Speakers / Panelists
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Postoperative Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Readmissions in Rural, Remote and Northern Communities: Case Control Study focused on the Social Determinants of Health
May 23, 2025 from 11:35am EDT to 12:05pm EDT -
Improving Palliative Care Knowledge of Nurses Caring for Heart Failure Patients
May 24, 2025 from 9:50am EDT to 10:20am EDT -
Poster A - E
May 23, 2025 from 10:30am EDT to 11:00am EDT -
Increasing Access to Heart Failure Education in British Columbia: A Provincial Patient and Family Video Project
May 23, 2025 from 11:00am EDT to 11:30am EDT -
The PREVENT Clinic - A risk-factor reduction program for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease
May 24, 2025 from 2:40pm EDT to 3:10pm EDT -
"This is Cardiology": Bridging Research and Practice Through Interactive Learning
May 23, 2025 from 2:40pm EDT to 3:35pm EDT -
Establishing a transfer program in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) to address risks of health decline
May 24, 2025 from 10:55am EDT to 11:25am EDT -
Connecting Gender to Prompt Help-seeking in Men Experiencing Myocardial Infarction
May 23, 2025 from 1:40pm EDT to 2:35pm EDT -
Oral Poster Presentations
May 24, 2025 from 2:05pm EDT to 2:35pm EDT -
Oral Poster Presentations
May 24, 2025 from 2:05pm EDT to 2:35pm EDT -
Cancer survivors’ experiences of Cardiotoxicity induced Heart Failure: Living in the In-between
May 23, 2025 from 1:40pm EDT to 2:35pm EDT -
Decisions and decisional needs of people with brain-heart conditions: Cross-sectional survey of patients and caregivers
May 24, 2025 from 10:55am EDT to 11:25am EDT -
From Knowledge to Action: Improving Nicotine Dependence Screening and Smoking Cessation Support in Cardiac Care
May 23, 2025 from 12:10pm EDT to 12:40pm EDT -
Tailoring a mobile pain-management app for youth post-cardiac surgery
May 23, 2025 from 12:10pm EDT to 12:40pm EDT -
Poster A - E
May 23, 2025 from 10:30am EDT to 11:00am EDT -
Plenary - Cracking the Code: Navigating ATTR Cardiac Amyloidosis Through Case Studies and Cutting-Edge Treatments
May 24, 2025 from 8:45am EDT to 9:45am EDT -
Welcome, Opening Remarks and Message from CCCN President
May 23, 2025 from 8:30am EDT to 8:45am EDT -
Welcome and Opening Remarks
May 24, 2025 from 8:30am EDT to 8:45am EDT -
Posters F - J
May 24, 2025 from 10:20am EDT to 10:50am EDT -
Building cardiovascular nurses’ competencies in decision coaching: An equity-focused, interactive workshop using the Ottawa Personal Decision Guides
May 23, 2025 from 9:35am EDT to 10:30am EDT -
Postoperative Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Readmissions in Rural, Remote and Northern Communities: Case Control Study focused on the Social Determinants of Health
May 23, 2025 from 11:35am EDT to 12:05pm EDT -
Oral Poster Presentations
May 24, 2025 from 2:05pm EDT to 2:35pm EDT -
Decisions and decisional needs of people with brain-heart conditions: Cross-sectional survey of patients and caregivers
May 24, 2025 from 10:55am EDT to 11:25am EDT -
Poster A - E
May 23, 2025 from 10:30am EDT to 11:00am EDT -
Implementing a coaching and mentorship program to improve retention and well-being of nurses in an acute cardiovascular centre of a Canadian quaternary hospital network
May 24, 2025 from 9:50am EDT to 10:20am EDT -
“The one where we explain why Ross is fine”: an exploration of Ross procedures; for nurses.
May 24, 2025 from 1:00pm EDT to 2:00pm EDT -
Establishing a transfer program in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) to address risks of health decline
May 24, 2025 from 10:55am EDT to 11:25am EDT -
Posters F - J
May 24, 2025 from 10:20am EDT to 10:50am EDT -
"This is Cardiology": Bridging Research and Practice Through Interactive Learning
May 23, 2025 from 2:40pm EDT to 3:35pm EDT -
Battle of the Sexes: Who Faces Greater Heart Risks?
May 24, 2025 from 11:30am EDT to 12:00pm EDT -
"This is Cardiology": Bridging Research and Practice Through Interactive Learning
May 23, 2025 from 2:40pm EDT to 3:35pm EDT -
Mobility in a Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit: A Behaviour Mapping Study
May 24, 2025 from 2:05pm EDT to 2:35pm EDT -
Plenary - Optimizing Care with Ferinject: Addressing Iron Deficiency in Heart Failure
May 23, 2025 from 8:45am EDT to 9:30am EDT -
Increasing Access to Heart Failure Education in British Columbia: A Provincial Patient and Family Video Project
May 23, 2025 from 11:00am EDT to 11:30am EDT -
Poster A - E
May 23, 2025 from 10:30am EDT to 11:00am EDT -
Posters F - J
May 24, 2025 from 10:20am EDT to 10:50am EDT -
Why are we too cool for cooling; or were we always cooling too cool? An update on therapeutic temperature management
May 23, 2025 from 11:35am EDT to 12:05pm EDT -
"This is Cardiology": Bridging Research and Practice Through Interactive Learning
May 23, 2025 from 2:40pm EDT to 3:35pm EDT -
“The one where we explain why Ross is fine”: an exploration of Ross procedures; for nurses.
May 24, 2025 from 1:00pm EDT to 2:00pm EDT -
Posters F - J
May 24, 2025 from 10:20am EDT to 10:50am EDT -
Posters F - J
May 24, 2025 from 10:20am EDT to 10:50am EDT -
Poster A - E
May 23, 2025 from 10:30am EDT to 11:00am EDT -
Building cardiovascular nurses’ competencies in decision coaching: An equity-focused, interactive workshop using the Ottawa Personal Decision Guides
May 23, 2025 from 9:35am EDT to 10:30am EDT
Mariam Alaeddine
RN, MScN
Mariam Alaeddine
Mariam Alaeddine
RN, MScN
Mariam Alaeddine is a Registered Nurse at Health Sciences North in the Critical Care and Cardiology program. She has worked in the Cardiac Inpatient unit, the Cardiodiagnostics department, the Intensive Care Unit and most recently the Heart Failure Disease Management Program and Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic. Mariam graduated with her BScN in 2021 from Laurentian University then went on to complete her MScN at the University of Ottawa. She is passionate about research in Northern Ontario with attention to cardiac surgery, wait times and readmission rates.
Sana Ali
RN, MScN
Sana Ali
Sana Ali
RN, MScN
Sana is a Nurse Educator at The Ottawa Hospital and a Clinical Investigator at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, dedicated to advancing cardiovascular health through education, research, and clinical practice. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Aga Khan University, and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Ottawa.
She has diverse clinical experiences across high-acuity settings, including the post-anesthesia care unit, intensive care unit, and intensive cardiac care unit, and has contributed to clinical projects aimed at translating evidence into practice to improve cardiac outcomes. Her recent publications focus on palliative care education for cardiac nurses and the cardiovascular health needs of women with breast cancer (under review).
Sana’s research interests include cardiovascular disease prevention, promoting cardiovascular equity among underserved populations, and improving women’s heart and brain health, including exploring sex-specific risk factors, social determinants of health, and racial and ethnic disparities.
Barbara Bailey
NP
Barbara Bailey
Barbara Bailey
NP
Barbara Bailey is a nurse practitioner (NP), and she holds advanced knowledge in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) with a focus in postoperative management. Since April 2015, Barb is the NP for the Toronto ACHD program at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC), UHN. Barb is currently cross-appointed with the Lawrence S. Bloomberg, Faculty of Nursing University of Toronto. She holds memberships with the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses (CCCN), International Society of Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ISACHD), Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada (NPAC), Registered Nurses’ of Ontario (RNAO) and Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and is the current President of the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO). Barb is certified in cardiovascular nursing (CCN(C)), basic and advanced cardiac life support. Her accomplishments include a patient education initiative, a children’s storybook to help parents discuss their heart surgery with their children and the development of a mindfulness recovery program after cardiac surgery. She has co-authored publications in ACHD and cardiovascular surgery.
Valerie Barrette
RN, MScN
Valerie Barrette
Valerie Barrette
RN, MScN
Valerie Barrette is a Clinical Nurse Specialist under the Quality, Research and Integrated Care portfolio at Cardiac Services BC (CSBC). She is the provincial clinical lead for CSBC’s Heart Failure and Chronic Cardiovascular Disease Population Group.
Born and raised in Quebec, Valerie completed a Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing at McGill University in 2005, and a Master’s in Nursing Sciences with a complementary diploma as a cardiology Nurse Practitioner at the University of Montreal in 2010. She then worked as a nurse practitioner on the cardiac surgery unit of the University of Montreal Health Centre. In 2017, after moving to British Columbia, she briefly worked as a registered nurse at a Heart Function clinic and in a Cardiac Rehabilitation program, prior to her current role at CSBC. Valerie is passionate about quality improvement initiatives with a focus on heart failure care and cardiac rehabilitation.
Outside of work, Valerie is at her happiest exploring the forests and mountains of Squamish with her family.
Sarah Beingessner
NP
Sarah Beingessner
Sarah Beingessner
NP
Sarah Beingessner graduated with her BScN from McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario, in 2000. Her first nursing position was at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, as a Cardiac Surgery staff nurse, and a few years later, as a Cardiac Surgery and Coronary Angioplasty Case Manager. She also worked for 6 months at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as a program consultant, managing the cardiac portfolio for the province of Ontario. In this secondment role, she oversaw funding of cardiac procedures and surgeries, as well as managing implementation of new cardiac programs in the province. Other cardiac working experience includes case management of arrhythmia referrals and pacemaker/ICD implantations at St. Mary’s Hospital.She completed her primary care nurse practitioner diploma in 2019, and currently works at St. Mary’s General Hospital, as a nurse practitioner in the cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention program and providing clinical support to the TAVI and Structural heart program. Sarah also works on a casual basis as a primary care nurse practitioner at a local Family Health Team. She is passionate about patient education, and providing pragmatic care in an evidenced-based, guideline-directed manner.
Sarah currently lives in Waterloo Ontario with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, and reading.
Joelle Brennan
RN, BSN, MSN, CCRN(C)
Joelle Brennan
Joelle Brennan
RN, BSN, MSN, CCRN(C)
Carolynne Brousseau-Whaley
RN, BScN, MScN
Carolynne Brousseau-Whaley
Carolynne Brousseau-Whaley
RN, BScN, MScN
Carolynne Brousseau-Whaley is an advanced practice nurse (APN) at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI).
Carolynne is a University of Ottawa alumni having completed her BScN in 2011 and her MScN in 2015. Carolynne began her career with UOHI in 2011. She has had the opportunity to work in various cardiac areas, including the cardiology floor, Heart Function Clinic, as well as a regional cardiac care coordinator in electrophysiology. Since 2023, Carolynne has held the role of APN for the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic.
Carolynne’s research interests include congenital heart disease transitions, social determinants of health and patient education.
Michelle Cho
MSN, RN
Michelle Cho
Michelle Cho
MSN, RN
Michelle Cho is a Continuing Nursing Practice Educator at UBC Vancouver and a cardiac nurse at Surrey Memorial Hospital. She completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Langara College in 2022 and her Master’s of Science in Nursing from UBC in 2024. Michelle has developed a passion for cardiac research and pursued her thesis on prompt treatment seeking experience in patients with MI with a gendered lens. She also has a developing research interest in nursing education, particularly promoting Universal Design for Learning and Trauma-Informed Practice in BSN curriculum.
Katherine Dagg
CNS
Katherine Dagg
Katherine Dagg
CNS
Katherine Dagg is the structural heart nurse specialist and the Mobile Screening Program coordinator for the Centre for Valvular Heart Disease at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute where she participates in patient education, care and research. Katherine Dagg received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honours in 2016 from the University of Ottawa French program. She then earned her Masters of Science in Nursing with Honours from Charles Sturt University in Australia in 2022. Katherine Dagg combines evidence-based best practice guidelines, innovation, and compassion to help improve her patient care.
Semhal Gessese
RN, BScN, MScN(c)
Semhal Gessese
Semhal Gessese
RN, BScN, MScN(c)
Semhal Gessese is a master’s student at the University of Ottawa’s School of Nursing, supervised by Dr. Krystina B. Lewis. As a recipient of the CIHR Canadian Graduate Scholarship and the Brain-Heart Interconnectome Graduate Bursary, Semhal’s thesis focuses on the decisional needs and decision-making experiences of equity-deserving groups diagnosed with brain-heart conditions. She will continue her studies in the PhD in Nursing program at the University of Ottawa starting in September 2025, where her research will continue to promote equitable and culturally-tailored shared decision-making practices in brain-heart health. Alongside her academic work, she is a Registered Nurse in the Cardiac Surgery Unit at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
Mahdiyeh Gholami
BSc, MA (Student)
Mahdiyeh Gholami
Mahdiyeh Gholami
BSc, MA (Student)
Gloria Higdon
Caregiver/Family member partner
Gloria Higdon
Gloria Higdon
Caregiver/Family member partner
Patricia Johnson MSN
RN, CCN(c)
Patricia Johnson MSN
Patricia Johnson MSN
RN, CCN(c)
Patricia Johnson is a Clinical Nurse Educator in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at St. Paul’s Hospital. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of British Columbia. With over 18 years of experience in various roles across the Heart Centre at St. Paul’s Hospital, she brings a deep passion for cardiology, clinical education, and advancing nursing practice. Her work focuses on supporting frontline staff, fostering evidenced-based care, and promoting lifelong learning in the critical care setting.
Tieghan Killackey
RN PhD, CCN(c)
Tieghan Killackey
Tieghan Killackey
RN PhD, CCN(c)
Tieghan Killackey is an Assistant Professor in the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and the RBC Financial Group Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing Research at the University Health Network and the University of Toronto. Dr. Killackey is a Certified Cardiovascular Nurse, and her research program uses qualitative and mixed-methods to improve patient and family experiences within chronic cardiovascular disease, with specific emphasis on enhancing patient autonomy and supporting self-management using technology.
Dr. Killackey's research has been funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Hospital for Sick Children’s Labatt Family Heart Centre.
Morgan Krauter
Morgan Krauter
Morgan Krauter
Chris Kuttnig
RN, BN, CCN(C)
Chris Kuttnig
Chris Kuttnig
RN, BN, CCN(C)
Graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Calgary in 1997, Chris started her nursing career in there. She became a critical care nurse in 1997 and moved back to her home province of Manitoba in 2003 and working in the med/surg ICU. She began her cardiovascular nursing career in 2007 when she became an educator in the Cardiac Sciences program. She has been a part of CCU/ACCU since that time in the role of educator and more recently as the Program Team Manager for ACCU.
She obtained her CNA Cardiovascular certification in 2010. Chris has been an active member of CCCN since 2007. She has been a member on the Manitoba chapter since 2007 and held national positions such as Director of Provincial divisions and Membership as well as participating in the national awards and finance committee. Chris is the current President-Elect for CCCN.
Krystina Lewis
RN, MN, PhD, CCN(C)
Krystina Lewis
Krystina Lewis
RN, MN, PhD, CCN(C)
Dr. Krystina Lewis is Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Ottawa and Affiliate Researcher at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. She has been a member of the CCCN for over 15 years and currently serves as the Director of Publications on the CCCN Board of Directors. After 10 years of cardiovascular nursing practice, she now leads a program of research focused on 1) the delivery of health services to support patient and public engagement in healthcare decisions; and 2) closing the gap between research evidence and research use. She actively engages with and learns from people with lived and living experience of cardiac conditions, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers, using co-production approaches for more relevant research findings and increased use. Her research has been funded by the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Canadian Cardiovascular Society, CANet, and the Canada First Research Excellence Fund via the Brain-Heart Interconnectome. Most recently, she has taken on the lead role for the Knowledge Mobilization of the Brain-Heart Interconnectome (uOttawa/University of Ottawa Heart Institute). In 2024, she was awarded a Heart & Stroke New Investigator Award and the Early Career Researcher of the Year in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa.
Lindsay MacArthur
RN, MN
Lindsay MacArthur
Lindsay MacArthur
RN, MN
Lindsay MacArthur is the advanced practice nurse for cardiology at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. She participates in patient care, research and education for patients and health care providers.
Sarah McDermid-Flabbi,
BScN, MN
Sarah McDermid-Flabbi,
Sarah McDermid-Flabbi,
BScN, MN
Sarah McDermid-Flabbi is a Master’s-prepared Registered Nurse (RN) specialized in Education and Health Policy from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). With extensive experience developing and implementing adult education programs in both healthcare and academic settings, Sarah passionate about supporting the professional development and growth of nurses. She has served as an Emergency Department (ED) Registered Nurse, Patient Safety Specialist, Advanced Practice Nurse Educator (APNE) in the ED at the University Health Network (UHN), Sessional Professor at George Brown College and Adjunct Lecturer with the University of Toronto. She is currently the Nurse Lead of a pilot study in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at UHN, implementing a nursing coaching and mentorship program, to assess the impact on nursing well-being and retention in an acute cardiovascular care setting.
Breagha McPhee
BNRN CCN (C)
Breagha McPhee
Breagha McPhee
BNRN CCN (C)
I am originally from the small town of Sussex, New Brunswick. I currently live in Saint John, keeping close to my friends and family. I completed my Bachelor of Nursing at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John. Having access to the New Brunswick Heart Center as a student during my undergraduate degree allowed me to fall in love with cardiac nursing. I have been a registered nurse on our Cardiac Services unit for the last 7 years. As a young nurse, I have had the pleasure of being influenced and inspired by so many amazing nurses. I completed my certification in Cardiovascular Nursing in 2020. In spring 2022, I started my studies in my Masters of Nursing through Athabasca University and hope to successfully complete my degree this summer. When I’m not working or studying, I enjoy
spending time with my significant other, Matt, my family, and my best friends. I am very honored to be able to one again participate in this year’s Spring Conference and look forward to this great community building opportunity.
Joanne Morin
NP
Joanne Morin
Joanne Morin
NP
Joanne Morin is a retired nurse working occasionally at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI). Joanne obtained her RN diploma at Algonquin College in 1979. She earned her Post Basic RN degree in 1991. She obtained her master’s in nursing science in 1999. She earned her Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner certificate in 2005. Joanne started her career in Critical Care. She has been working in Cardiac Care in various roles since 1988. Since 2000, Joanne has been working in Adult Congenital Heart Disease.
Joanne’s interests include Transition of pediatric congenital heart patients to adult cardiac care, and pregnancy and contraception in congenital heart women.
Dana El-Mughayyar
MSc, CCRP
Dana El-Mughayyar
Dana El-Mughayyar
MSc, CCRP
Dana El-Mughayyar is a highly accomplished clinical research professional with over eight years of experience in the fields of spine, orthopedics, neurosurgery, chronic pain, and cardiovascular research. She is the recipient of several awards, and holds a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Biology and Psychology and a Master of Science in Kinesiology from the University of New Brunswick. Currently a PhD student at Dalhousie University, Dana is focused on improving cardiac rehabilitation outcomes through patient-oriented research.
Her research journey began at Canada's East Spine Centre, where she contributed to studies on post-operative outcomes of patients with spine, 3D surgical planning, pre-rehabilitation, and pharmaceutical trials. Transitioning to cardiovascular research at NBHC, Dana led interventional trials and observational studies aimed at addressing critical gaps in patient care, such as barriers to participation in cardiac rehabilitation and postoperative recovery outcomes.
As Head of Clinical Research at NBHC, Dana has successfully managed high-impact projects, including exceeding enrollment targets for the LeAAPS trial by six times. She is also the Director of Experiential Learning for Dalhousie University's IMPART program, which allows her to enhance her leadership in strategic planning and stakeholder engagement. Dana is the founder of the Volunteer Research Program at NBHC and the Volunteer Mentorship Program at IMPART, funded by MyROAD.
Dana is certified as a Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) and has completed advanced training in Patient-Oriented Research (POR). She applies these principles to amplify patient voices, identifying barriers to accessing RC through her PhD in Health at Dalhousie University under the supervision of Dr. Scott Grandy. His commitment to improving health care is reflected in his peer-reviewed publications, numerous conference presentations, and collaborations with local and national stakeholders. Dana is also a peer reviewer for reputable journals such as Global Spine Journal and Medicine ©. Driven by her belief in the power of multidisciplinary collaboration, Dana is dedicated to creating a healthcare system where patients feel seen, heard, and empowered. Her work bridges the gap between research and patient care, pushing the boundaries of evidence-based medicine to improve outcomes for all.
John Mulvihill
RN, BSN, CCN(C), CNCC(C)
John Mulvihill
John Mulvihill
RN, BSN, CCN(C), CNCC(C)
Dr. Nazli Parast
Dr. Nazli Parast, RN, CDE, BScN, MScN, EdD
Dr. Nazli Parast
Dr. Nazli Parast
Dr. Nazli Parast, RN, CDE, BScN, MScN, EdD
Dr. Nazli Parast is an advanced practice nurse at the Women’s Heart Health and Hypertension clinics. She is certified diabetes educator with extended background in cardiology and research. She obtained her doctorate degree in Education with focus on diabetes health literacy and education. She has been Diabetes and Heart Failure Clinical Consultant providing support to physicians, nurses and other health
care providers. Her research interest is in improving healthcare providers’ knowledge and assessment of women’s heart health as well as improving diabetes management in women with respect to hormonal changes during their lifespan.
Emily Phillips
RN, MN, PhD candidate, CCN(c)
Emily Phillips
Emily Phillips
RN, MN, PhD candidate, CCN(c)
I was born and raised in southern Ontario and attended the University of Western Ontario for my undergraduate education. I have a Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree along with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, both from the University of Western Ontario. I moved to Winnipeg in 2013 to participate in the Winnipeg Critical Care Nursing Education Program (WCCNEP) and never left. After completing the WCCNEP, I worked in the post-operative cardiac surgery ICU. I began working as a clinical education facilitator with nursing students on the cardiology unit, which opened the door to the educator role on that unit from 2015 to 2021 when I took the role of Clinical Nurse Specialist. I completed my Master of Nursing degree through the University of Manitoba in 2020 and began my doctoral studies in Applied Health Sciences in 2021 with Todd Duhamel and Rakesh Arora.
I enjoy collaborating with other healthcare professionals to drive change using research evidence in innovative ways to ensure we are providing the best experience and care to patients and care partners.
Tara Redfern
RN BN
Tara Redfern
Tara Redfern
RN BN
Kirsten Redman
RN, MSN
Kirsten Redman
Kirsten Redman
RN, MSN
Kirsten Redman is the Interim Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Vancouver Regional Heart Failure Program and the St. Paul’s Hospital Cardiac Rehab program. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the UBC School of Nursing. She brings over 20 years of clinical experience in a variety of settings with a professional focus on cardiology and clinical education. Kirsten has held previous CNS roles in long-term care and has extensive experience as a cardiology nurse educator at St. Paul’s Hospital. Her work is grounded in a passion for knowledge translation, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement. She is especially committed to empowering patients through education and championing thoughtful approaches to clinical evaluation and system-level change.
Laura Runcie
BN, RN, MSN, CCN(C)
Laura Runcie
Laura Runcie
BN, RN, MSN, CCN(C)
Laura Runcie is a registered nurse with a passion for cardiovascular care, nursing as a profession, and continued/specialty education. Although she still considers herself a young nurse, she has squeezed a lot of learning, and experience into the past 9 years. Laura considers active effort in her own professional development key to fueling her zeal for, and satisfaction in CV nursing!
Shortly after beginning her nursing career in 2013, and with encouragement from colleagues, Laura joined CCCN. This decision was instrumental in setting the trajectory of her career. As an active member, she has attended any and all conferences, education days and journal clubs she could. In 2016, alongside a friend, she presented her first abstract at the CCCN Spring conference. That same year, she became a CNA certified cardiovascular nurse. Laura now serves on the CCCN BOD as the Director of Communications and Membership. Beyond her involvement with CCCN, Laura completed her MSN through UBC in 2019.
When not on the quest for (formalized) knowledge, Laura can be found working! Having practiced as a RN in both New Brunswick and British Columbia, her nursing experience (thus far) includes: Cardiac Stepdown and Coronary Care units, in addition to Cardiac Catheterization. More recently she has moved into a Cardiac Surgery Nurse Associate role; but still “moonlights” on her CCU home turf at the New Brunswick Heart Centre.
Of course there is more to her than working and “nerding out” over the heart. Laura has been married longer than she has been a nurse, has 2 amazing little girls and a dog. She loves coffee, exploring the outdoors, and drinking coffee outdoors.
Emilie Serano
RN, MScN
Emilie Serano
Emilie Serano
RN, MScN
Emilie Serano is a Registered Nurse with a Master of Nursing from Charles Sturt University, with extensive experience in cardiology and smoking cessation. In 2021, she advanced into the role of Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), where she deepened her focus on research, education, patient outcomes, and health promotion. As an APN at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Emilie provides clinical leadership to the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation and manages the Smoking Cessation department. She has led numerous program enhancements, with a strong emphasis on patient education, evidence-informed practice, and quality improvement.
Julie Silas
RN
Julie Silas
Julie Silas
RN
Julie Silas graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and has been a Registered Nurse at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute since 2013. She spent nearly a decade providing bedside care to critically ill patients in the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit (ICCU), gaining deep expertise in acute cardiac care. In 2022, she transitioned to the Cardiology Referral Clinic, where she has played a key role in optimizing outpatient care pathways. Julie focuses on improving access to cardiology services by streamlining referral processes, reducing wait times, and promoting patient empowerment through education and engagement.
Mark Sochaniwskyj
Student
Mark Sochaniwskyj
Mark Sochaniwskyj
Student
Mark is a fourth year nursing student at Toronto Metropolitan University. Drawing from personal experience undergoing multiple open-heart surgeries, he has developed a strong interest in patient-oriented research, cardiovascular research, and care. His research interests also include health equity, cardiac care delivery, and patient safety initiatives. He will be a Summer Research Student at Sickkids Hospital in 2025 focused on adolescent medicine and transitions. He was also a research student at Michael Garron Hospital for 2 years. He has gained direct patient experience as a clinical extern on the cardiac and vascular surgery floor at Toronto General Hospital, as well as on a medicine unit at Michael Garron Hospital. Mark is actively involved in volunteer work with Big Brother Big Sister Toronto and Heart Valve Voice Canada.
Dawn Stacey
RN, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS, FAAN, FCAN, CON(C)
Dawn Stacey
Dawn Stacey
RN, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS, FAAN, FCAN, CON(C)
Distinguished Professor Dawn Stacey
School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Canada
Dr. Stacey is the Vice Dean Research in the Faculty of Health Sciences of University of Ottawa. She is the Co-Scientific Director of the Patient Decision Aids Research Group at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Her research uses co-production to develop, evaluate, and implement interventions to support patients and their families to be involved in healthcare decisions and manage cancer treatment related symptoms. With her outstanding and continuous accomplishments in research, she has received fellowships with the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC), Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (FCAHS), American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), and the Canadian Academy of Nursing (FCAN).