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.
Zahir Hirji
Zahir Hirji is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years of experience in health care. His career has includes working in infection prevention and control, emergency preparedness, risk management and privacy. In addition to currently managing an IPAC program he is actively involved in educating new professional in the basics of IPAC and serving on different committees to advance the profession of infection prevention and control.
Olga Hallborg
Olga Hallborg is a registered nurse and a life-long-learner. She graduated from University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor degree in nursing with distinction in 2014. Initially, Olga worked in long-term care facilities in Southern BC and continued studying public health online. In October 2020 Olga joined the IPAC team and assisted a regional hospital in navigating through the COVID pandemic. In 2021 Olga graduated again from University of Saskatchewan as a Master of Public Health. In 2023 Olga successfully completed the IPAC professional development course with Queen’s University.
Olga is an immigrant and is familiar with how challenging it can be for a newcomer or representative of a cultural minority to navigate through the social and health care systems. Olga is originally from Ukraine. Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of her home country, Olga actively supports Ukraine through raising awareness about the war and raising funds.
Olga is also very passionate about environmental action. Olga supports local and national environmental organizations. In 2020 Olga started a local group and movement, the Castlegar Butterflyway, with focus on supporting biodiversity of native pollinators and native plants.
While not working or volunteering, Olga enjoys spending time with her family and friends and exploring Nature.
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.
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.
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!”
Sonalben Shah
With a solid academic foundation in Nairobi, Kenya, Sonal Left the familiar shores of home to pursue a university degree in India where in 1997 she graduated with a Master's degree in
Microbiology from S.P. University, Gujarat. Sonal’s passion for healthcare was evident from the start. Her pursuit of excellence continued with specialized studies in Infection Prevention & Control at Queens University, Canada and she obtained recognition for her degrees through World Education Services. Mrs. Shah’s journey in the realm of infection control is fortified by her attainment of Certification in Infection
Control (CIC) in 2016. This noteworthy achievement serves as a testament to her dedication and proficiency in upholding the highest standards of patient safety and public health.
Sonal's expertise as an ICP shone brightly during her tenure at Woodstock Hospital & Cambridge Memorial Hospital. Currently with Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) and Huron Perth IPAC HUB, her dedication to patient safety and infection control strategies continue to help shape IPAC best practices in healthcare settings and beyond.
Sonal’s commitment to DEI is palpable through her involvement as a member of the Diversity and Inclusion committee at Woodstock Hospital, DEI Working group of IPAC Canada and expressed interest to join the DEI committee at HPHA. Serving as a Translation Facilitator for Hindi and Gujarati languages, she championed effective communication and understanding among diverse staff and patients.
