Executive Bios
SUSAN KNIAHNICKIANDSOOHA President
Susan Kniahnicki is a Program Director with Algoma Public Health where she has lead program responsibilities for Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Early Detection of Cancer, and Vaccine Preventable Diseases. Other management responsibilities include the Volunteer Program and the Genetics Program.
After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Ottawa, Susan began working as a public health nurse at Algoma Public Health in 1979. During much of the 1980s she specialized in the Sexual Health Program, becoming a nursing supervisor in 1990. Her current professional interests include research and evaluation and the Sault Ste. Marie Safe Communities Partnership. Since 2004 Susan has been a facilitator for the Public Health Agency of Canada's Skills Enhancement Program.
JO ANN TOBER
ANDSOOHA President-Elect
Jo Ann Tober is the Executive Director and Chief Nursing Officer for the Brant County Health Unit. She has been with the Health Unit since 1996 and during her tenure has been responsible for programming within most of the Mandatory Program areas including Child Health and the start-up of the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program, Reproductive Health, Chronic Disease Prevention, Early Detection of Cancer, Injury Prevention, Sexual Health, STI’s, Vaccine Preventable Diseases, TB and Communicable Diseases Programs.
Jo Ann holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from McMaster University, a Master of Science in Health Behavior and a Ph.D. in Applied Health Sciences both from the University of Waterloo. She has been a member of the ANDSOOHA Executive since 1999 as the Central West Representative. Since this time Jo Ann has held the education portfolio and currently represents ANDSOOHA on the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing Subcommittee on Public Health Nursing Education and the Ontario Community Health Nursing Standards Coalition.
CAROL TIMMINGS
ANDSOOHA Past President
Carol Timmings is Healthy Living Director in the area of Chronic Disease Prevention with the City of Toronto, Public Health Division. She has lead program responsibilities encompassing tobacco control, nutrition and physical activity promotion, heart health, cancer prevention and early detection and related health planning and evaluation. She also holds lead responsibilities for workplace health promotion.
Throughout her 25 years in the field of public health, Carol’s management experiences have spanned a number of portfolio’s in the area of family and child health, seniors health, environmental health and chronic disease prevention. Prior to her career in Public Health, Carol’s nursing experience was focussed in the clinical areas of paediatric and adult cardiology.
Carol’s involvement in Professional Associations and advisory boards includes executive involvement in positions on the Association of Local Public Health Agencies of Ontario (alPHa), Board of Directors for Active Healthy Kids Canada, Past-President of the Provincial Executive Committee of ANDSOOHA - Public Nursing Management in Ontario and is currently President of the Ontario Public Health Association. She is also a member of the Minister of Health Promotion’s Smoke Free Ontario Campaign Committee and a member of the Ministry of Health Promotion Advisory Committee on the Healthy Eating Active Living Provincial Strategy. Carol holds a Bachelor of Nursing Science Degree and a Masters of Education Degree in Policy & Administration both from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario.
CAROLYN SHOREMAN
ANDSOOHA Secretary
Carolyn has been involved with ANDSOOHA Executive since 2004 with the role at that time as the Central East Regional Representative along with managing the Membership Portfolio. Carolyn changed portfolio's in 2006 and has been in the role of Secretary since then.
Carolyn currently works at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit as the Director for the Family Health Service. She comes with previous experience as an Assistant Director for the Healthy Living Service and experience as a program manager in programs including Violence and Injury Prevention and Healthy Babies Healthy Children. Carolyn has worked with the health unit since 1991. Prior to working with Simcoe Muskoka, she worked as a Public Health Nurse with the Region of Peel. Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Laurentian
University obtained in 1989 along with a Masters of Nursing Degree from Athabasca University obtained in 2007.
MONICA MITCHELL
Treasurer
Monica Mitchell works for Toronto Public Health as the Quality Assurance Manager for the Healthy Families and Healthy Living Services. She has been a public health professional since the early '80s and has held management positions in Communicable Disease Control, Chronic Disease Prevention, Reproductive Health and Child Health. Monica Mitchell joined the ANDSOOHA executive committee in 2000 as the Secretary/Treasurer and has assumed the Treasurer position as of 2006.
KAREN ESSERY
Northern Area Representative
In 1976 graduated from Queen’s University, Kingston with a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree. Following graduation worked as a staff nurse at the Montreal Children’s Hospital and the Royal Victoria hospital in Montreal.
In the fall of 1977 moved to northwestern Ontario through employment with Health Canada, Medical Services Branch, now known as First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, as a community health nurse, providing on-reserve nursing service to residents in First Nations north of Sioux Lookout, Ontario and then in surrounding First Nations in the Kenora area. Was the Nurse-in-Charge of the Kenora Health Centre from 1980 to 1984.
Wishing to experience nursing from a different perspective, from 1984 to 1989 was employed as a Personal Injury Analyst for the civil litigation and personal injury law firm of David D. Roy in Kenora, Ontario.
In 1989, accepted a position as a public health nurse with Northwestern Health Unit and became a team leader manager in 1994. Having held different senior management portfolios since 1998 is currently the Director of Family Services and Senior Nursing Officer for that Health Unit.
Has participated on provincial and regional advisory committees in the interest areas of breast screening, cervical screening, promotion of Nurse Practitioners in the north, preschool speech and language services, influenza planning but is now most involved in Making Kenora HOME Charitable Services, Inc., a grass roots movement taking action against homelessness and poverty.
Within practice, supports the training and education of student nurses and promotes mentorship. Based on the Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards of Practice and the provincial government’s Capacity Review following SARS, is most interested in moving toward a newer definition of public health nursing according to standards of excellence and achievement of core competencies.
In her personal life is married, has two grown children and looks forward to renewal get-aways to "camp" on beautiful Lake of the Woods.
LIZ HAUGH
South West Representative
Liz Haugh has had a lengthy career in public health nursing and is currently the Director of Health Promotion at the Windsor Essex County Health Unit. She obtained her Masters in Nursing Administration from UWO and undergraduate degrees in psychology and nursing from the U of Windsor, Her Diploma in nursing was obtained at St. Joseph’s Regional School of Nursing in London.
She has had extensive experience in various volunteer governance roles: She is a past president and current board member of the local CAS and past president of the College of Nurses of Ontario and was a long term member and two term chair of the Discipline Committee. She is a founding board member of the U 0f W, Tau Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, and an adjunct assistant professor and sessional instructor at the Faculty of Nursing. She currently is vice president of the Ontario Public Health Association and sits on the alPHa board as its rep. She is also on the LAP committee of RNAO. During her time as a staff nurse, Liz was active locally and provincially in ONA. Liz grew up in the Toronto area but has been a Windsor resident most of her life. She has three grown daughters and in her free time enjoys gardening, bridge, tai chi, golf, and marathon walking.
REGINA ELLIOTT
Central East Representative
Regina is a Public Health Nursing and Nutrition Manager in the Control of Communicable Disease/Clinical Services program at the Durham Region Health Department. As well as the ANDSOOHA Central east rep, Regina manages the Communication portfolio and continues the development of the ANDSOOHA website. Regina has over 20 years in both acute care and public health nursing. The Central East members can reach her any time at regina.elliott@region.durham.on.ca.
KAREN QUIGLEY-HOBBS
Central West Representative
Karen has been a Public Health Nurse with the Region of Waterloo Public Health since 1981. Currently, she is the Director of Communicable Disease, Dental and Sexuality Resources and Chief Nursing Officer. Karen received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (U of T) and a MBA from Nova SouthEastern University in Fort Lauderdale. Karen is the Central West representative for our ANDSOOHA members and can be reached at qkaren@region.waterloo.on.ca .
PENNY LAVALLEY
Eastern Representative
Penny has been the Director of the Infectious Disease Prevention Program at Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health for nineteen years. Previously, she worked for York Region Public Health Department and in acute care at the Montreal General Hospital. This is Penny’s second time serving as the Eastern Region Representative for ANDSOOHA.