Executive Team
The Executive Team is made up of volunteer nurses elected by membership to serve a minimum of a two year term for the Association.
CFPNA members are invited to contact any of the Executive Team directly or via the general contact form.
President
Monica Swanson MSN,RN: monica.swanson@alumni.ubc.ca
My diverse career in nursing over the last 26 years has brought me from urban to rural practice, in acute to community care and most recently in teaching the next generation of nurses. As a culmination of my career roles, through my recent work in primary care on the BC Primary Health Care Research Advisory and through my Graduate studies, strengthening the role of the nurse in primary care has become my passion. Nurses in primary care will help to make the improvements needed to this important sector of our health care system! I am honoured and excited to be able to support this work at the national level.
My diverse career in nursing over the last 26 years has brought me from urban to rural practice, in acute to community care and most recently in teaching the next generation of nurses. As a culmination of my career roles, through my recent work in primary care on the BC Primary Health Care Research Advisory and through my Graduate studies, strengthening the role of the nurse in primary care has become my passion. Nurses in primary care will help to make the improvements needed to this important sector of our health care system! I am honoured and excited to be able to support this work at the national level.
President - Elect
Suzanne Braithwaite BScN, MNsc, RN, CCHC(c)
suzannebraithwaite@gmail.com
Suzanne is a registered nurse with a specialty certification in community health nursing. Suzanne currently teaches in the Brock University-Loyalist College Collaborative Nursing program and acts as program coordinator at the Loyalist site. She also has extensive experience practicing as a primary care registered nurse at a Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic in Ontario. Suzanne is passionate about supporting registered nurses to enact their full scope of practice in the primary care setting. She completed her Masters degree in Nursing at Queen’s University where she revised and validated a tool to measure nursing scope of practice enactment in the primary care setting. Suzanne is currently completing doctoral studies at Queen’s University and her dissertation work is focused on exploring the attributes of the nursing care organization that influence registered nurse contributions to well-child care in primary care.
suzannebraithwaite@gmail.com
Suzanne is a registered nurse with a specialty certification in community health nursing. Suzanne currently teaches in the Brock University-Loyalist College Collaborative Nursing program and acts as program coordinator at the Loyalist site. She also has extensive experience practicing as a primary care registered nurse at a Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic in Ontario. Suzanne is passionate about supporting registered nurses to enact their full scope of practice in the primary care setting. She completed her Masters degree in Nursing at Queen’s University where she revised and validated a tool to measure nursing scope of practice enactment in the primary care setting. Suzanne is currently completing doctoral studies at Queen’s University and her dissertation work is focused on exploring the attributes of the nursing care organization that influence registered nurse contributions to well-child care in primary care.
Past President
Julia Lukewich, RN PhD (Newfoundland)
jlukewich@mun.ca
Julia Lukewich is currently an Associate Professor within the Faculty of Nursing at Memorial University (St. John’s, NL). She has worked in an emergency department and a community health center in Ontario. Julia received her PhD in Nursing at Queen's University (Kingston, ON). Her research is focused on the integration and optimization of the registered nursing role within primary healthcare settings. Julia recently led a national key stakeholder team in the development of core competencies for primary care/family practice nurses. She has been a member of the Canadian Family Practice Nurses Association (CFPNA) since 2015.
jlukewich@mun.ca
Julia Lukewich is currently an Associate Professor within the Faculty of Nursing at Memorial University (St. John’s, NL). She has worked in an emergency department and a community health center in Ontario. Julia received her PhD in Nursing at Queen's University (Kingston, ON). Her research is focused on the integration and optimization of the registered nursing role within primary healthcare settings. Julia recently led a national key stakeholder team in the development of core competencies for primary care/family practice nurses. She has been a member of the Canadian Family Practice Nurses Association (CFPNA) since 2015.
Education Chair
Chantal Sorhaindo, MN, NP(PHC-GH), RN-EC, BScN (hon.)
chantal.sorhaindo@mail.utoronto.ca
Chantal graduated from the Sheridan College Practical Nursing program in 2010, completed the Centennial College Bridging to University Certificate in 2011, and graduated from the Ryerson University Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program in 2013. She completed her Master of Nursing and nurse practitioner Certificate (Primary Health Care) with a specialty in global health at the University of Toronto (UofT) in 2019.
Chantal is a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Family Practice Unit, at St. Michael’s Hospital. She is also a Professor in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Collaborative Centennial College Ryerson University Program, adjunct lecturer at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, UofT, and Session Tutor for the Temmetry Faculty of Medicine at the UofT.
Throughout her nursing career, Chantal has worked worked in a variety of practice areas including primary care, long term care, quality improvement, and occupational health, and is committed to both undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate education.
In her spare time, she enjoys singing and song writing, spending time with friends and family, and has recently picked up golfing. She looks forward to continuing anti-racism work in the community and considers herself placed in the unique position to enact positive change as a member of the community.
Chantal Sorhaindo, MN, NP(PHC-GH), RN-EC, BScN (hon.)
Nurse Practitioner - Department of Family and Community Medicine, Academic Family Health Team
Family Practice Unit, St. Michael's Hospital
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
University of Toronto
Post-Secondary Professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing
Nursing (BScN) Four-Year Collaborative Program (Ryerson, Centennial, George Brown)
Centennial College, Morningside Campus
chantal.sorhaindo@mail.utoronto.ca
Chantal graduated from the Sheridan College Practical Nursing program in 2010, completed the Centennial College Bridging to University Certificate in 2011, and graduated from the Ryerson University Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program in 2013. She completed her Master of Nursing and nurse practitioner Certificate (Primary Health Care) with a specialty in global health at the University of Toronto (UofT) in 2019.
Chantal is a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Family Practice Unit, at St. Michael’s Hospital. She is also a Professor in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Collaborative Centennial College Ryerson University Program, adjunct lecturer at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, UofT, and Session Tutor for the Temmetry Faculty of Medicine at the UofT.
Throughout her nursing career, Chantal has worked worked in a variety of practice areas including primary care, long term care, quality improvement, and occupational health, and is committed to both undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate education.
In her spare time, she enjoys singing and song writing, spending time with friends and family, and has recently picked up golfing. She looks forward to continuing anti-racism work in the community and considers herself placed in the unique position to enact positive change as a member of the community.
Chantal Sorhaindo, MN, NP(PHC-GH), RN-EC, BScN (hon.)
Nurse Practitioner - Department of Family and Community Medicine, Academic Family Health Team
Family Practice Unit, St. Michael's Hospital
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
University of Toronto
Post-Secondary Professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing
Nursing (BScN) Four-Year Collaborative Program (Ryerson, Centennial, George Brown)
Centennial College, Morningside Campus
Research Chair
Dr. Marie-Eve Poitras, RN PhD (Quebec)
marieeve.poitras@usherbrooke.ca
Marie-Eve Poitras, RN PhD holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing sciences, a master and a doctoral degree in clinical sciences. She did her postdoctoral program in shared decision-making and knowledge translation in primary care. She is now Assistant Professor at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (Health Department). She was a primary care nurse and a research coordinnator during 8 years in a family medicine group in Province of Quebec. She is a directory board member of PBRN Reseau-1 Quebec. Dr. Poitras program’s research is interested in nursing practice, primary care health service organization, chronic disease, patient engagement in shared decision making and improvement of health professionals competencies in primary care context. Her expertise allowed her to be a new researcher with a high potential for research within the scientific community (h-index 10, CIHR and FRQ-S fellowship). Combined with her expertise as a primary care nurse, her research program establish strong partnerships with regional and provincial decision-makers, clinicians and canadian researchers to review and optimize primary care practices for patients and health professionals.
marieeve.poitras@usherbrooke.ca
Marie-Eve Poitras, RN PhD holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing sciences, a master and a doctoral degree in clinical sciences. She did her postdoctoral program in shared decision-making and knowledge translation in primary care. She is now Assistant Professor at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (Health Department). She was a primary care nurse and a research coordinnator during 8 years in a family medicine group in Province of Quebec. She is a directory board member of PBRN Reseau-1 Quebec. Dr. Poitras program’s research is interested in nursing practice, primary care health service organization, chronic disease, patient engagement in shared decision making and improvement of health professionals competencies in primary care context. Her expertise allowed her to be a new researcher with a high potential for research within the scientific community (h-index 10, CIHR and FRQ-S fellowship). Combined with her expertise as a primary care nurse, her research program establish strong partnerships with regional and provincial decision-makers, clinicians and canadian researchers to review and optimize primary care practices for patients and health professionals.
Treasurer/Membership
Alison Page, RN, BN (Alberta)
treasurer.membership@cfpna.ca
Alison is a primary care nurse working with the Calgary Rural Primary Care Network. Alison is part of an integrated team supporting a very rural population with a large focus on First Nations and vulnerable populations. She is a member of the Wheatland Youth Network committee working to develop an integrated network for youth and young adults to access resources and supports in the community. Alison has 14 years of experience as a nurse in areas including rural and urban emergency medicine, clinical instructing, rural public health, and pediatrics.
treasurer.membership@cfpna.ca
Alison is a primary care nurse working with the Calgary Rural Primary Care Network. Alison is part of an integrated team supporting a very rural population with a large focus on First Nations and vulnerable populations. She is a member of the Wheatland Youth Network committee working to develop an integrated network for youth and young adults to access resources and supports in the community. Alison has 14 years of experience as a nurse in areas including rural and urban emergency medicine, clinical instructing, rural public health, and pediatrics.
Public Relations
Crystal Vaughan, RN, MN
cvb464@mun.ca
Crystal is a community health nurse working in remote communites of Nunavut providing primary care servcies to Indigenous populations. She is nearing completion of her Masters of Nursing at Memorial University and has completed a research project aimed at clarifying primary care nurse nomenclature internationally. Crystal is excited to be a part of the CFPNA Executive Team and looks forward to building primary care nursing at a national level.
cvb464@mun.ca
Crystal is a community health nurse working in remote communites of Nunavut providing primary care servcies to Indigenous populations. She is nearing completion of her Masters of Nursing at Memorial University and has completed a research project aimed at clarifying primary care nurse nomenclature internationally. Crystal is excited to be a part of the CFPNA Executive Team and looks forward to building primary care nursing at a national level.
Student Representative
Deanne Curnew BN, MN, RN
dcurnew@mun.ca
Deanne is a student in the PhD in Nursing program at Memorial University in St. John's, NL. Her PhD research will examine the contributions of Canadian undergraduate nursing education to Registered Nurses' preparedness to practice within primary care settings.
Deanne has been a Registered Nurse for 14+ years and has a variety of practice experience in medical-surgical and community health settings and nursing education. She currently works as a Nurse Educator at the Centre for Nursing Studies in St. John's, NL. Deanne is passionate about aligning undergraduate nursing education with population health needs and priorities within sustainable health systems and care delivery models.
In her free time, Deanne loves hiking and exploring with her family in her beautiful home province of NL.
dcurnew@mun.ca
Deanne is a student in the PhD in Nursing program at Memorial University in St. John's, NL. Her PhD research will examine the contributions of Canadian undergraduate nursing education to Registered Nurses' preparedness to practice within primary care settings.
Deanne has been a Registered Nurse for 14+ years and has a variety of practice experience in medical-surgical and community health settings and nursing education. She currently works as a Nurse Educator at the Centre for Nursing Studies in St. John's, NL. Deanne is passionate about aligning undergraduate nursing education with population health needs and priorities within sustainable health systems and care delivery models.
In her free time, Deanne loves hiking and exploring with her family in her beautiful home province of NL.
Member at Large (BC)
Tannis Andersen RN,MN tandersen4012@gmail.com
Tannis received her Master's Degree in Nursing with an Education Focus from Athabasca University. She has been a registered nurse for 30 years working in Seniors Health and Primary Care. Tannis is currently working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Primary Care at Interior Health in British Columbia where she works with nurses in primary care clinics, primary care networks, and urgent and primary care centres. She is also an Adjunct Professor at University British Columbia Okanagan where she teaches a primary care nurses course. Tannis is currently involved in two primary care research projects. One involves understanding primary care education nursing needs and the other is treatment of atrial fibrillation in primary care. Tannis is dedicated to advancing primary care nursing practice and education.
Tannis received her Master's Degree in Nursing with an Education Focus from Athabasca University. She has been a registered nurse for 30 years working in Seniors Health and Primary Care. Tannis is currently working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Primary Care at Interior Health in British Columbia where she works with nurses in primary care clinics, primary care networks, and urgent and primary care centres. She is also an Adjunct Professor at University British Columbia Okanagan where she teaches a primary care nurses course. Tannis is currently involved in two primary care research projects. One involves understanding primary care education nursing needs and the other is treatment of atrial fibrillation in primary care. Tannis is dedicated to advancing primary care nursing practice and education.
Website Manager (Non-voting)
Tracy Clarke, RN, CPN(c)
Email: iclarke@bmts.com
Email: iclarke@bmts.com
Secretary ( Vacant )
Regional Meeting Coordinator (Non-voting)
Vacant