Advancing Infection Prevention and Control Education

BSc MSc MHM(C) CIC

Robyn holds a Master of Health Science in Epidemiology from the University of Toronto, is a graduate of the Canadian Field Epidemiology Program, and is a-IPC certified.  She has worked as an Epidemiologist with the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program since 2009.  Robyn serves on the Editorial Board of the Canadian Journal of Infection Control and is co-chair of IPAC Canada’s Surveillance and Applied Epidemiology Interest Group.

BSc MSc MHM(C) CIC

Heather received her M.Sc. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of British Columbia and Master’s in Health Management from McMaster University. She is CIC certified and an appointed member of the Editorial Board of the Canadian Journal of Infection Control. She has experience and training in Quality, Patient Safety, and Risk. Heather is the Director of Infection Control at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, has been the IPAC Canada Course Coordinators since 2009, and an appointed adjunct lecturer and faculty at Queen’s University.

MLT BSc CIC

Jane Van Toen initially trained as a Medical Laboratory Technologist and later received B.Sc., Certificate in Occupation Health, Certificate in Medical Device Reprocessing Techniques, and a diploma in in Addiction Counselling.  Jane has been a Certified Infection Control Practitioner (CIC) since 2007 and has been a course coordinator and instructor for the Infection Prevention and Control – Canada (IPAC) course since 2010. She has experience working in a variety of settings including assignments in Saudi Arabia and in Inuvik, NT.  Since retiring from full time work in 2017 She has done contract work with Sunnybrook Health Sciences and the Kingston IPAC Hub. Jane was hired on a 6-month contract in Dec 2019 working in Yellowknife as a Territorial IPAC Specialist for the NTHSSA. The original assignment was to assist in the development of standardization of infection control policies and processes. When the COVID-19 situation emerged, the primary focus was shifted to COVID-19 response and preparedness. 

BScN RN CIC

Angela is an Infection Control Practitioner with IWK Health Infection Prevention & Control team in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Advanced Major in Pediatric Chronic Illness, at St. Francis Xavier University and began her nursing career in 1997 at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She transitioned to IPAC as an Infection Control Practitioner at the IWK in 2008, completed the Queen’s University Online Basic Infection Prevention and Control Course in 2010 and has been CIC certified since 2011. After moving to Toronto in 2010, she continued her career in IPAC at the University Health Network. It wasn’t long before her love of pediatrics called her to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), where she joined their IPAC team in 2013. At SickKids, Angela provided IPAC consultation to inpatient and ambulatory Pediatric Medicine, Haematology/Oncology/Blood and Marrow Transplant, and Emergency Services. She also provided expert advice on IPAC risk factors associated with construction and renovation projects as well as outbreak and exposure management. In spring 2020, Angela moved back to the East Coast to be closer to friends and family. Angela has worked with IPAC Canada as part of the Essentials in Infection Prevention & Control online course for several years as a Module Facilitator, and more recently in the role of Associate Course Coordinator.

BSc RN CIC

James is the supervisor of the IPAC Hub at Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. He is a Registered Nurse and former Registered Practical Nurse who practiced nursing in the Emergency Department and the Nursing Resource Team. James is Certified in Infection Control since 2022 and holds a certificate in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety from CQuIPS. James now supports IPAC Leads in Long Term Care with education and quality improvement initiatives

MLT BScH BEd CIC

Dana Finnegan-Yee is a certified (CIC) Infection Prevention and Control Professional with extensive IPAC experience in a hospital setting. Dana has supported congregate care settings, such as Long-Term Care and Retirement homes through her work with the South East IPAC Hub, which is part of a provincial network put in place to improve and foster IPAC practices in these settings.  Dana is a Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT), and an experienced educator registered with the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT).  Dana has been a member of IPAC Canada since early in her career. She started work with the IPAC EO executive team as the Education Director and then stepped into the President role in 2023 and continues in this position. With her strong background in IPAC and education, Dana thrives on supporting those new to IPAC and those interested in expanding their knowledge in this area.

MSc-ID CPHI(C) CIC

Alex Kusiewicz is an IPAC Practitioner at an acute care hospital in Ontario.  He has been an IPAC Practitioner, working in hospital settings, for over 7 years. Previously he worked as a Certified Public Health Inspector for 11 years specializing in Communicable Diseases. Alex holds a Master of Science in Infectious Diseases and is Board Certified in Infection Control CIC.  Alex also teaches infectious disease courses at both university and college levels.

BN RN CIC

Bridget is the Manager, Infection Prevention & Control at IWK Health in Halifax, NS. Following completion of her Bachelor of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick in 2005, she worked as a Registered Nurse on the Family/Newborn, Adult Surgery and Neonatal Intensive Care Units at IWK Health until January 2011, when she joined Infection Prevention and Control. In December 2011, she successfully completed the Queen’s University Online Infection Prevention & Control Course. She obtained her Certification in Infection Control (CIC©) in 2013, and successfully re-certified in 2018 and 2023. She is currently enrolled in the Master of Nursing Program at Athabasca University. She has presented both locally and nationally at IPAC education conferences and is an active member of IPAC Canada. Bridget is currently the Co-Chair of the Pediatric and Neonatal Interest Group of IPAC Canada and a course instructor for the IPAC Canada Online Infection Prevention & Control course.

MSc CIC

Erica Susky is re-certified in Infection Control and is a teacher and consultant. Her experience includes acute care, mental health, long-term care, rehab, outpatient settings and most recently shelters/congregate settings. Erica has interests in education, research, antibiotic resistance, and clinical microbiology. Erica’s training included studying antibiotic resistance at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg where she acquired a master’s degree in medical microbiology. She has published in international scientific journals and has presented at conferences pertaining to infection control as well as antibiotic resistance. She is currently on the IPAC GTA chapter Education Committee and is the associate editor for the Canadian Journal of Infection Control (CJIC). She is currently working with the cardiology program at Saint Michael’s Hospital at Unity Health Toronto.

BSc, MLT, CIC

Krista is an Infection Control Lead at University Health Network. She completed her undergraduate degree in Human Biology at the University of Toronto in 2006 and then studied Medical Laboratory Science at the Michener institute. Before pursuing a career in infection control, she worked as an MLT in clinical microbiology at Mount Sinai Hospital until 2018. She obtained Certification in Infection Control in 2022. At Toronto General, Krista has provided IPAC consultation for various departments including cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, psychiatry, emergency medicine, critical care and, currently, multi-organ transplant. She enjoys mentoring in her role as practice lead and sharing knowledge as co-chair of the IPAC Canada Oncology-Transplant Interest Group.

RN BScN MHS CIC FAPIC CVAA©

a nurse for more than 50 years, ‘trained’ at the Nightingale School, London, England, and worked in many specialty areas, before getting into infection prevention and control (IPAC), a few years before SARS hit Toronto. Madeleine has worked in IPAC in acute, chronic, and rehab hospitals, long-term care, and regional networks (including with Public Health Ontario) as well as with the WHO (Ebola relief). She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Toronto and a Master’s in Health Studies from Athabasca University, is past Director of Standards and Guidelines on the IPAC Canada Board and representative to the Canadian Nurses Association including as a CNA Board Director from 2016-2018. In 2021, Madeleine launched the Trillium Health Partners Community Outreach IPAC Hub in Mississauga/South Etobicoke, supporting congregate living settings in Mississauga/South Etobicoke.