Mississauga Halton LHIN's HPAC Membership Bios

Theresa started her nursing career at a primary care clinic overseas, and through her many years as a Registered Practical Nurse, has practiced in psychiatric nursing, acute care, and long-term care.  For over a decade, Theresa has enjoyed working in community care as a visiting nurse with Saint Elizabeth Health Care.  She was recently able to participate in an RPNAO fellowship which bolstered her commitment to improving patient care, continuing education and maintaining evidence based practice.

Debra is currently the Managing Director of Rehabilitation Operations at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and oversees programs including hip and knee arthroplasty – inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, ambulatory services in rehabilitation of MSK, facial, vestibular, and hand conditions, assessment services for 3rd party payers, and provision of prosthetic, orthotic, and pedorthic services.  Previous to this, Debra worked at COTA Health in clinical and management capacities, where experience was gained in the home care sector for paediatric and adult (physical medicine, ABI, mental health) populations.   As well, Debra worked as a clinician at the Hospital for Sick Children on acute care and mental health units and the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health in an adult day treatment program.   Debra also completed a placement at St. John’s Rehab Hospital, where she developed service models for two new programs, including the completion of proposals for funding.  Throughout this experience, Debra has gained knowledge in clinical service provision and models of service across the continuum, business development, proposal submissions, and strategic partnerships for a broad range of populations (paediatrics, adult physical medicine, adult and adolescent mental health) and in a variety of funding and service delivery models (hospital, CCAC, 3rd party payer, and private).  Debra co-authored a book, entitled Energy Conservation:  Achieving A Balance of Work, Rest and Play and has delivered podium presentations on an outcome measurement system and a collaborative project in the development of service delivery models in the community.  

Dr. Patricia Cheston has been employed with Trillium Health Centre for close to fifteen years.  She is a registered psychologist with the Paediatric Outpatient Services programme (POPS) at Trillium Health Centre, as well as the Professional Practice Leader for Psychology.  Dr. Cheston sits on the Peel Working Group for Care Providers of Children with Autism.  The POPS programme at Trillium Health Centre provides services to children with multiple developmental difficulties.   The team works closely with community partners and is active in providing services to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Dr. Cheston has also presented at conferences regarding servicing children with autism and their families as well as presenting models of care which promote inter-disciplinary and inter-agency collaboration.  Dr. Cheston completed her Ph.D. in Child Clinical Psychology at the University of Windsor, Ontario.  Her Master’s Degree was completed at Oakland University in Michigan.  

Sylvia Daniel completed her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto and has a status appointment in this department at the university.  Currently Sylvia is the Professional Leader of Physiotherapy at Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga.  Previous to working at Trillium, Sylvia worked as a Physiotherapist at the University Health Network and York Finch Hospitals both in Toronto.  She is an active member in the Ontario Physiotherapy Association and is a member of their Ontario Hospital Committee.  Sylvia has completed her studies in Osteopathy and is completing her research thesis on “The Effect of Osteopathy and Rehabilitation versus Rehabilitation Alone in the Treatment of the Acute Hemiplegic Upper Extremity”.  Sylvia is passionate about preventive health and has a clinical interest in the stroke population and women’s health issues.  She is resident of Mississauga and is the proud mother of 2 children.

Director of Nursing at Trillium Health Centre, Mississauga Ontario. Cathy has more than 25 years of experience in health care including acute care and long-term care sectors. She has held a variety of positions including clinical educator in Cardiac Services at Trillium Health Centre as well as clinical nurse specialist at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. The majority of her clinical experience has been focussed on critical care.   

Remi Ejiwunmi is a graduate of the inaugural class of the Midwifery Education Program at McMaster University.   Since graduation in 1996 she has practiced as a member of Midwifery Care of Peel and Halton Hills, where she became a Senior Partner in 1999. She has taught as a sessional instructor within the Midwifery Education Program at Ryerson Polytechnic University. She is a member of Medical Staff with admitting privileges at William Osler Health Centre and at the Trillium Health Centre where she acts as head midwife, sits as a member of the Maternal Newborn Core Team, the MORE OB Core Team and holds a casual secondment as a Reflective Learning Facilitator.  She sat on the Board of Directors of the professional association (the Association of Ontario Midwives) for more than ten years including two terms as President which provided her with the opportunity to interface with the OMA, RNAO, OHA and MOHLTC.  She currently sits as chair of the AOM's Insurance and Risk Management Program steering committee and as the Canadian Association of Ontario's representative to the Canadian College of Family Physician's Maternal Newborn Care Committee.

Margaret Guentner received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Toronto and holds a R.Ph. and Certified Asthma Educator designation.  She resides in Mississauga and has practiced community pharmacy in Mississauga from 1989 to present.  Margaret has been involved in many community patient education initiatives and has also facilitated pharmacist education workshops on such topics as Women’s Health and Patient Consultation Programs.  Margaret is currently involvedin improving patient medication adherence through her position of Manager of Pharmacy Solutions at Rx Canada.   Margaret is a member of the Ontario Pharmacist Association and the Canadian Pharmacist Association.

A practicing Nuclear Medicine Research Technologist, Neena founded KMH Cardiology & Diagnostic Centres in 1988.  A trailblazer in wait time management, her goal was to ensure patients had quick access and accurate diagnostic care and test results.  Through combining a basic philosophy of providing timely, comprehensive care in a patient-focused environment, coupled with a business savvy grounded in leveraging efficiency from core operations, Neena has built KMH into North America’s largest provider of nuclear cardiology services.  Neena has continually taken a lead role in independent health facilities, approaching successive Governments to implement innovations and to enhance the rules and regulations governing her sector. To date, Neena has advanced the understanding of professional care through 4 research projects, the coordination of 29 educational seminars/conferences, the preparation of 9 abstracts/papers and participation on 15 committees focused on enhancing health care and community development.  Currently serving as President of the Independent Diagnostic Clinics Association, Neena has also served as a Director on the Boards of both St. Michael’s Hospital and Sherbourne Health Care Corporation in Toronto.  She has been named to Profit Magazine’s Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs in 2007 and 2006 and Chatelaine’s Top 100 Women Business Owners List in five of the last six years.  In 1992, Neena was named Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (Start-up Category) by the Rotman Business School at the University of Toronto.  She was recognized in 2001 as the Businesswoman of the Year by the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

On February 10, 2006, Neena and Vijay, made a $5 million donation to the Credit Valley Hospital Foundation.  Proceeds are being used to help fund construction of the new Vijay Jeet and Neena Kanwar Ambulatory Care Centre.

Christine McGeachy is a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner in the Halton Hills Family Health Team and a sessional clinical instructor at McMaster University in the Bachelor of Nursing program. She received her undergraduate training at Conestoga College and Athabasca University. She obtained a Masters of Nursing and certification as a family nurse practitioner at D’Youville College in Buffalo. Christine is currently obtaining her Ph. D of Nursing at McMaster University, focusing on simulation and learning in nursing.  She has a diverse nursing experience of 12 years which includes acute, chronic, community and primary care. She currently lives in Oakville with her husband and six children.

Judi Montgomery began her career at Mississauga Hospital (now Trillium Health Centre) in 1987 and worked there for almost 15 years in Orthopaedics, Urology, ENT, Day-surgery, Surgical clinics, Emergency and PACU.  She began her long-term care career in 2002 as the Associate Director of Care and Infection Control co-ordinator at West Oak Village and was promoted to Director of Care (DOC) after completing several terms as Acting DOC.  Judi holds a Certificate in Continuing Care, a Certificate in Gerontology, and obtained a BScN with Distinction from St. Francis Xavier University.  She is currently going through the admissions process for a Master's Degree.  Judi is also an active participant with the University of Toronto study "Examining the Quality in Long-term Care."

James Pencharz graduated with an M.D. degree from the University of Toronto in 2007 and is currently completing his Family Medicine Residency at the University of Toronto at the Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga. Prior to medical school, James completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo and a Masters of Science in Health Care Research at the University of Toronto, where his thesis work focused on evaluating primary care management of osteoarthritis. He has successfully co-authored numerous articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals on a variety of health care and evidence-based medicine topics. Throughout his educational career, James has been regularly involved in leadership positions and committees including serving as Vice President Internal for the Graduate Students’ Union at the University of Toronto, member of the Section of Residents of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the most recently the board of directors for North American Primary Care Research Group. He is a resident member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Ontario Medical Association and the Professional Association of Interns and Residents of Ontario.