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Health Professionals Advisory Committee - HPAC

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

For more information on HPACs, please visit the Ontario LHINs website by clicking here.

	Helen Briggs, Pharmacy Ms. Helen Briggs is currently the Drug Utilization Pharmacist for Lakeridge Health, a position she has held since 2003. She worked in the Community Practice of Pharmacy before transitioning to Hospital Practice. Her community pharmacy experience includes small independent drugs stores and large national chains in both downtown Toronto and in the smaller town of Whitby. Ms. Briggs also has experience working at the Ontario College of Pharmacists and with the undergraduate pharmacy program at the University of Toronto, communications course and pharmacy practice labs. She worked as a managed care consultant to facilitate the Simcoe County Flu Vaccine program, prior to the advent of provincial flu vaccine clinics. Ms. Briggs is a graduate of the University of Toronto, Faculty of Pharmacy. She is a member of the Canadian Stroke Strategy, Professional Training and Development Committee and the current Chapter Chair, for the Lake Ontario East Chapter of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists.
	Candace Chartier, Nursing Ms. Candace Chartier is Chief Operating Officer for OMNI Health Care Ltd. She worked as a registered nurse in both hospital and long-term care settings and was an air ambulance nurse serving remote parts of Ontario from Kenora. After returning to the area, she started nursing with the Victorian Order of Nurses in Haliburton County and Victoria County as well as OMNI Health Care Ltd. at Frost Manor LTC Home in Lindsay. In May 2000, she became the Administrator and Director of Care at Frost Manor LTC Home and has held progressive positions such as Operations Officer for 16 long-term care homes, Corporate Project Director before becoming its Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Chartier is a graduate of Sir Sandford Fleming College in Peterborough and has since acquired additional academic credentials including Health Care Administration Diploma, Advanced Techniques in Gerontology Diploma, P.I.E.C.E.S Certification, Certified Behavior Management Specialization with a focus in Alzheimer and related Dementias and Leadership Management as well as certificates in Emergency Room Nursing, Aero Medical Nursing, Wound Management and The Elite Performers Series and Advanced Coaching Certificate through Sharma Leadership International. She has continued her education as well with the Executive Program through Queens University and the Advanced Health Leadership Certification through the Rotman School of Management. Ms. Chartier is a member of The College of Nurses of Ontario, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Gerontological Nursing Association, CHICA-Canada and the Canadian College of Health Service Executives.
	Janice Dusek, Nursing
	Louis Girard, Family Medicine Dr. Louis Girard is a family physician with over 20 years of experience working with high needs / high risk populations in the GTA. His practice in Community Health Centres placed him at the forefront of the provision of holistic health care for refugees, new immigrants, marginalized seniors, abused women, homeless, palliative care patients and people with mental health challenges, not excluding a full-fledged family practice. He is a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Dr. Girard speaks and writes fluent French, Italian and English and lived for significant periods of time in each of these cultures. He studied in a multi cultural international school with representative from the five continents. His involvement with an international organization dedicated to nurturing universal brotherhood crowns his commitment to be a holistic caregiver for the human family, locally as well as abroad. He sees his participation in the Central East LHIN HPAC as another way to fulfill this commitment.
	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.
	Michael Kwan, Nuclear Medicine Dr. Michael Kwan has been a nuclear medicine physician in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Lakeridge Health Oshawa (formerly, Oshawa General Hospital) since 1989. He obtained his medical doctor degree from the University of Toronto in 1984 and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada after completed specialty training in Internal Medicine and Nuclear Medicine at the University of Toronto.
	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.
	Cindy Malachowski, Occupational Therapy Ms. Cindy Malachowski is currently employed at the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Services (formerly Whitby Mental Health Centre). Prior to her secondment to lead the implementation of the recovery philosophy at Ontario Shores, Cindy was the Professional Practice Leader for Occupational Therapy at the Centre. She has served on a number of committees targeting quality improvement initiatives. In addition to her eight years of clinical practice working in mental health, she also has experience working in the insurance services industry. Ms. Malachowski is an active member of the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists and a member of its Mental Health Sector Team. She has a Bachelor of Kinesiology, Bachelor of Health Sciences (OT), and Masters of Rehabilitation Science from McMaster University. She is also a certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner and her recent work involves developing and evaluating recovery-oriented programs. Ms. Malachowski’s passion for mental health and rehabilitation is evident, and she brings with her an innovative and enthusiastic work ethic.
	Sherry McGeough, Nursing Ms. Sherry McGeough is the Regional Manager, Contracts and Relationships at the Central East Community Care Access Centre (CECCAC), where she is responsible for the development and implementation of a procurement/ contract management framework to achieve quality client-centered care through effective planning, contractual standards and agreements, performance monitoring and relationships. As the CECCAC Chair of the Personal Support, Nursing, Therapy, Infusion and Medical Supply Liaison Committees, she collaborates with community partners and engages service providers in best practice development and innovative changes to continuously evolve the care provided in the community sector. She 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.
	Trish Nesbitt, Nursing Ms. Trish Nesbitt is a Clinical Resource Nurse at Saint Elizabeth Health Care. Her role is to support the registered practical nurses (RPNs) and personal support workers (PSWs) at the Durham Service Delivery Center by ensuring that they are practicing in a safe competent manner in all areas of their clinical practice and to support them through continuous education opportunities in developing new skills. She is also a teacher in the Practical Nursing Program at Durham College. Ms. Nesbitt is an RPN who has practiced for 35 years. She has been employed in the acute care sector and has worked as a medical office nurse. She is now employed by Saint Elizabeth Health Care, and was in the visiting nurse program for 15 of her 17 years with Saint Elizabeth. She has participated actively in many government and nursing association initiatives including The College of Nurses Of Ontario RPN New Competencies that led to the present diploma Practical Nursing Program, the committee that developed the Practical Nursing Program Standards for the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities of Ontario and the Canadian Homecare Human Recourses Sector Study. She is a member of the Durham College Nursing Program Advisory Committee, a board member and past president of the RPNAO, a two-year board member of the Canadian Practical Nurses Association, and an advisory member of the University of MacMaster Interprofessional Collaboration Research Project. Ms. Nesbitt is a strong advocate for the changing role of the RPN and was delighted to participate in Saint Elizabeth’s Best Utilization of Nursing Talent Committee, which developed the RPN Admission Pilot Project. In April of 2008, Ms. Nesbitt was awarded the Honorary Lifetime Member Award of The Registered Practical Nurses Association for her accomplishments dedication, commitment and passion for nursing.
	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.
	Carolyn Reynolds, Physiotherapy Ms. Carolyn Reynolds runs her own business in the Peterborough area serving a mix of clientele including the community care access centre, VAC, private and long-term care. Born and raised in Peterborough, ON she has worked in numerous settings from urban to rural, hospital to community, pediatric to geriatric, private to public. Although her current primary focus is geriatric mobility, she also has extensive volunteer experience with youth. Ms. Carolyn Reynolds is a graduate of Queen’s University with 10 years of experience as a physiotherapist. She hopes to represent the needs of people of all ages and all locations within the CE LHIN.