Our Team

Faith Boutcher is the Director of Academic Education and IPE, in the Baycrest Centre for Education and Knowledge Exchange in Aging. She received her undergraduate degree in nursing from Memorial University of Newfoundland (1987) and Masters of Science, with a specialty in psychiatric/mental health nursing, from the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto (1992). She is also a Fellow of the EXTRA program with the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (2008). Faith is an experienced advanced practice nurse and has held administrative positions in professional practice, research & 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 knowledge translation, interprofessional education and care and professional practice. She is currently completing her PhD in Health Services Research at the Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto.

Meaghan is the Manager of Simulation and Virtual Learning at Baycrest’s Centre for Education and Knowledge Exchange in Aging. She completed her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences and her Master’s of Science in Physiotherapy at Queen’s University, her PhD in Neuroscience t the University of Waterloo, and a post-doctoral fellowship at York University and Toronto Rehab’s KITE Institute. She is a registered physiotherapist and an experienced researcher, having published and presented internationally in the areas of brain health, brain injury, and rehabilitation. Meaghan has taught medical and allied health students and clinicians in-person and online, and holds clinical adjunct status in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University.

An award-winning psychiatrist, Dr. Ballon brings over two decades of experience in providing innovative education, simulations, coaching, facilitation and creativity-enhancing techniques for teaching and training to individuals and groups. Dr. Ballon is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Public Health for the University of Toronto, as well as an Adjunct Professor for the University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s Faculty of Health Sciences. As the Director of Education for SIM-one, he embraces an interprofessional collaborative approach and a spirit for collaboration. He is the Head of the Advanced Clinical and Educational Services for Problem Gambling, Gaming and Internet Addiction at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. He also participates in the Arts and Humanities for Healthcare activities offered through Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Ballon also works with industries involved in interactive technology and games for understanding its impact on people’s lives. He is also an illusionist who performs magic and mentalism, primarily to help educate the public of mental health issues. Dr. Ballon is a sought-after speaker for national and international meetings. He has also has acted as a consultant for many healthcare professional organizations in regard to addiction and mental-health issues. He has written books for children, parents, and the general public on youth and family health issues. Dr. Ballon has been a consultant and advisor to a variety of media-related activities including television, plays, novels and film productions to help create accurate portrayals of psychiatric and addiction elements. He has also created games dealing with mental-health and addiction issues that have garnered him awards from the Games Manufacturers Association and international literary and academic associations. He is also an illusionist who performs magic and mentalism, as well as collaborates and consults for professional magicians around the world.
 

Coming Soon

Shoshana is an interprofessional educator for the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long Term Care at Baycrest. She has worked with non-profits, corporations, educational institutions and professional organizations in various capacities as an educator, program coordinator, director and content/marketing and communications specialist. This includes expertise in on-line course content and stakeholder engagement. As a Geriatric Social Worker, Shoshana has 20 years of experience as a clinician and psychotherapist in community settings, long-term care and private practice specializing in health counseling with a focus on dementia care.  Shoshana’s work extends to inquiry-based practice as a researcher and to innovating educational models for implementing and sustaining relational care practice. Her most current qualifications include certifications in Relational Research (TAOS Institute, 2018); Applied Mindfulness Meditation (University of Toronto, 2017); Clinical Simulation (2016); and Caring Clowning (Ryerson, 2014). In addition, Shoshana has a background in opera, musical performance, theatre and expressive arts therapy. Shoshana received her Masters of Social Work degree (1997) and Diploma in Gerontology (2001) from the University of Toronto, and her Specialized Honours Bachelor’s Degree in developmental psychology from York University (1995).
 

Bev is an Interprofessional Educator for Training & Simulation at Baycrest's Centre for Education and Knowledge Exchange in Aging.  Bev's career began in Diagnostic Medical Imaging.  She graduated as a Medical Radiation Technologist (1980) and pursued a career in Diagnostic Ultrasound shortly thereafter, graduating as a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (1985).  After close to 30 years of clinical practice, Bev obtained her Clinical Educators' Certificate (2012), working with, and evaluating learners from affiliated institutions.  She is a member of the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario, Sonography Canada, the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, and the Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Sciences.  She has been a guest lecturer at Ryerson University and is a published author in a Diagnostic Medical Imaging Journal.  Bev's focus throughout her career is empathy in the clinical environment. 
 

As Manager of the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care at Baycrest, Dr. Meyer leads the development, implementation, management and evaluation of programs and activities at the Baycrest site. Raquel completed her doctoral studies and graduate and post-graduate training awards in health services research and policy at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto. Dr. Meyer’s research centers on educational innovation, health human resources, healthcare management and care delivery models. Raquel is an enthusiastic proponent for the relevance of innovation and research to clinical practice, education, leadership and policy development.
 

Rosemarie is an Interprofessional Educator with the Centre for Education at Baycrest.  She has over 25 years of experience as a pharmacist and educator.  She is a Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist and has worked in geriatrics at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, and in the community long-term care setting in her role as manager in the long-term care division at the Shoppers Drug Mart corporate office.  Her current work in education also includes her roles as Editorial Director with Pear Healthcare Solutions, Course Coordinator with the International Pharmacy Graduate Bridging Program at the University of Toronto and as a Regional Clinical Coordinator/ Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor with the University of Waterloo’s PharmD program.  Rosemarie also works as a home visiting pharmacist for home-bound patients in York region.
 

Kiira is an Interprofessional Educator for the Baycrest’s Centre for Education and Knowledge Exchange in Aging within Training & Simulation. She received an undergraduate degree with honours in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Waterloo. She is experienced in her field internationally and spent some time in Australia working in the role of Diversional Therapist within the geriatric field. As a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Kiira has over a decade of experience in long-term care, community settings and retirement. Through continuous professional development she has gained education and experience in adult learning and curriculum development. She is currently a professor within the Health and Fitness Program and the Activation for Gerontology Programs at George Brown College and Durham College.
 

Cathy Smith is an educator in the Division of Training and Simulation at Baycrest’s Centre for Education and Knowledge Exchange in Aging.  She is responsible for the development of the SAGE (Simulated Activities for Gerontological Education) program as well as other experiential training and learning activities.. She has worked in health professional education for over 25 years, in diverse health professional educational and assessment settings, ranging from undergraduate to continuing education programs.  She has developed curriculum for diverse formats, ranging from face-to-face to web-based platforms.  Recognition for her work includes: the Ruedy Award (Canadian Association of Faculties of Medicine) for innovation in medical education; the Blizzard Award (Canadian Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education) for outstanding teaching; the Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE) Outstanding Educator Award; and the SIMone Simulation Citizen of the Year Award.  She serves on various ASPE committees and is the past Conference Chair. She also is a member of the Wilson Centre for Research in Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and is part of the editorial board of Advances in Simulation.   Recent peer reviewed articles include the ASPE Standards of Best Practice for human role players in simulation (Advances in Simulation, June 2017).  Cathy has a keen interest in fostering the development of simulated patient methodology as it relates to other simulation modalities and exploring the performance aspects of simulation.