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.

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. 
 

Kiira Poerschke is an accomplished Interprofessional Educator at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, specializing in Simulation and Virtual Learning. She launched her geriatrics career as a Recreation Therapist, earning her Honours Bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo, followed by a Master’s in Gerontology from Charles Sturt University. With over twenty years of expertise across long-term care, community, and retirement settings, she has developed a broad, international perspective, having worked in Sydney, Australia, and trained clinical professionals in Bangkok, Thailand. Her commitment to continuous professional development has expanded her skills in adult learning, curriculum design, project management, and interprofessional education (IPE).

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.