Speakers / Panelists
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Oral Posters
May 30, 2026 from 2:35pm EDT to 3:05pm EDT -
Provincial Optimization of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
May 30, 2026 from 9:50am EDT to 10:20am EDT -
Evolving the Cardiovascular Toolkit: Specialized Nurse Practitioner Practice in Cardiovascular Surgery
May 29, 2026 from 11:05am EDT to 11:35am EDT -
Streamlining care between inpatient cardiovascular care and community cardiac rehab in Saskatoon; the nurses role
May 29, 2026 from 2:50pm EDT to 3:20pm EDT -
Provincial Optimization of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
May 30, 2026 from 9:50am EDT to 10:20am EDT -
Streamlining care between inpatient cardiovascular care and community cardiac rehab in Saskatoon; the nurses role
May 29, 2026 from 2:50pm EDT to 3:20pm EDT -
When the Heart Grows Weary: A Journey Through Heart Failure
May 29, 2026 from 9:45am EDT to 10:45am EDT -
Posters I-J
May 30, 2026 from 1:10pm EDT to 1:30pm EDT -
Poster Presentations A-C
May 29, 2026 from 10:45am EDT to 11:05am EDT -
Posters D-E
May 29, 2026 from 1:10pm EDT to 1:40pm EDT -
Management of Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction in Women
May 30, 2026 from 3:10pm EDT to 3:40pm EDT -
Streamlining care between inpatient cardiovascular care and community cardiac rehab in Saskatoon; the nurses role
May 29, 2026 from 2:50pm EDT to 3:20pm EDT -
What do patients and caregivers need when navigating brain -heart health decisions? An explanatory sequential mixed methods study
May 29, 2026 from 11:05am EDT to 11:35am EDT -
Posters D-E
May 29, 2026 from 1:10pm EDT to 1:40pm EDT -
Posters D-E
May 29, 2026 from 1:10pm EDT to 1:40pm EDT -
Cardiac Operating room nurses and multidisciplinary team as the perioperative leader.
May 29, 2026 from 2:50pm EDT to 3:20pm EDT -
Opening Plenary
May 29, 2026 from 8:45am EDT to 9:45am EDT -
Streamlining care between inpatient cardiovascular care and community cardiac rehab in Saskatoon; the nurses role
May 29, 2026 from 2:50pm EDT to 3:20pm EDT -
Evaluation of Quality of Life for Patients Who Participate in a Heart Failure Specific Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program
May 29, 2026 from 12:15pm EDT to 12:45pm EDT -
Posters D-E
May 29, 2026 from 1:10pm EDT to 1:40pm EDT
Aaron Antonio, NP
Aaron Antonio, NP
Aaron Antonio, NP
Aaron Antonio is a Structural Heart Nurse Practitioner at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, with over a decade of cardiovascular nursing experience across critical care and advanced cardiology practice. He provides longitudinal care for patients with complex structural heart disease, supporting them from initial clinic assessment and diagnostic workup through procedural care and post-procedural follow-up, helping ensure seamless coordination across outpatient and inpatient settings in collaboration with the structural heart team.
Aaron is passionate about improving timely access to transcatheter structural interventions through Nurse Practitioner-led clinics focused on comprehensive assessment, diagnostic coordination, guideline-directed medical optimization, and patient education. At St. Michael’s Hospital, he has contributed to refining same-day discharge criteria and post-procedural conduction management pathways, following transcatheter interventions, and was involved in implementing Canada’s first high-efficiency “10-TAVI-day” initiative. He collaborates closely with heart failure and cardiology teams to support integrated care pathways.
He is currently developing a structural heart toolkit to support nurses and Nurse Practitioners in the assessment and management of complex structural heart disease and emerging transcatheter therapies.
Valerie Barrette, RN, MScN
Valerie Barrette, RN, MScN
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.
Barbara Bailey NP, MN, CCN(C)
Barbara Bailey NP, MN, CCN(C)
Barbara Bailey NP, MN, CCN(C)
Barbara Bailey graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) from McMaster University. Upon graduating, she worked across the United States as a registered nurse (RN) in the intensive care department. Barb returned to Canada in 2001 and joined the University Health Network (UHN). She began her UHN career as a staff nurse in the cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit. In 2007, she transitioned from RN to Nurse Practitioner (NP) after completing her Master of Nursing, Acute Care NP program from the University of Toronto. Barb has developed 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), CONNECT, Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada (NPAC), Registered Nurses’ of Ontario (RNAO) and Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and is the current Past 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 and has published in the Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership and in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology (CJC) Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease. More recently, she was awarded the 2025 Mae Gallant Cardiovascular Nursing Leadership Excellence Award, with the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses. Along with the Sprott Surgery (UHN), Exceptional Interprofessional Contributions surgical patient experience award, June 13 2025.
Sara Buckingham RN, BN
Sara Buckingham RN, BN
Sara Buckingham RN, BN
Sara Buckingham graduated from the University of Calgary in 2004 with a Bachelor of Nursing degree. She has over 20 years of experience working on the inpatient cardiology unit at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, where she developed a strong foundation in cardiovascular care. For the past five years, she has worked as a Cardiac Nurse Clinician in cardiac rehabilitation, supporting patients through recovery after cardiac events. Sara is grateful for the opportunity to help provide hope, education, and support to individuals and families in their heart health journey.
Rozina Chaube, RN
Rozina Chaube, RN
Rozina Chaube, RN
Rozina Chaube is a registered nurse and Lead for Provincial Clinical Initiatives within the System Planning and Access portfolio at Cardiac Services BC (CSBC). She is the Provincial Clinical Lead for CSBC’s Coronary Artery Disease Population Group. Rozina completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at British Columbia Institute of Technology in 2011 and is currently completing her Master of Nursing at the University of Regina. She brings over a decade of cardiovascular clinical experience, including nine years working in telemetry and coronary care units as RN and Interim Patient Care Coordinator. She later transitioned into ambulatory cardiac care, supporting patients through roles in the Heart Function Clinic and Cardiac Rehabilitation. Her work focuses on advancing patient-centered cardiovascular services and system-level clinical improvement across the province.
Ashley Cheveldayoff, Cardiac Nurse Clinician, RN, BSN, BScKin, MPH
Ashley Cheveldayoff, Cardiac Nurse Clinician, RN, BSN, BScKin, MPH
Ashley Cheveldayoff, Cardiac Nurse Clinician, RN, BSN, BScKin, MPH
Ashley has worked in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Chronic Disease Management for 12 years. She previously held roles as a Diabetes Educator Nurse Clinician and in Medicine Nursing. She has a strong passion for upstream health care and secondary preventive medicine. She is grateful to work within Chronic Disease Management, helping individuals live healthy lives after a diagnosis of a chronic condition and promoting self-management through knowledge and empowerment. She has a special interest in quality improvement, strategic planning, and targeted measures and outcomes. Ashley has also served as a part-time Clinical Faculty Instructor with the University of Regina SCBScN Nursing Program for the past five years.
Ashley Demkey, RN, CCN (C), BScN, BKin
Ashley Demkey, RN, CCN (C), BScN, BKin
Ashley Demkey, RN, CCN (C), BScN, BKin
Ashley Demkey, RN, CCN (C), BScN, BKin is a Nurse Clinician in Acute Inpatient Cardiology at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Prior to her career in nursing, Ashley completed her Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Saskatchewan in 2012 where she developed a passion for health promotion and primary prevention. After finishing her Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Saskatchewan in 2014, she worked as a registered nurse on the acute inpatient cardiology ward before transition into the Nurse Clinician role. She brings a strong clinical foundation from her experience as a bedside RN, combined with a system-focused approach to patient care, education, and quality improvement. In her current role, she supports evidence-based practice, staff education, and the delivery of high-quality cardiac care for complex inpatient populations. Outside of her professional life, Ashley loves spending time with her family and is involved in the community by coaching her daughters’ soccer teams and encouraging the next generation to be involved in team sports to promote long term health and wellness.
Amie Gayle – RN, BSc (Hons), BScN, MN, CCN(C)
Amie Gayle – RN, BSc (Hons), BScN, MN, CCN(C)
Amie Gayle – RN, BSc (Hons), BScN, MN, CCN(C)
Amie Gayle is a Registered Nurse with a strong commitment to improving patient outcomes and experiences through the use of evidence-based care. She holds a Master of Nursing- Leadership and Professional Nursing Practice from Western University (UWO) and a Cardiovascular Nursing Certificate from Conestoga College. In 2022, Amie earned her CNA certification in Cardiovascular Nursing. She currently works at Kawartha Cardiology Clinic in the Heart Function Clinic, providing outpatient management with the aim of reducing emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Her prior clinical experiences include working in emergency departments, remote First Nation Communities, and outpatient cardiovascular testing. Amie is passionate about continual learning and translating knowledge into practical application.
Semhal Gessese, RN, BScN, MScN, PhD Student
Semhal Gessese, RN, BScN, MScN, PhD Student
Semhal Gessese, RN, BScN, MScN, PhD Student
Semhal Gessese is a first-year doctoral student at the University of Ottawa’s School of Nursing, supervised by Dr. Krystina B. Lewis. She is a recipient of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Brain Canada Personnel Award for Black Scholars. Her doctoral research focuses on the co-development of a culturally tailored patient decision support intervention to help African, Caribbean, and Black communities make informed decisions regarding brain-heart health and promote equitable shared decision-making. Alongside her academic work, she works as a Registered Nurse in the Cardiac Surgery Unit at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
Freya Kelly, RN, B.Sc.N, MScN
Freya Kelly, RN, B.Sc.N, MScN
Freya Kelly, RN, B.Sc.N, MScN
Freya Kelly is the Advanced Practice Nurse for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s Cardiac Supportive and Palliative Care Program, Cardiac Amyloidosis Clinic, and Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) Clinic. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Ottawa.
Freya has developed a strong interest in project management and is committed to identifying innovative ways to translate evidence-based guidelines and interventions into clinical practice to enhance patient care.
Her research interests include cardiovascular nursing research, cardio-oncology, women’s heart health, patient self-management tools and resources, and the implementation of evidence-based practices.
Kara Leffler, RN, BScN, CCN(C)
Kara Leffler, RN, BScN, CCN(C)
Kara Leffler, RN, BScN, CCN(C)
Kara Leffler, RN, BScN, is a Cardiac Nurse Clinician with the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Royal University Hospital (RUH) in Saskatoon. She brings over 15 years of experience in cardiac nursing, having worked extensively on both the cardiac unit and the cardiac short stay unit as a bedside registered nurse. Kara also served as a Nurse Clinician on the cardiology unit for 3 years before transitioning into her current role in 2025.
She is deeply committed to patient education and is passionate about supporting individuals as they navigate their recovery and ongoing care following a cardiac event.
Dr. Krystina Lewis, RN, MN, PhD, CCN(C)
Dr. Krystina Lewis, RN, MN, PhD, CCN(C)
Dr. 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 an active member of the CCCN for more than 15 years and currently serves as the Director of Publications on the CCCN Board of Directors. After a decade of cardiovascular nursing practice, she has built a dynamic program of research dedicated to strengthening how patients and the public engage in healthcare decisions. As Co‑Director of the Ottawa Patient Decision Aids Group, she leads collaborative work that brings together people with lived and living experience, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to co‑produce evidence that is meaningful, relevant, and ready for real‑world use. This work is made possible by the support of leading national funders, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Canada First Research Excellence Fund through the Brain‑Heart Interconnectome, and a Heart & Stroke New Investigator Award (2024-2027).
Meghan Masztalar, RN, MScN(c), CCN(C)
Meghan Masztalar, RN, MScN(c), CCN(C)
Meghan Masztalar, RN, MScN(c), CCN(C)
Meghan Masztalar graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2020 from the University of Ottawa. Since becoming a registered nurse, she has gained five years of bedside experience on a Cardiac Care Unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital. Through her clinical work, Meghan has developed a passion for cardiovascular nursing, equitable care, and patient involvement in treatment decisions. This interest led her to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Ottawa’s School of Nursing under the supervision of Krystina Lewis. From her academic work, Meghan has been given opportunities to participate in research within the Brain-Heart Interconnectome program, where she continues to learn about the connections between brain-heart health. Her thesis work focuses on treatment decision-making in aortic stenosis, specifically examining how patients’ cognitive status is incorporated into the decision-making process by healthcare providers.
Kristen Neilipovitz, MA, BScN, RN
Kristen Neilipovitz, MA, BScN, RN
Kristen Neilipovitz, MA, BScN, RN
Kristen Neilipovitz is a dedicated registered nurse, currently the Manager of the Cardiac Operating Room at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. With a diploma in Nursing from the Cité and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Ottawa, she also holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from the University of Guelph. Over her 28-year career, Kristen has specialized in critical care nursing and has held various leadership roles at both the Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Known for her compassionate leadership style, Kristen prioritizes kindness and ensures that her teams have a voice in decision-making. She takes pride in having collaborated with numerous talented nurses and allied health professionals, fostering an environment of trust and collaboration. Throughout her career, she has implemented systems of shared governance, enhancing team dynamics, and patient care. As she approaches the latter part of her career, Kristen is passionate about mentoring the next generation of healthcare leaders. She embraces openness and transparency, sharing her experiences and insights to empower future nursing professionals.
Rody Pike, RN, BN, MN, NP
Rody Pike, RN, BN, MN, NP
Rody Pike, RN, BN, MN, NP
Rodolfo Pike is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in St. John’s, NL, specializing in heart function care. A graduate of the General Hospital School of Nursing (1993), he later earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing from Memorial University and completed the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Toronto. With extensive experience in critical care and cardiac education, he now practices in a busy heart function clinic. Nationally, Rody served on the Executive Board of the Canadian Heart Failure Society (CHFS) and Co-Chairs its Nursing and Allied Health Committee. He also contributes to the Canadian Heart Failure Guidelines update and collaborates with Heart and Stroke Canada on initiatives such as the National Heart Failure Action Plan, RASI, and the virtual cardiac rehab toolkit. A respected leader, presenter, and author, Rody is the recipient of the Inaugural National Malcolm Arnold Award for mentorship and service in heart failure in a Canadian landscape and most recently was inducted in the Fellows program with the Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada (FNPAC) for outstanding contribution and commitment to advancing the Nurse Practitioner Profession in Canada.
Ashley Salagubas, RN, BSN, CCN(C)
Ashley Salagubas, RN, BSN, CCN(C)
Ashley Salagubas, RN, BSN, CCN(C)
Ashley is a Registered Nurse with 20 years of clinical experience and a specialized focus in cardiovascular care. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) from the University of Saskatchewan in 2007 and developed a strong interest in cardiology early in her career while working as a ward nurse. Since 2017, Ashley has worked as a Cardiac Nurse Clinician within Saskatoon’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, where she focuses on chronic disease management and secondary prevention. Her work centers on patient education, risk factor modification, and supporting self-management in individuals living with cardiovascular disease. Ashley holds Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Certification in Cardiovascular Nursing and is committed to advancing evidence-based care and improving patient outcomes in cardiovascular health.
Julie Sawyer, RN, BScN
Julie Sawyer, RN, BScN
Julie Sawyer, RN, BScN
Julie Sawyer, RN, BScN (She/Her) is a Care Facilitator in the Division of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. She has over 17 years of cardiac nursing experience, including 13 years on the post-operative cardiac surgery unit. Since becoming a Care Facilitator in 2021, Julie leads and supports several quality improvement initiatives focused on improving access to cardiovascular rehabilitation, optimizing prehabilitation for elective cardiac surgery patients, and enhancing care transitions. She is passionate about patient education, strengthening partnerships, and advancing heart health initiatives, including work focused on Inuit heart health.