Poonam is proud to be a public health nurse! She currently works as a manager in the Immunization Services Division in public health. She advocates for the social determinants of health and engages with local politicians to improve community well-being at the local level. Poonam's other passion for community health nursing is centered in women’s health. To this end she practices as a newborn and breastfeeding educator in Toronto. In her spare time, she loves to be outdoors in her garden in the summer time and snow shoeing in the winter time.
Sandra Varghese graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University’s BScN program in 2018 and currently works as a Clinic Supervisor in Public Health. Sandra has nursing experience in medicine, surgery, outpatient hemodialysis, IT health consulting and public health. Sandra has been involved with RNAO’s mentorship and nurse ambassador program since 2017, and most recently as the Peel chapter’s Social Media and Technology ENO. As the Chapter’s Membership ENO, Sandra has the goal to inspire and educate the next generation of nurses. She also wants to give our nurses, nursing students and new graduates a space for incredible opportunities in RNAO and beyond.
Paula Crawford-Dickinson is Chair of Nursing at a community college in Toronto. Prior to this, she was Professor in Nursing for 16 years. Paula has extensive nursing experience in neuroscience, trauma, and critical care through positions as an acute care nurse practitioner, clinical educator, and staff nurse. She has completed several degrees including a Doctorate of Education in Health Policy/Health Education, Master if Nursing (ACNP), and Bachelors degrees in Nursing, Psychology and Health Administration. She is also a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE). Paula is committed to advancing the profession through presentations at conferences and has held leadership positions in various professionally related organizations.
Sarah has been a registered nurse for 19 years and has dedicated her practice to Public Health Nursing. Sarah has worked in family health, communicable and vaccine preventable diseases, and vaccine management. Sarah has held several nursing roles in public health, including PHN, supervisor, physician outreach specialist, and now Manager of the Vaccine Management program. Sarah attended McMaster University where she achieved her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Kinesiology degrees. In 2023, Sarah graduated from the Master of Nursing program with a focus on Leadership in Health Care Policy and Education at Toronto Metropolitan University. On a personal side, Sarah lives in Brampton and is married to her wonderful husband, Kevin, and has two children – a daughter, Sloane who is almost 14 years old, and a son, Rylan who is 11 years old. She also has two cats and a dog. She has a passion for nursing, social justice and health equity. Sarah was previously involved in the RNAO Peel Chapter and has held the position of treasurer. She is excited to again advocate for the nursing practice and be involved in RNAO initiatives.
Upneet graduated from UOIT’s BScN program and is now pursuing her Masters degree in Nursing from Aspen University. Upneet has been actively involved with the RNAO Peel chapter since 2017, first as a Student ENO and then as the Membership ENO. She is now a member of the RNAO Brampton chapter and serves as the Finance ENO. Upneet has been working as a Public Health Nurse at the Region of Peel since 2020 first in supporting COVID-19 Operations in case and contact management and now as a part of the Family Health team . Upneet is a strong advocate for equity of care, health promotion and protection. In her spare time, Upneet enjoys playing board games with her family and watching movies.
Simran is an experienced healthcare professional with a strong background in clinical system analysis and electronic health record (EHR) stabilization. Simran holds a Masters in Nursing Informatics, Lean Healthcare Yellow Belt, and ITIL certification. In her current role as a Clinical Informatics Analyst, Simran has an understanding of the healthcare industry and the ways in which technology can be used to improve patient care. She has been instrumental in ensuring seamless integration and reducing clinician burden. She is always identifying areas for improvement and developing strategies to enhance functionality and usability. She is committed to utilizing her knowledge and skills to drive positive change and innovation in the healthcare industry.
Simran is a dedicated healthcare professional who is passionate about providing high-quality care to pediatric patients. She began her career as a pediatric nurse, working in hospitals to help children and their families manage a variety of health conditions.
Today, Simran continues to provide care to pediatric patients via a virtual platform. She is committed to making healthcare more accessible and convenient for families, while still maintaining the same level of personalized care and attention that is so important in pediatrics.
In addition to her work in nursing, Simran is a passionate traveler and reader, who loves exploring new cultures and perspectives. She brings her love of exploration and curiosity to her work, where she enjoys solving complex problems and finding creative solutions.
After completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from York University, she started her nursing career as a float pool nurse. She was previously a Student ENO from the former Peel Chapter. Danupreet is passionate about lifelong learning and exploring the determinants of health. As a Social Media ENO, she hopes to connect fellow nurses to the amazing opportunities and events available to advance the role of nurses as vital contributors to health!
Cassandra is an RPN working in Pediatrics. She completed the Nursing New Graduate Guarantee program on a Pediatric Orthopedic Rehab unit and loved every minute of it. She decided to expand her career options and was inspired to get a nursing degree. She is currently completing the Bridging Program at Mohawk-McMaster University. When Cassandra is not working or studying, she loves to travel.
Michelle Heyer is the Chair, Seniors Care in the Canadian Institute for Seniors Care at Conestoga College. Michelle started her health care career as a Nurses’ Aide in long-term care, sparking her interest in nursing and gerontology. Michelle graduated from the Practical Nursing program at Conestoga College in 2005. She then went on to complete her BScN from McMaster University in 2010, and finished her MSc from McMaster in 2017. The focus of her MSc thesis was on the quality-of-life of older adults in long-term care. Michelle has a vast array of clinical nursing experience including complex-continuing care, palliative care, mental health, acute care and gerontology. Michelle is also the BPSO lead at her organization. In Michelle’s role at Conestoga, she is dedicated to helping prepare nurses to care for older adults with complex needs through gerontological research and education. These experiences have prompted Michelle to pursue further opportunities to contribute to the local nursing community and seek out opportunities to learn and share with nursing colleagues.