Presentation:
Keynote Panel: Unlocking Research Potential for RPNs
Brent Knowles is the Director of Analytics and Research at the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). He leads the organization’s efforts to ensure CNO and its system partners have access to data-driven insights and research on nursing health human resources and the regulation of the nursing profession in Ontario.
Presentation:
Keynote Panel: Unlocking Research Potential for RPNs
Dianne Martin has been a nurse since 1979, beginning as an RPN and later becoming an RN in 1998. She holds a Master’s in Leadership from Royal Roads University and is dually registered as an RN and RPN. Currently, she serves as CEO of the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario. Her leadership experience includes roles in hospital practice coordination and health policy. In 2016, she received the Premier’s Award, and in 2020, became a Charter Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Nursing. A proud daughter of a nurse as well as a mother of a nurse, she deeply values all who care for others.
Presentation:
Keynote Panel: Unlocking Research Potential for RPNs
Dr. Yannick Fortin is the Senior Lead of Health Workforce Modelling and Forecasting at Health Workforce Canada. In this role, he convenes stakeholders across Canada to address shared modelling challenges and advance cross-sector data integration. This year, his team released an open source, publicly available demand projection model for Personal Support Workers in Canada. Previously, Yannick developed the National International Medical Graduate (IMG) database and created the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada’s first predictive model of physician supply. He has over 20 years of research and data development experience and has led several national surveys teams at Statistics Canada.
Presentation:
Understanding Spasticity in Long-Term Care: Perspectives of Health Care Providers and Experiences of Residents
Dr. Amanda McIntyre is an Assistant Professor in the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing at Western University. Her research program aims to enhance nursing health systems and health service delivery across the continuum of care with expertise in emergency and rehabilitative care. She has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed articles and 100 published abstracts (h-index = 36). Dr. McIntyre continues to work clinically as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department at London Health Sciences Centre in London, Ontario
Presentation:
Palliative care for persons with dementia micro-credential training for BEGIN recipients
Dr. Winnie Sun completed her PhD in Nursing and collaborative graduate program in Health Services and Policy Research at the University of Toronto. She is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences in Ontario Tech University and holds a research appointment as the Co-Research Director of the Advancement in Dementia Care Centre (ADCC), collaboration between Ontario Tech University and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, in Ontario Canada. In 2024, Dr. Sun received the Research Excellence Chair Award from Ontario Tech University where she is leading the development of technology-enabled innovations to promote healthy aging and dementia care.
Presentation:
Co-designed tools for data-informed, goal-oriented care planning with older adults in transitional care
Dr. Margaret Saari RN, PhD, is a nurse researcher dedicated to the advancement of home and community-based care. As a Clinical Scientist at the SE Research Centre, she leads research on home care workforce stabilization and improving the use of routinely collected data in clinical and operational decision-making. Leveraging over 15 years of clinical and research expertise, Dr. Saari is committed to mentoring health professionals and trainees in the use of data to improve care quality and support evidence-informed policy and practice.
Presentation:
Co-designed tools for data-informed, goal-oriented care planning with older adults in transitional care
Lisa Herron, RPN is a proud WeRPN member and point-of-care nurse in SE Health’s Acute Care Transitions Program, having been engaged since the first pilot program. Over the years Lisa has been involved in numerous quality improvement initiatives including the initial design and implementation of interRAI instruments into transitional care programs at SE Health. New to research, Lisa is passionate about its role in bridging health system gaps and enhancing care for Canadians
Presentation:
Discover RPN literature and research driven resources
Jennifer McCauley, a Registered Practical Nurse with over 15 years of experience in primary care, is dedicated to preventative health and promoting wellness. She currently serves as a BEGIN Case Manager, and Research Associate with WeRPN, supporting nurses at different stages of their careers. Jen has an active role in monitoring RPN research driven literature and is committed to helping RPNs access and use the information to support their professional and practice directions.
Presentation:
Storytelling with RPN Research Fellows (Interactive)
Attila Kovacs is a dedicated healthcare professional and researcher with a unique blend of expertise in nursing, engineering, and education. He is a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) with the College of Nurses of Ontario and recently completed his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Ontario Tech University. Attila is committed to advancing his knowledge and impact in the healthcare field. His research focuses on improving care in long-term care settings, with key contributions to projects addressing dementia care, palliative care education, and mental health resilience in healthcare teams.
Presentation:
Storytelling with RPN Research Fellows (Interactive)
Oghenefegor Uwejeya was a recipient of the WeRPN Research Fellowship Award for 2024-2025. As a nurse in Ontario, she is dually licensed as both a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), and a Registered Nurse (RN). She stays true to her nursing roots as an RPN via engagement in RPN related research, even in her current practice as an RN at the bedside. Oghenefegor’s fellowship experience is one that she will always be grateful for. This experience inspired her to pursue graduate studies in Master of Science in Nursing at a Canadian post-secondary institution.
Presentation:
Storytelling with RPN Research Fellows (Interactive)
Victoria Pringle is a dually registered nurse (RN/RPN) and currently works as an operating room (OR) Registered Nurse (RN) at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), where she specializes in pediatric congenital cardiac surgery. She began her healthcare career as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) on a surgical ward before transitioning to the OR in 2016 after completing a graduate certificate in perioperative nursing. Victoria built a strong surgical foundation through her roles at Hamilton General Hospital and McMaster Children’s Hospital. In 2023-2024, Victoria co-currently completed her RPN Research Fellowship and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) at Toronto Metropolitan University. Nominated by her research team for her significant contributions as an RPN fellow, Victoria was awarded the 2024 WeRPN Award of Excellence in Research – RPN.
Presentation:
Interactive Q&A with WeRPN: About research and fellowship funding programs, recruitment support, partnerships
Jen Calver is Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) with a CNA certification in gerontological R/LPN nursing. She holds a Master of Health Sciences Degree from Ontario Tech University. After working several years in direct care and nursing roles, Jen is a passionate advocate for the health workforce and care of older adults. She is currently pursuing her doctoral studies in Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University. She also manages and provides oversight to the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (WeRPN) research department to increase research evidence related to RPNs in Ontario, and support RPNs to build research capacity and capability.
Presentation:
Interactive Q&A with WeRPN: About research and fellowship funding programs, recruitment support, partnerships
Pia Ramos-Javellana is the Chief Financial Officer at the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (WeRPN), where she leads the organization’s finance strategy, planning, and financial reporting, along with overseeing all finance, human resources, and administrative operations. With over 20 years of experience in financial leadership within the not-for-profit sector, she has played a key role in maintaining the association’s strong financial position and long-term stability. Pia holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in Ontario.
Presentation:
Experiential learning of practical nursing students, newly graduated nurses and support of preceptors to better understand practice gaps
Mary-Jane Ducsharm, RN, MN, PhD (c), is a dedicated and experienced nurse with over 23 years of diverse clinical practice, as well as 8 years in academic environments. She currently holds a Master of Nursing degree and is a PhD candidate. Her dual roles in clinical and academic settings have given her a unique perspective that bridges practice and theory. She remains committed to advancing the nursing profession through evidence-based practice and innovative teaching methods.
Presentation:
Motivators and challenges for Personal Support Workers in long-term care who are bridging to Registered Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses
Dr. Denise Connelly is a Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Western University. Her program of research engages with community partners to address the nursing workforce shortage in the long-term care and home and community care sectors. Professor Connelly’s research contributes to building the nursing workforce through nurse career-bridging initiatives, recruitment and retention of new nurse graduates, resilience in nurses, and inclusion of family/care partners with health professionals in the provision of care for older adults.
Presentation:
“If I feel valued, I’m going to give 100%”: Registered Practical Nurses’ interpretive descriptions of being valued at work in long-term care
Dr. Nicole Guitar graduated from Western University with a PhD in Physical Therapy in 2021, a Master’s in Physical Therapy in 2020, a master’s in Neuroscience in 2016 and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2014. She currently works as a Research Scientist at Western University. Nicole’s published research examines cognitive abilities in females living with chronic pelvic pain, and the role of nurses in Ontario as members of interdisciplinary care teams that contribute to rehabilitation.
Presentation:
Confronting Anti-Black Racism: Advancing Equity and Supporting Black RPNs in Healthcare Practice
Dr. Nadia Prendergast is a registered nurse with a background in perinatal education and community health nursing. Born in England, she completed her nursing degree in England and moved to Canada where she completed her master’s and PhD in Education and Women’s Studies, focusing on health professionals and the experiences of international nurses of colour.
Presentation:
RN-RPN Collaboration in Acute Care: Generating Evidence to Inform Nursing Workforce Optimization
Dr. Alyssa Indar is a Registered Nurse with a PhD in Health Systems Research. As Director of Scholarship and Innovation at the University Health Network, she leads corporate strategy to advance nursing and health professions scholarship across UHN. Dr. Indar also leads a program of research responsive to health workforce challenges. She is committed to working at the intersection of policy, practice and health services research to develop evidence that can inform innovative strategies to support our health workforce.
Presentation:
Evaluating the implementation and impact of a new nursing role: a multi-method study
Dr. Marianne Saragosa, RN, PhD, is a registered nurse and health services researcher based in Toronto. In February 2024, she became the inaugural Embedded Nurse Scientist at Sinai Health’s Science of Care Institute and the Centre for Nursing Excellence. She is also an Assistant Professor (status) at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. Her research centers on transitions in care for older adults—especially those with dementia—and innovations in aging-in-place, digital health pathways, and co designed, practice-based interventions.
Presentation:
Building Psychological Safety in Long-Term Care: Strengthening Equity & Trauma-informed Organizational Capacity to Support Workforce Mental Health & Well-being (LTC PH&S)
Dr. Rosanra (Rosie) Yoon’s (she/her) research area focuses on health services implementation and evaluation with a particular focus in integrated care for people experiencing structural vulnerabilities, inequities, and marginalization. Her research also examines trauma-informed organizational culture and workforce mental health. Her clinical area of expertise is in the areas of substance use, concurrent mental health conditions, trauma and gender-informed care.
Presentation:
Nursing Data Dashboard
Niels Thakkar is the Manager of Analytics at the College of Nurses of Ontario. His team leads the internal and external reporting of data and aims to support evidence-based decision making for CNO and the broader health system.