka is the Director of Nutritional Services at Leisureworld Caregiving Centres. In this role she is responsible for the operation of dietary services in several long- term care homes located in the Central East LHIN She is a Registered Dietitian with over twenty-five years of professional practice experience in a variety of settings including acute care, outpatient adult diabetes education and long-term care. During her career, she has also taught at the community college level and mentored dietetic interns. Ms. Halliwushka graduated with Distinction from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Applied Human Nutrition. She completed a dietetic internship at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, has been a Certified Diabetes Educator since 1995 and is a qualified Long Term Care Facility Administrator. She is a member of Dietitians of Canada Gerontology Network and LHIN volunteer group. Ms. Halliwushka is also a member of the Long Term Care internship-working group and is a reviewer for the RAI-MDS 2.0 Nutrition Care Resource Guide working group.
	Dr. Robert J. Kyle, Community Medicine Dr. Robert J. Kyle has been the Commissioner and Medical Officer of Health for the Regional Municipality of Durham since 1991. He is a former Medical Officer of Health for the Peterborough County-City Health Unit. He obtained his medical degree and Master of Health Science degree from the University of Toronto. He is a certificant in the Specialty of Community Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and holds a certificate in Family Medicine from the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Dr. Kyle is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American College of Preventive Medicine. Dr. Kyle is an active member of many provincial and regional health organizations, including the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Public Health Performance Management Working Group. Currently, he is Vice-Chair of the Public Health Physicians Section of the Ontario Medical Association and Chair of the Port Hope Community Health Centre.
	Sherry McGeough, Nursing Ms. Sherry McGeough works for the Ontario Association of Community Care Access Centres (OACCAC) and is a registered health care professional with 23 years experience, including 14 years of progressive management and leadership responsibilities. Sherry holds a Nursing Diploma from Mohawk College, and is currently completing a Bachelor of Health Care Administration Degree.
	Dr. Naresh Mohan, Surgeon General surgeon Dr. Naresh Mohan has been a part of Rouge Valley Health System’s medical team since 1993. He completed his medical training at the University of the West Indies and completed his training in general surgery at the University of Toronto. Dr. Mohan established his practice in east Toronto at Rouge Valley Centenary and has served in various medical leadership roles, including Chief of Staff since 2004. Dr. Mohan’s primary focus is to ensure that the medical services offered at Rouge Valley are of the highest quality, and meet the needs of the communities it serves in west Durham and east Toronto. He is keenly interested in exploring innovative technological solutions to address healthcare challenges for patients, and is currently completing a master’s degree in health information sciences.
	Dr. Robert John Neville, Family Medicine Dr. Bob Neville is a life-long resident of Peterborough where he has been in private practice as a Family Physician since 1986. Dr. Neville is also the Medical Director for Occupational Health & Claims Management at The Peterborough Regional Health Centre, a position he has held since 1988. He also works as a Medical Director for Collins & Aikman Automotive, General Electric, Milltronics, A.G. Simpson, Purity Packaging, Cameco Co., & Zircatec Precision Industry as well as earlier appointments with JPE Inc. & Pebra Inc. Dr. Neville’s volunteer work has included: Peterborough District Childbirth Association, Marycrest Home for the aged, Inglewood Retirement Residence, and Peterborough Petes Hockey Club. He is currently a Director of the Peterborough Petes Hockey Club, a Governor with the Ontario Hockey League, President of The Medical Centre – Peterborough, Lead Physician for The Medical Centre Family Health Organization and Vice President of Primary Health Care Services Peterborough. Dr. Neville has acted as preceptor in teaching final year medical students and to nurse practitioners. He has also lectured on various topics in Occupational Medicine & Pharmacology throughout Central Ontario. Dr. Neville has been the recipient of a number of academic and non-academic awards including: The Dr. A. Travill Award of Achievement, The Professor’s Prize in Family Medicine, First Chief Resident from a 2nd year Class, Peterborough Sportsman of the Year 1996.
	Gabrielle Sadler, Physiotherapist Gabrielle Sadler is the Unit Manager of the Continuing Care Program at the Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, managing interdisciplinary teams on Palliative, GERI, Rehabilitation, Functional Enhancement and Complex Medical units. Since 2009, Gabrielle has taken a lead role and collaborated with community partners on several initiatives, including Senior Services such as the Geriatric Engagement and Re-integration Unit and the Restorative Care Program, the 2011 Hospital Smoke Free Site Initiative and a community-based Heart Failure Education and Support Group. In addition, Gabrielle is a member of the HKPR District Stroke Council and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Previously, Gabrielle worked as a physiotherapist in a variety of community and hospital-based roles, including Infant Development, ICU, Medicine and Employee Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention. Gabrielle graduated with a B.Sc.PT at the University of Western Ontario in 1999. She has since achieved an M.Sc.PT from the University of Toronto and a Master’s Certificate in Health Care Management from the Schulich School of Business. Gabrielle has been published in peer reviewed research journals and presented at both national and international conferences. Gabrielle brings a passion for patient and family centred care, inter-professional and cross-organizational collaboration to promote best care for the people of our community.
	Lesley Santos, Social Work Mrs. Lesley Santos is a Manager of Quality and Resident Support at Shepherd Village Inc. She is a registered Social Worker with nine years of experience working with the elderly population in a variety of settings, including hospital, long-term care homes and a government setting. At the Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat, she was a member of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Safety and Security Working Group who coordinated the Elder Abuse Working Forum in 2007. She has also taught the Social Service Worker/Community Service Worker program at a local community college in her area and has mentored social work students, as well as a post-graduate student. In 2009, she attended the 26th Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations in New York City and the Global Student Social Work Conference at Fordham University. She possesses a Master’s Degree in Social Work from York University, where she obtained an entrance scholarship. Her master’s thesis is entitled, A Critical and Postmodern Analysis of Ontario’s Elder Abuse Programs and Services: It’s where domestic violence was 20-25 years ago. She was also on the Dean’s List for the Bachelor of Social Work program at York University. Mrs. Santos is a current member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and the Ontario Association of Social Workers.
photo to be supplied	Rebecca Weeks, Registered Midwife Rebecca Weeks is a registered midwife with the College of Midwives of Ontario. She has been practicing in the Haliburton and surrounding communities since 2008 with Midwifery Services of Haliburton-Bancroft. Prior to opening the midwifery practice in Haliburton, Rebecca was an associate midwife with Community Care Midwives in Oshawa. Ms. Weeks is a member of the Association of Ontario Midwives and is currently a member of the policy advisory committee and the eye prophylaxis sub-committee. She is also a member of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Rebecca has also been recommended for appointment to the rank of Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University. Prior to becoming a midwife, Ms. Weeks was a psychometrist working with individuals with acquired brain injuries and those with learning and memory challenges in the Peterborough area. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Trent University, a Graduate Diploma in Gerontology from the University of Waterloo, and a Bachelor of Health Science degree in Midwifery from Ryerson University.