As of January 8, 2010

Past President: Marlene Thompson

President: Nominee Marlene Thompson

Elected as President in 2008 and 2009, Marlene is a physiotherapist by profession graduating from the University of Western Ontario in 1998 after completing a BSc in Biology at the University of Windsor.  She has worked in Rheumatology since 2001 originally starting at the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre in Vancouver. She currently is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Western Ontario where she teaches Rheumatology to the Physiotherapists.  She also works clinically in Rheumatology at St. Joseph’s hospital in London and is involved in several research and educational projects.

Marlene has been a part of AHPA since 2002 and has served on the Board as the BC Representative, Executive Provincial Representative, as the Chair for the Professional and Career Development Committee and the CRA Scientific Program Committee Liaison.

“AHPA is growing as a national and diverse organization. We have had great success with our educational initiatives and new endeavors.  I am willing to stay on throughout 2010 to follow through with these exciting initiatives and new transitions.”

President Elect: Nominee Jennifer Burt

Jennifer Burt has been a member of AHPA since 2005 and joined the Board in 2007 as NL Provincial Representative.

She graduated from Dalhousie University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy. Since 1997 she has been a Clinical Specialist in Rheumatology working on the Rheumatic Health Unit at St. Clare’s Hospital in St. John’s, NL.

Jennifer is a volunteer with the NL Branch of the Arthritis Society and member of the Programs and Services Committee.

She is the currently the past president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Physiotherapy Association (NLPA), the provincial branch of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, as well as Co-Chair of the NLPA Communications Committee.

Goals for AHPA:

My experience on the AHPA Board has been very educational and has provided a great networking opportunity. I would like to continue my involvement with the Board and put my name forward for the position of President Elect. AHPA is important in networking, professional development, and research within the field of arthritis care for health professionals. It provides an avenue to allow communication across the country and facilitate best practice in arthritis care. My experience as President with the NL Physiotherapy Association and continued involvement with the Professional Association will be an asset in the role of president elect. To strengthen the voice of AHPA it will be important to increase the national membership by promoting the benefits of AHPA as well as enhancing linkages with the various Allied Health Professional Associations.

I look forward to my year as President Elect to allow me to further understand the workings of AHPA under the guidance of a great president and strong board.

Treasurer: Nominee Lyndsay Beker

Conference/Education Committee Chair: Nominee Kathy Drouin

• An RN for more than 40 years
• Initially worked as critical care nurse manager in the Heart Institute '69-'86.
• Then was a research project co-coordinator and research nurse in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery - '86-'97.  Continued doing research in Nuclear Medicine for another 2 years
• Started in Rheumatology research with Dr. Kraag in ’99 with Remicade and other biologic trials. Continued to work as a rheumatology nurse clinician in the Department of Rheumatology Arthritis Centre at the TOH.
• In 2004, opened the Biotherapeutic Drug Program office to help fill in the gaps in care for Rheumatology patients on biologics.  Manages all biologics currently available for all seven Rheumatologists here in the Arthritis Centre at the Ottawa Hospital.
• Gives frequent lunch and learn sessions, evening educational seminar, web casts to the healthcare professionals in Ottawa and surrounding area on new treatments available, outcome measures, assessments, interesting cases and journal articles, etc.
• Chair of several committees - most recent is Care Mapping - a patient's journey - a project in the Arthritis Centre
• A mentor to two other Rheumatology nurses which helps them in their continuing quality assurance practice for the College of Nurses of Ontario.
• Works closely with all of the pharmaceutical companies who have arthritis drugs in their portfolio.
• Attends most national and international Rheumatology meetings and shares what I learning with colleagues

Member Services Committee Chair:

Communications Chair: Nominee Karen Gordon

Karen Gordon has been a member of AHPA since 2004 and she joined the AHPA board in 2008 as Communications Chair and AHPA newsbrief editor. “I am enjoying putting together the monthly AHPA newsbriefs and I hope that the newsbrief helps AHPA in its mission to promote education and research in rheumatology. I will be happy to put my name forward for another 2 year term as Communications Chair and newsbrief editor.”

Karen has worked part-time as a physiotherapist for The Arthritis Society in Ottawa since 2003 and balances this with part-time work at Glebe Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic.  She is committed to helping people get the best possible care for their arthritis.

Professional and Career Development Chair: Nominee Leslie Soever

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy in 1984 and a Master of Science in 2002 from the Institute of Medical Science in The Collaborative Program in Bioethics, all at the University of Toronto.  More recently, in 2008, I graduated from the Advanced Clinician Practitioner in Arthritis Care (ACPAC) Program. I have several years of clinical experience in physiotherapy as well as management experience, in research, program evaluation and the hospital sector.  I am currently employed at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto as an advanced practice physiotherapist working in the departments of orthopaedic surgery and rheumatology and am a clinical lecturer in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto.  The position of Professional and Career Development Chair for the AHPA is appealing to me since I am a keen supporter of continuing education and lifelong learning.

Research Committee Chair: Janet Jeffrey

Janet Jeffrey RN, PhD is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at York University and teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. She has a long standing interest in quality of life for persons with arthritis that started with her doctoral dissertation 20 years ago. She remains interested in quality of life for adults with chronic illness, and their families, but is less focused on arthritis, at this time. Janet has been a member since very early in the history of AHPA and held positions on the Board some time ago. She has remained a member of the Research Committee and has recently assumed the role of Chair. Janet hopes to continue to promote the growing research activity and interest of AHPA members.

Sponsorship and Marketing Chair: Nominee Terri Lupton

Terri has previously been involved in AHPA on the board as research chair, Alberta Representative and most recently as the Marketing and Sponsorship chair.  Currently works as Nurse Clinician in Rheumatology Alberta Health Services, responsible for triaging rheumatology referrals and the Young Adult Rheumatic Diseases (YARD) transition clinic.   Terri would like to see the AHPA membership grow, and attract more rheumatology nurses and other allied health professionals working in rheumatology.

Provincial Rep for Newfoundland: Nominee Yvonne Tobin

Provincial Rep for Prince Edward Island:

Provincial Rep for Nova Scotia:

Provincial Rep for New Brunswick:

Provincial Rep for Quebec: Nominee Michele Ouellette

Provincial Rep for Ontario: Nominee Jane Cottrell

Jane Cottrell, RN, CCRP

• Trained as Nurse and Midwife in England 1968-1972
• Immigrated to Toronto 1973
• Worked in the Emergency Department both full and part time from 1974-2002
• Has worked in Rheumatology Research with Dr. Mary Bell since 1999
• Became Ontario Rep 2 years ago
• Feels very committed to the Rheumatology Field
• Jane writes “I look forward to the AHPA gaining strength over the next few years with a larger membership; this might lead to a few funded positions, as I feel the burden of keeping the AHPA moving forward falls to a few. My hope/dream is that the AHPA becomes known throughout the Rheumatology World not only Canada.”

Provincial Rep for Manitoba: Nominee Donna Hart

1982 - RN       Nursing Diploma

1985 - 2005     Nurse Clinician, Rheumatology Out-Patient Department

2005 – pres.    Study Coordinator, Arthritis Centre Clinical Research Unit

• Currently involved in NIARD (Nurses Issues and Advances in Rheumatology Diseases) advisory board, a professional development and leadership training program
• Actively involved presenting Nursing Rheumatology Rounds
• Involved with First Nations studies in two Northern communities - participate in education sessions for staff, pt 's - also organize a radio/ TV Arthritis call-in talk show for both communities.

Donna writes: “I look forward to another year with this dynamic group of rheumatology disciplines”

Provincial Rep for Saskatchewan: Nominee Lilian Urroz

• 1989 - Finished training as a Family Doctor in Honduras
• 1999 - Present: Research Assistant in the Rheumatology Division, University of Saskatchewan.
• 2003 - AHPA Provincial Rep for Saskatchewan
• 2009 -  Provincial Representative for Saskatchewan
• Participated in the AHPA Advanced Skill Pre course

Lilian writes: “I am actively involved in conducting clinical trials and education of

the rheumatology research patients. I hope for this year to be able to find more AHPA representatives in this province and to collaborate more with The Arthritis Society.”

Provincial Rep for Alberta:

Provincial Rep for British Columbia: Nominee Leeanna Bulinckx

I am a graduate of the University of Victoria and have been working in rheumatology for 10 years and started working in this area with Dr. Christopher Atkins.  As a clinical nurse specialist I provide teaching, assessments and monitoring of inflammatory arthritis patients and have had the privilege of working with most of the other rheumatologists in Victoria in varying capacities. I own PerCuro Clinical Research Ltd. which now not only is involved in research but in the provision of health services as well.  With the assistance of a sponsor I have established a Rheumatology Nurses Journal Club and we all enjoy sharing best practices and networking at our quarterly meetings. I am a member of ACRP and take all available opportunities to upgrade my research knowledge. I have been a member of ARHP (Association of Rheumatology Health

Professionals) since 2003 and have attended the ACR Scientific meeting yearly since 2001. This year I had the opportunity to work as part of a Nurse Educational Group bringing back information from ACR and sharing it with other nurses in my area. I have worked as part of the CRRC budget review committee and occasionally have helped to review protocols. I am relatively new to AHPA but have now served as BC Provincial rep for a year. I also assisted in the abstract review process that has been in progress for the past two months and have learned a great deal from this. Rheumatology nurses are a relatively small group of committed professionals who often work in isolation. I see AHPA as a way to network with others in the profession across our country in order to share best practices and information. I believe AHPA can help to establish the role and promote the value of the rheumatology health professional in not just the hospital but the clinical practice setting. I have always seen education as a high priority. As such I feel it is important to educate those entering this area to establish Rheumatology as specialty field. I believe AHPA has a role in promoting educational opportunities which give nurses in particular a sense of standardization of principals of practice and a source of continuing education. If chosen, I look forward to serving as BC rep for another year.