Karmjit Kaur Sandhu

Karmjit Kaur Sandhu has been working in health care sector for 33 years holding various positions as an RN, Clinical Nurse Educator, Care Coordinator, Research Facilitator, Open Learning Faculty Member (TRU), Clinical Instructor, and Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner. She also has conducted and led research, developed and implemented programs, mentored colleagues/students, and facilitated various educational events. Karmjit is excited for the opportunity joining DEI working group to bring her passion of culturally/diversity appropriate care and share her “emic” knowledge, and skills based on her personal experience, and education as well as learn from others about their culture, values, and beliefs.

 

 

Amber Haw

The opportunity to be involved with the IPAC Canada Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working group is an honour for me. After working in healthcare for over 15 years as a registered nurse I have seen the direct impact that inclusive and equitable healthcare has on an individual’s quality of life and care outcomes. It is important to me both professionally and personally to be part of the solution. Our diversity should be celebrated and respected especially while in a vulnerable situation such as requiring healthcare.

 

 

Murtuza Diwan

I am currently working as an infection control professional at the Halton Healthcare with special interests in tuberculosis and creating IPAC electronic surveillance systems. I graduated from the University of Toronto with Honors in Bachelor of Science, specializing in the Human Biology program with minors in Mathematics and Zoology. Then completed my Post Graduate Diploma and Master of Science degree in Infectious Diseases from University of London (United Kingdom). I have been an active member of IPAC Canada since 2009. DEI is close to my heart as I belong to a minority group as well. I live in a multicultural town and have been an active member in the community for building tolerance and respect for different backgrounds. And hoping to improve my knowledge and understand their needs to cater them in an efficient way.

 

 

Meghan Engbretson

I am currently working as an Infection Control Practitioner since March of 2020 for Kingston Health Sciences Centre. Prior to joining the infection control team, I worked in clinical research compliance for Queen’s University. After seeing firsthand some of the advocacy and learning occurring in the healthcare field, I was eager to join and push our team, hospital, and organization to do better. I hope that by participating in this working group I can start to un-learn some intrinsic biases and inspire others to do the same.

 

 

 

Kim Neudorf BSN MEd 

I have lived most of my life in Saskatchewan, on the fringe of the boreal forest. I am married with two adult children and one grand-child. In my professional life, I was a nurse and a nurse educator. After retirement, I decided to apply my professional skills to an area of personal interest—patient safety. As a result of witnessing a family member struggle to deal with a life threatening infection, I joined Patients for Patient Safety Canada (PFPSC). Since 2009, I have volunteered as a public representative on several infection prevention committees at the national level, with the end goal of safe patient care. 

As the Public Representative on the Board of Directors of IPAC Canada, it is my honour to work with this dedicated committee.  I hope to be able to contribute to their goal of providing educational information and resources to IPAC Canada members about diversity, equity and inclusion in healthcare.  

  

 

 

Marianna Ofner

Dr. Marianna Ofner is a PhD, RN, CIC with experience and a passion for ensuring the inclusion and consideration of all individuals with disabilities.  Marianna has sat on numerous Boards for disability organizations and recently was on the PHAC COVID-19 Disability Advisory Committee.  With 30 plus years at different government levels Marianna hope to bring experience and insight to the DEI working group

 

 

Jessica Purjue

I am a Registered Nurse who lives, works and plays in the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the Secwepemc people, in Williams Lake, British Columbia. I joined the Infection Control team in November of 2020, and my background includes Public Health and Home Health nursing. I am passionate about Indigenous health, and my goal with the DEI working group is to explore how infection control practices and policies can be integrated with Indigenous ways of healing and knowing. I hope to be an advocate to end racism and other forms of discrimination in healthcare (and beyond), and to promote collaboration that includes adapting infection control practices to meet the needs of each community. I hope to support other healthcare workers to do the same.

 

 

Dan Dimacuha

I am a registered nurse with a background in critical care, who is employed as an Infection Control Professional at Halton Healthcare. I have been an active member of IPAC Canada as of early 2020, but I am a part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Working Group at IPAC Canada. DEI plays a vital role in the profession since we interact with patients, family members and the interdisciplinary team who all belong and identify within different groups and cultures. Through the DEI Working Group, my personal goal is to provide a safe space for IPAC Canada members to feel represented and provide a sense of belonging where diversity, equity and inclusivity is at the forefront versus an afterthought.

 

 

Hibak Mahamed

Hibak Mahamed is a certified Infection Control Practitioner (ICP) who has worked in acute care setting for  over a decade. She holds a Masters of Public Health from the University of Waterloo and a BSc in kinesiology and Health Science from York University. 

Hibak is a passionate advocate for reforming the health care space by sharing her unique perspective, and examining how race, culture and ethnicity affect health disparities and quality of care for visible minorities and marginalized groups.

The Infectional Prevention and Control space in particular plays a pivot role in ensuring quality care for our patients. Hibak is a proponent of more equitable internal practices towards staff, and progressive policies towards the communities we serve in order to become a more inclusive sector.

 

 

 

 

 

Steven Schweon
Steven J. Schweon LLC, Saylorsburg PA 

Steve has been an infection preventionist since 1995, achieving continual certification since 1997.  Clinical experiences include the acute care and Long-Term Care settings.  He has authored / co-authored articles in peer reviewed publications, lectured / presented posters at national conferences, and presented national webinars. He has served on APIC, SHEA and AMDA national committees. He has authored chapters in APIC’s “Infection Preventionist Guide to Long-Term Care.”   Additionally, Steve has served as a faculty member for the AHRQ Safety Program for Long-Term Care: HAI/CAUTI. He is also an APIC EPI acute care/LTC faculty member. 

His interest with DEI, includes a greater awareness of individuals with disabilities and the elderly.  Inclusion awareness began by recognizing that others are often offensively labeled or whose disabilities are misinterpreted as barriers or whose differences are mocked.     

As a seasoned infection preventionist, Steve is also sensing aging concerns with received comments from colleagues and peers. He gently and kindly reminds folks that he “still has plenty of game left!”