Executive Bios 2010
JO ANN TOBERANDSOOHA President
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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.
KAREN QUIGLEY-HOBBS
President-Elect
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Karen has been a Public Health Nurse with Region of Waterloo Public Health since 1981. Currently, she is the Director of Infectious Disease, Dental and Sexual Health and Chief Nursing Officer. Starting her career in general practice public health nursing, Karen has gained experience in a number of programs and provided services in areas such as psychiatric outreach clinic, school health, alcohol policy and violence prevention. In 2000 she moved into management in the Immunization and Vaccine Preventable Disease portfolio and in 2002 became director of her current division.
Karen received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (U of T) in 1981 and a MBA from Nova SouthEastern University in Fort Lauderdale in 1995. Karen serves on the operating and foundation boards for the local Children's Aid Society and has a cross appointment with McMaster School of Nursing. She can be reached at qkaren@region.waterloo.on.ca .
SUSAN KNIAHNICKI
ANDSOOHA Past-President
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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 she’s holds an executive position on the board of directors for the Sault Ste. Marie Safe Communities Partnership. Susan has been a facilitator for the Public Health Agency of Canada's Skills Enhancement Program. As well, Susan has held positions on boards of several organizations including the Canadian Mental Health Association – Sault Ste. Marie branch, the FOCUS anti-drug coalition, and the Algoma Breast Health Coalition.
In 2004 Susan assumed the position of Northern regional representative on the ANDSOOHA executive. In 2006 as she began a two year term as president-elect and then assumed the position of president in 2008. In 2009, during her second year in her term as president, Susan will be celebrating 30 years as a public health nurse with Algoma Public Health.
CAROLYN SHOREMAN
ANDSOOHA Secretary
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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.
REGINA ELLIOTT
Treasurer
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.
PAULA MORRISON
South West Representative
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Paula is new to the ANDSOOHA Executive with the role as the Southwest Regional Representative. Paula currently works at the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit as the Program Manager of Infant Health Services. She comes with previous experience in the acute care setting with Maternal/Child Health. She currently sits on the Provincial Maternal/Newborn Advisory Committee and the provincial breastfeeding working group. Paula holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Laurentian University obtained in 2007 along with currently finishing her Masters in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Capella University in 2010. She can be reached at paulamo@chatham-kent.ca.
DEBBIE SHEEHAN
Central West Representative
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Debbie Sheehan is the Director of the Family Health Division, City of Hamilton Public Health Services. Her portfolio includes: Child & Reproductive Health; the Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program; and Child & Adolescent Services. She is a member of the Hamilton Best Start Network and the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction.
Debbie has a BScN and MSW from McMaster University. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Faculty of Nursing, McMaster University. Debbie has participated in a number of large research projects and is currently the co-principal investigator of the Nurse-Family Partnership Feasibility Study. Hamilton has the distinction of being the first Canadian site to pilot this evidence-based home visiting intervention for first-time, pregnant, low-income women implemented extensively in the United States.
Debbie is the Central West representative for our ANDSOOHA members and can be reached at debbie.sheehan@hamilton.ca
CHARLENE BAIN
Central East Representative
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Charlene Bain is a Manager with Toronto Public Health in the Healthy Families program area. She has been with Toronto Public Health since 1990 and is currently manager of a nursing team, as well as having various lead responsibilities in Healthy Families including budget, recruitment and retention, and web development. In 1999 -2000 Charlene was seconded to the Integrated Services for Children Division at the province where she was responsible for the development and implementation of the prenatal and postpartum components of the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program.
Charlene holds a Bachelor of Nursing degree from McGill University and a Masters of Health Science (Administration) from the University of Toronto. In her volunteer work Charlene has been on the Board of Directors of the Toronto Community Care Access Centre and on the Board of Directors of the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation.
Charlene has the lead for ANDSOOHA membership for 2009. She can be reached at cbain@toronto.ca
JANE HESS
Eastern Representative
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Jane Hess is the Director of Family Health at the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.
Her passion has always been babies and children and she have been able to work that passion into teaching maternal-child nursing at St. Lawrence College from 1981-1994, working as a Public Health Nurse and Lactation Consultant from 1994 to 2002 and now in a leadership role as the Director of Family Health since 2002.
Jane graduated with a diploma in nursing from St. Lawrence College in Brockville in 1975 and then with a B.Sc.N from the University of Western Ontario in 1978. She has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 1994. Jane graduated in June 2008 with her Masters of Nursing from Athabasca University.
Family Health supports women, children and families, providing primary and secondary prevention strategies for preconception, prenatal, postpartum and parenting and the Preschool Speech and Language program. The Healthy Babies/Healthy Children program (100% provincially funded) makes up about half of the Family Health budget.
As well as experience in various volunteer governance roles, Jane works as a part time instructor at the Faculty of Nursing SLC/Laurentian University Collaborative program.
On a personal note Jane is married to an elementary school principal and has 3 beautiful university aged daughters.
Jane can be contacted at: jane.hess@healthunit.org
CLAIRE WARREN
Northern Area Representative
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Claire Warren is Manager, Professional Practice and Development and Community Nurse Specialist in the Resources, Research, Evaluation and Development (RRED) Division including the PHRED Program at the Sudbury & District Health Unit. Claire has been representing the Northern Region since 2008.
Claire has been in public health since 1994. She has worked in several areas including sexual health clinical services as a front line staff, in health promotion as program manager (chronic disease, injury/substance, Heart Health, FOCUS, sun safety and early detection of cancer), and now in RRED since 2006 involved with program planning, evaluation, research, student placement program and health equity. Claire has also taught 4th year community health nursing courses in French and English and sits on the Research Ethics Board at Laurentian University.
Claire is involved in several professional associations such as the RNAO and affiliate interest groups, College of Nurses of Ontario Community and Public Health Advisory Group, Health Promotion Ontario, and the Canadian Evaluation Society. Claire holds a Bachelor of Nursing Science Degree from the University of Ottawa and a Masters of Nursing Degree from Athabasca University in 2005. She also holds a certification in Community Health Nursing from the Canadian Nurses Association of Canada.