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Sponsors for the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care at Baycrest

Dr. David K. Conn

Dr. David K. Conn, MB, FRCPC, is the vice-president of Education and inaugural director of the Centre for Education and Knowledge Exchange in Aging at Baycrest, and a professor in the department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. He is the founding co-chair of the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health, and is chair of the Coalition’s National Guidelines project. As well, he is the medical director of the Mood and Related Disorders Clinic and of Telehealth Services at Baycrest. Dr. Conn is executive co-sponsor of The Ontario CLRI.

His academic interests include nursing home psychiatry, guideline development and late life mood disorders. He is the author or co-author of more than 100 publications and is the co-editor of three textbooks including Practical Psychiatry in the Long-Term Care Home: A Handbook for Staff. He is currently a board member of the International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) and chairs the IPA Task Force on Mental Health services to Long-Term Care Homes.

He has received many awards including the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry Award for Outstanding Contributions to Geriatric Psychiatry in Canada, Distinguished Service Award from the International Psychogeriatric Association, the Ivan Silver Award for Excellence in Continuing Mental Health Education and the Henry Durost Award for Excellence in Creative Professional Activity in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. In 2010, he was a co-recipient of the CIHR Betty Havens Award for Knowledge Translation in Aging.

Faith Boutcher, PhD, BN, MSc, RN

Faith Boutcher is the director of Academic Education and Interprofessional Education, the Centre for Education and Knowledge Exchange in Aging, at Baycrest. She received her undergraduate degree in nursing from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1987 and a Masters of Science, with a specialty in psychiatric/mental health nursing, from the Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto in 1992. She is also a 2008 Fellow of the EXTRA program, Canadian Health Services Research Foundation. Faith provides administrative oversight for The Program.

Faith is an experienced advanced practice nurse in mental health and has held administrative positions in professional practice, research and education. She holds appointments with the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto and the School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University. Her clinical expertise and scholarly activity is in the areas of clinical research integration, interprofessional education and care and professional practice.

The Ontario CLRI at Baycrest Team

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Raquel Meyer, PhD, RN

Program Director

As Director of the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care at Baycrest, Dr. Meyer leads the design, implementation, scaling and evaluation of educational innovations to strengthen the current and future workforce. Raquel completed her doctorate in nursing health services research at the University of Toronto. She was the recipient of a Nursing Early Career Research Award through the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Dr. Meyer’s scholarly activities focus on educational innovation, health human resources, leadership and care models. Raquel is an enthusiastic proponent for the relevance of research to clinical practice, education, leadership and policy development.


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Tania Aragona

Administrative Coordinator

   


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Shoshana Helfenbaum, MSW, RSW

Interprofessional Educator

Shoshana Helfenbaum, BA, MSW, RSW, DGer, DRRP, SECL co-lead, is an Interprofessional Educator leading special projects for Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care at Baycrest. Shoshana designs and delivers curriculum based on her doctoral studies innovating educational methodology for relational care and leadership. She focuses on mindfulness, simulation and Appreciative Inquiry for knowledge mobilization and sustainable practice change on interprofessional teams. Shoshana’s career spans 25+ years in community, hospital and long-term care settings as a geriatric social worker, coach, psychotherapist, gerontologist, clinical simulationist, instructional and eLearning designer.


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Shaina Davis, CTDP

Interprofessional Educator

Shaina Davis, CTDP, SECL co-lead, is an Interprofessional Educator for Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care at Baycrest and has worked at Baycrest for more than 15 years. Shaina is a Certified Training and Development Professional with expertise in the design, facilitation, and implementation of learning programs for adults. Shaina is currently pursuing a Masters of Adult Education at St. Francis Xavier University, in Nova Scotia, and her research focus is on integrating the body in learning. Shaina values collaborative and strengths-based teams, and is passionate about supporting learners to develop and grow through education.


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Stacey Guy, PhD, MSocSc

Manager, Knowledge Mobilization

Dr. Stacey Guy, Ph.D., is Manager, Knowledge Mobilization at the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care program at Baycrest. Stacey is accountable for the Program’s knowledge mobilization strategy. Stacey also supports the Preceptor Resource and Education Program in LTC (PREP LTC) which builds capacity to deliver quality student placements. Stacey draws on knowledge translation and implementation science to enhance the care delivered to residents in long-term care. Stacey has worked in rehabilitation, aging and innovation, and long-term care. Stacey has a Ph.D. in Health and Rehabilitation (Health Promotion) from Western University. Stacey uses the pronouns ‘she’ and ‘her’.


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Carey Burleigh, RSW, MSW

Interprofessional Educator

Carey Burleigh, MSW, RSW, is an Interprofessional Educator for Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care at Baycrest. As a social worker and administrator, Carey has spent the majority of her career working with residents, caregivers, and team members in the long-term care sector. She completed a Masters Degree in Social Work from York University. With 15 years experience as a geriatric social worker, Carey is passionate about empowering team members and leaders working in long-term care through education in order for improve the quality of life for LTC residents. Carey was an inaugural Regional Engagement Liaison for PREP LTC and contributed to the success of the program.


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Nelly Villacorta-Siegal

Regional Engagement Liaison

Nelly is a Regional Engagement Liaison with the PREP LTC initiative. A clinical dental hygienist background Nelly has served the older adult community at the Baycrest department of dentistry for 13 years. In 2018 she headed a knowledge mobilization initiative to improve oral health to 3 Long Term Care Centres in the Toronto Area. She is currently completing a health administration degree at Toronto Metropolitan University (formally Ryerson). She loves her coffee as much as she loves her two children, supportive husband and fur baby.


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Alma Lekic

Regional Engagement Liaison

Alma Lekic is a Regional Engagement Liaison (REL) for the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long Term Care. Alma works as an REL within the Preceptor Resource and Education in Long Term Care (PREP LTC) initiative. Alma’s role is to support LTC homes with building or expanding student placement programs. Alma works with individual LTC homes and post secondary institutions to help identify solutions to barriers and challenges in order to increase high quality student placements in LTC.  Alma has a background in Gerontology and has worked in various leadership roles in the Long-Term care sector, including Staff Education and Recreation, Volunteer Management. Additionally, Alma teaches at George Brown College in the Gerontology, Recreation Management Program.


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Shahd Goneid

Project Coordinator

Shahd Goneid is a Project Coordinator for the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research, and Innovation in Long-Term Care at Baycrest. She provides project support for the Preceptor Resource and Education Program in LTC (PREP LTC) by assisting in the design and development of eLearning courses and training, dissemination of the learning, and evaluation. Shahd has a BA in Psychology with a specialization in research and is currently pursuing training in Adult Learning and Development. She has community work experience with diverse populations, and conducting research.


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Rachel Walker

Interprofessional Educator

Rachel Walker, BA (Hons) is a Knowledge Broker at the Ontario Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care at Baycrest, which supports the spread of knowledge and the adoption of leading practices in education and care delivery in long-term care. Rachel oversees the recruitment, implementation and supports to post-secondary institutions with the Learning Inter-Professional Healthcare Accelerator (LIPHA) educational initiative. Her areas of expertise encompass mental health, gerontology, and adult education.


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Simona Rajani, BSW, MSW, RSW

PREP LTC Project Coordinator

Simona Rajani is the Project Coordinator for PREP LTC at the Ontario Center for Long Term Research and Innovation at Baycrest. In her role Simona coordinates the PREP LTC education. Simona draws on her organization, planning and creative skills to efficiently deliver quality products within the Education portfolio. Simona graduated with a master's in social work, specializing in gerontology from the University of Toronto. Simona also holds a diploma as well as a degree in Social Work, and certification in Aging and Gerontology. Prior to joining CLRI Simona has experience working in the community and healthcare settings.


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Melissa Fernando, BSc

Project Assistant (LIPHA)

Melissa Fernando is a Project Assistant at the Ontario Centre for Learning, Research, and Innovation in Long-term Care at Baycrest. Her areas of expertise include mental and behavioral health support, office administration, and research and innovation in organ donation and transplantation, all geared towards enhancing the patient care experience. At Baycrest, she collaborates with educators and knowledge brokers to provide support in recruitment, implementation, and administrative tasks related to the educational platform known as the Learning Inter-Professional Healthcare Accelerator (LIPHA).


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Shannon Hampton

Regional Engagement Liaison

Shannon Hampton is a Regional Engagement Liaison with the Preceptor Resource and Education Program in Long-Term Care (PREP LTC). She brings to this role 4 years of frontline long-term care experience in recreation therapy and responsive behaviour support. Shannon’s education includes a Masters degree in Social Work, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Diploma in Recreation Therapy. In her role, Shannon takes the time to understand the unique experiences of each LTC home she supports in order to provide personalized guidance to enhance student placement programs and meet the needs of staff, students and residents.