2025-2026 WINDSOR-ESSEX executive

Kathy Moreland has been a registered nurse since 1982 and has worked predominantly as a staff nurse, educator, manager and NP in oncology and palliative care. As a proud graduate of the University of Windsor for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Kathy has had the opportunity to work in many cities in Southern Ontario and Michigan. Kathy shared her knowledge of nursing as a professor of nursing in the McMaster University/Conestoga College collaborative BScN program in the latter half of her career and recently retired from fulltime work. She is the past president of RNAO Waterloo Chapter and a Lifetime Achievement member of RNAO when she was lauded for her career, her advocacy for those with FASD and more recently the Drug Poisoning Crisis. She has been a member of RNAO for decades and continues to be passionate about its mission to advocate for healthy public policy, promote excellence in nursing practice, and power nurses to actively influence and shape decisions that affect the profession and the public they serve. She is happy to have returned to her hometown to work with area nurses to enact that mission. 

Crystal Hepburn is the Children’s Special Health Care Services program manager at the Detroit Health Department.  She has been with the Children’s Special Health Care Services program for the last 12 years. Crystal is a Registered Nurse, Certified Case Manager and Certified in Public Health, working with children, youth, young adults and some adults and their families related to chronic disease management. 

Crystal has participated in many a variety of work groups including the Disability Task Force in Detroit, Coalition of Michigan Organizations of Nursing, Nurse Administrators Forum- Michigan Association of Local Public Health and especially the Asthma Coalition of Detroit. 

She is the past president of the Michigan Public Health Association Public Health Nursing Section, in which she is currently serving as the treasurer.  She is also a Board member of the Michigan Public Health Association as well as the current membership officer.  

Crystal has served as the President of the Windsor -Essex RNAO Chapter, representing over 1100 registered nurses, nurse practitioners and nursing students for the last 9 years from 2014-2024 and recently transitioned to the past president role.  Crystal is also the treasurer of the Complementary Therapies Interest Group, a member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environment, a member of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, Association of Asthma Educators, American Public Health Association, CSHCS Local Advisory Council with MDHHS and CSHCS Advisory Committee with MDHHS.   

I am a nurse advocate, new BScN graduate, and Policy & Political Action Executive for the RNAO Windsor-Essex Chapter. I am passionate about building a career in oncology nursing and informatics, combining advocacy, clinical expertise, and data-driven innovation to improve patient care and strengthen the nursing profession.

Lynn is an internationally educated nurse from England with a strong interest in the intersection of healthcare higher education and the health and social care workforce. After completing her master’s degree and prescribing qualification, she worked in advanced practice roles in both primary care and higher education. She subsequently undertook a fellowship with Health Education England, focused on reducing pre-registration attrition and improving retention (RePAIR) in nursing and allied health professions. Lynn serves as a peer reviewer for academic journals and as a director at ESHC. She currently works as an academic and research coach and is particularly interested in investigating the most pressing issues in health and social care through a Critical Realist lens.

Dr. Rachel Elliott is a Limited Term Lecturer at the University of Windsor. Rachel is extremely passionate about promoting student success and ensuring a safe, effective learning environment in content-heavy courses. She has been an RNAO member since 2006, when she was an undergraduate nursing student at McMaster University. Her first RNAO AGM was as a consultation representative for the Sarnia-Lambton Chapter, where she successfully passed a resolution about youth suicide prevention that Rachel authored. Rachel just completed two terms as the Region 1 RNAO Board of Directors Representative, where the Windsor-Essex Chapter was awarded the ‘Chapter of the Year.’ Rachel is a prior Critical Care nurse and Sexual-Assault Nurse Examiner who has transitioned this clinical work into her research interests in violence prevention and integration of trauma-informed care into nursing practice. Her lab, @health_equity_nurse_research [instagram link] seeks to advance nursing knowledge by conducting research on practice-based questions to drive change.  Rachel is an RNAO member because the organization is a powerful voice for change to advance health for nursing and Ontarians. Political action is so essential, yet often difficult for nurses to engage in when they are overworked and facing healthcare issues that affect their ability to do their jobs well. RNAO provides a united voice to advocate for the changes we need to advance health equity. Rachel is extremely proud to be an engaged member of the Windsor-Essex chapter in region 1.

Dr. Debbie Kane is a Professor Emeritus with the Faculty of Nursing, University of Windsor. Debbie has been an active member of RNAO since 1980 when she joined RNAO as a new BSCN graduate. She has served in a variety of roles, including Windsor-Essex Chapter executive member, Policy & Political action representative with the Community Nursing Interest group, Region 1 Board of Directors representative, and Member at Large (Research) Board of Directors representative. Debbie’s commitment to health promotion and illness prevention is reflected through her clinical practice in public health and community nursing and a program of research focussed on initiatives and policies supporting healthy workplaces, work-life balance, quality of work-life, violence prevention in the workplace, and supporting cancer survivor’s healthy return to the workplace. She has engaged in public advocacy for safe, quality health care through regular meetings with politicians locally and provincially, and media interviews on emerging issues impacting the health of Ontarians.

Registered Nurse currently working in long-term care with a passion for compassionate, person-centred care and enhancing the nursing profession. Active in leadership through the University of Windsor Nursing Society and committed to lifelong learning and community engagement. I am excited and thrilled to be on RNAO Windsor Essex and to assist with events and finance.

I am a proud mom of four whose journey in healthcare began as a Personal Support Worker, later advancing to RPN, RN, and most recently earning my Master’s degree. My career has taken me from the frontline to leadership, and along the way I discovered a true passion for education and mentorship. Currently serving as a Clinical Scholar at Windsor Regional Hospital, I am dedicated to supporting and empowering new nurses, helping them build confidence and develop the same love for our profession that has guided my own path. I look forward to connecting with other professionals who share this vision of growth, collaboration, and excellence in nursing.

My name is Ava Mammarella and I am a third year BScN student from the University of Windsor. I wanted to join the RNAO as a student Executive Network Officer to learn more about the profession and have the opportunity to better the field for my peers through advocacy and leadership.  I have been enjoying exploring my various interests through clinical placements and at this time, I am interested in working in the NICU, a cardiac telemetry unit or an ICU after graduation. 

Veronica is a first-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) student at the University of Windsor. She contributes as a Social Media ENO for the Windsor-Essex Chapter, and hopes to deepen her understanding of current issues and evolving changes within the nursing profession. Veronica has a strong interest in health economics, particularly in how socioeconomic factors shape health outcomes and access to therapeutic services. She is passionate about exploring inequities in healthcare and the structural factors that influence patient experiences. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, creative writing, and watching films. Looking ahead, Veronica aspires to pursue a career in surgical nursing, with interests in medical-surgical care, anaesthesia, or working as a scrub nurse.