FACULTY OF NURSING | 1 FACULTY OF NURSING

ALUMNI connections

Bonnie FALL | WINTER 2015-16 Message From Your 2 Johnston, Alumni President Alumna Makes 3 a Difference BN’75 Across 4 Hope, help and healing: in 80 days Reconnecting After 6 One child at a time 10 Years Alumni Help Calgary 7 Homeless Upcoming Events 8 2 | FACULTY OF NURSING

Message from your alumni president Tyler Hume, BN ’13

his is an exciting time to be taking over the helm of the Faculty of Nursing Alumni as your T incoming president. In 2016, the turns 50 and there are many exciting initiatives on the horizon for both the university and the faculty. Alumni will be invited to join in these events and I hope many of you will take advantage of the opportunities to get reacquainted with the campus even if you haven’t been engaged for some time. In the faculty, we have had our own activities over the past year, including our annual spring luncheon and silent auction which was held at Heritage Park. For the past 23 years, we have celebrated future nurses and our own past with this event, with all proceeds going toward our student bursaries. We have some special things in mind for the 2016 version of the lunch and invite you to get involved. Stay tuned to the website (nursing. ucalgary.ca/alumni) for updates. I also had the privilege of attending a small gathering of alumni in the early spring, brought together by our dean Dianne Tapp, an alumna herself MN ’93, PhD ’97. Read more about this on page 4. As a young alum, it was interesting to learn the journey others have taken and the role their education in nursing has played. I invite you to become engaged with the alumni, either on our executive or on our “in development” mentorship initiative. You can email me at [email protected]. I hope to see you at an upcoming event. n

GET ENGAGED WITH ALUMNI, either on our executive or with our “in development” mentorship initiative. [email protected] Alumni president (and CARNA 2015 Rising Star Award recipient) Tyler Hume Photo: William Au Photography FACULTY OF NURSING | 3

From left, UCalgary president Elizabeth Cannon; Schumacher lecturer Bonnie Johnston; and Faculty of Nursing dean Dianne Tapp at October’s Marguerite Schumacher Memorial Alumni Lecture. Photo: Jae Im Alumna makes a diff erence Bonnie Johnston, BN ’75: 2015 Marguerite “There is no greater gift than knowing Schumacher Memorial Alumni Lecturer in some way you have contributed to making a difference The 2015 Marguerite Schumacher receive the coordinated and Memorial Alumni Lecturer, comprehensive help they require,” in a child’s life. ” Bonnie Johnston, BN ’75, Johnston says. She is proud of is an advocate for children. the Centre’s mission to provide Since beginning her career in an children and youth, who have aboriginal community in experienced abuse and trauma, northern , Johnston has with the support and treatment Johnston also holds a Master’s held increasingly responsible they need to heal and grow. degree in Health Services roles in the areas of public health, Johnston’s Schumacher Administration from the pediatric inpatient and critical presentation, “Hope, Help and . Her focus care, and support for vulnerable Healing: One Child at a Time,” is on continuous improvement of children, youth and families in focused on how her nursing outcomes for vulnerable children, the Child Protection system. education was the foundation for youth and families through It has culminated in her current her leadership as a child advocate collaboration, innovation and position as the Chief Executive and the development and work of leading practice. Offi cer of the Sheldon Kennedy the Centre. “I was valedictorian “There is no greater gift than Child Advocacy Centre where at our graduation in 1975 and knowing in some way you have she has been since the Centre the words I wrote and spoke contributed to making a diff erence opened in February 2013. then underscore the passion for in a child’s life. It fuels the passion, “The Centre is a powerful the work I do now: set yourself the accountability and the example of strong partnerships, no limitations. Reach out and commitment to always do better,” willing hearts and committed touch that which is special and she says. n experts who ensure abused meaningful to you. Find your children and their families corner of the sky!” 4 | FACULTY OF NURSING

Across Canada in 80 Days We have been reconnecting with small groups of alumni across the country in 2015. See where we’ve been and the great messages they have shared with us!

CALGARY - MARCH 26 TORONTO - APRIL 16 Diners savoured a delicious meal while dean Dianne Tapp updated the group 9 ALUMNI 9 ALUMNI on happenings at the campus, including Karen Mills, BN ’77, has worked The following recap of the Toronto the growth of the Faculty of Nursing and in Public Health her entire career and event is written by Kay Coholan, the work toward the goal of being one of recently transferred to the Infl uenza and BN ’12, who is back in Toronto and Canada’s top fi ve research universities by Rapid Response Team, vaccinating during working in the Emergency department UC’s 50th anniversary in 2016. infl uenza season and during outbreaks. at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dean Tapp also talked about the signifi cance The alumni met around a large table in the of engaging alumni. “Since we continue to side room of a cozy restaurant, a stone’s be wholly committed to the success of our throw from hospital row in downtown current and future students, we appreciate Toronto. Most attendees had never met hearing your personal story so that we may but common threads kept the conversation better understand the many paths alumni lively. From graduation rings to cherished travel after they graduate from nursing.” instructors and profs, eight nurses found This was the second alumni dinner in themselves reminiscing about their days Toronto and Premji’s was one of two spent learning the trade under a prairie familiar faces. Lindsay Manning, sky. Some had more in common than just BN ’12, who attended the alumni event their alma mater. Yuka Okada and Marian a second time to hear about her peers’ Fennessy were classmates who had never working roles, recently moved to Toronto met, both having completed their post- and is seeking a job that will rival her diploma BN online in 2009 in the former former position at Foothills Hospital on the distance program. They would have been Dianne Tapp, Karen Mills, Kate Wong, Medical Teaching Unit. Sandra Golding, Sheilagh Cook and Tyler Hume connected via their online Blackboard

posts only. Anne Zebarth, BN ’89, shared CALGARY her impression: “When I listened to the Farzana Premji, BN ’12 and newer graduates talking about their jobs Shannon Murray, BN ’14, and where they wanted to move their both profi ted from the opportunity to careers, I saw that the UC nursing program learn abroad at the University of Calgary continues to do a great job preparing campus in Qatar in the fi nal semester nurses to lead and use evidence to inform of their degree. They shared their their practice.” impressions of the cultural di erences of living and working in the Middle East. Though they had never previously met, Murray discovered that she and Aliya Tharani, BN ’11, work under the same roof, though on di erent units, at Sick Kids Hospital.

Maria Martens, Shannon Murray, Kaye Coholan, Dianne Tapp, Farzana Premji, Lindsay Manning, Anne Zebarth, Marian Fennessy and Yuka Okada

TOTONTO FACULTY OF NURSING | 5

Jananee Rasiah, Kate Wong, Laura Cuff , Dianne

Tapp, Anne Dmytryshyn and Aurang Khan EDMONTON

EDMONTON - MAY 8 VICTORIA - JUNE 12 6 ALUMNI 6 ALUMNI Alison Beaty, Shannon Rooney, Jaclyn Sing, Jessica Bottiglieri, Lucia Chu and Dianne Tapp Aurang Khan, BN ’11: “Nursing is so much more than I ever VANCOUVER - JUNE 13 VANCOUVER thought it would be. I am challenged every 6 ALUMNI day to lead people, to make decisions that impact patients and their families, and to Lucia Chu, BN ’09, works in an be a better person as well as a better nurse emergency department and on travel each day.” He is currently is a Unit Manager assignments throughout B.C.; she has (Hemodialysis Unit, Social workers, OT & PT) volunteered in Nigeria, the Philippines in Edmonton and is an advocate for more and Nepal. men in nursing. Shannon Rooney, BN ’13, Anne Dmytryshyn, BN ’04, works in Dermatologic Surgery and started is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Stollery the Family Nurse Practitioner program at PICU & PCICU and a Pediatric Advanced Life UBC this fall. Support instructor; she iscurrently enrolled at the University of Toronto and will be part Jessica Bottiglieri, BN ’08: of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Class “While in nursing school I knew that by of 2016. completing this degree program that it would open up many opportunities, but I didn’t know it could open up this many. HALIFAX - 19 MAY My degree transferred to a di erent Miriam Kiwilsza, Janice Thiessen, Coby Tschanz, province and I was able to complete a Maria Martens, Sebastien Pisterzi, Dianne Tapp 5 ALUMNI and Bruce Tuff ord specialty program paid by my employer VICTORIA Colette Sullivan, MN ’94: and work my dream job as an emergency “It was great to reconnect with U of C room nurse. I have also had the opportunity nursing colleagues and see how each to work with fi lm and TV crews as a of us, despite the broad directions we have consultant as well as a special abilities taken, are still passionate about nursing extra on set.” and are working to advance the science, scope and practice of nursing in the roles we are in.” KELOWNA - JUNE 22 8 ALUMNI Amie Liddle, MN ’05, is the Administration Director of Foothills Medical Centre and is completing a PhD focusing on patient concerns in the health care system.

Our Kelowna alumni are camera shy, but it was

a great evening in a beautiful city! KELOWNA 6 | FACULTY OF NURSING Reconnecting after Partner College's 10 Years Class of 2004

In December 2004, 42 students from the • Casual RN at Urgent Care in care down pat, a background University of Calgary Bachelor of Nursing Calgary; completing the Master in oncology and now, in-depth of Science in Nursing program knowledge of pediatric nursing. program, Medicine Hat College (MHC) at the University of Northern BC, Give us 40 years and we will start site, celebrated their graduation. On the focusing on sepsis in emergency working on geriatric nursing.” weekend of June 19-21, 2015, 14 of those nursing. • Married their last year of nursing school, Thomas is at ICU at UCalgary alumni gathered at Medicine Sherry Jans “I am constantly Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary Hat Lodge for a 10-year reunion planned amazed at the diverse routes and Madeleine has not left the by Jenna Watson, Valerie Mutchsler and nursing can take us.” Peter Lougheed Centre since her • Was second nurse hired in fi nal preceptorship on labour Melissa Egan. Spouses and kids joined the Medicine Hat Primary Care and delivery. in as alumni got reacquainted. Activities Network with a focus on diabetes, included a casual Friday evening followed COPD, hypertension, obesity Bev Rhodes “I am proud of the by Saturday’s semi-formal party, emceed and dyslipidemia; an educator of opportunities to support advanced chronic pain for new employees. nursing practice through my by Thomas Hamilton (who also emceed profession.” the 2004 grad), and a tour of MHC by Leslie Jackson • Program Director, Informatics Leana Forsyth who now instructs there. • Currently taking the nurse Competency and Practice refresher program. Standards within the Chief Medical Information Offi ce. NURSING GRADUATES IN ATTENDANCE Lucille Grandy • Current manager, WeCare in Nicole Kruithof Jenna Watson “After 10 years, my heart is still Medicine Hat. • Now living in Houston and completely in the profession of nursing and I love my job.” preparing for the NCLEX. • Seminar Instructor, Lab Instructor, Simulation Lead, Lincoln Taylor “It’s been quite Lab Coordinator and course lead for the community a ride so far!” Leana Forsyth health course at UAlberta’s BScN After Degree Program • A nurse practitioner employed • A member of Faculty of Nursing in Camrose. by a family physician and working at MHC. to full scope in primary care. Val Mutschler Jacqueline Lester • Since 2008, CARNA Regional Coordinator, South Zone. Dawn Durksen • Clinical educator for Public Health • Manager at St Joseph’s Hospice for AHS South Zone- East. n Melissa Egan Care in Medicine Hat. • Acute care at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. Madeleine & Thomas Hamilton Shelley Storozuk “Nursing is a career that has been “Between the two of us, we have the adaptable to my evolving life and gives me great joy.” wonder of birth covered, intensive FACULTY OF NURSING | 7

From left: Teigen Welker, Alpha House outreach worker; Jonathan Paterson; Krystle Lawson; and Trish Dribnenki

Alumnae KrystleLawson, “It’s especially important for our clients to have a safe BN ’13 and Amanda Loates, place to store their medications, job applications, BN ’10, are asking Calgarians to identifi cation and other personal items including their donate new or used backpacks so the memories and mementos,” says Lawson, a forensic homeless have a safe place to store and outreach nurse. “Having a backpack makes it easier for carry their belongings. As mental health them to keep track of their things and gives them nurses with Alberta Health Services, the two, a sense of security that their belongings are safe.” together with psychiatric outreach nurse Trish Dribnenki, connect this population with resources they need. They have Nursing Instructor Kara Sealock, who taught Lawson become familiar and trusted faces to some of the 3,500 people estimated to in the undergraduate program, is not surprised by both be homeless in the city. nurses’ community work and the diff erence alumni are making in the city and beyond. “Krystle was an exemplary “I was homeless for about two-and-a-half years. Without my backpack student and is a phenomenal nurse,” she says. “I am I would have nothing because my things would get stolen or lost,” says moved by her and Amanda’s passion to help others.” n Jonathon Paterson, a former homeless client. “It gave me a great sense of security to know that everything I had was safely tucked away in one place.” Original story: Alberta Health Services Features story, 25 August 2015

While crisscrossing the country this year, we ARE YOU marvelled at our alumni: where you have been INTERESTED and what you are doing. Your experiences, whether as a new practitioner or a seasoned IN MENTORING pro, is valuable and could make all the di erence to another up-and-coming RN. A STUDENT If you are interested in participating in OR FELLOW a mentoring program, please contact Karen Cook at [email protected] and we will ALUM? share our initial ideas with you. Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Senate Room, Hotel Alma Reinventing the Modern Family Speaker: Nicole Letourneau

For more information 2014-2015 please contact us:

Maria Martens Faculty of Nursing T +1.403.210.6109 Food for Thought: The Faculty of Nursing E [email protected]

Breakfast Series 2015 - 2016 nursing.ucalgary.ca Learn how nursing research makes a di erence to our quality of life! The Faculty Nicole Letourneau is a full professor in the Faculty of Nursing and holds the Palix/ @ucalgarynursing of Nursing Breakfast Series is made up ACHF Chair in Parent-Infant Mental Health. of four annual lectures, meant to inform Her community-based program of research ucalgarynursing the community about innovations in nursing explores parenting, attachment and child development in the context of family violence, research and nursing knowledge around maternal depression and substance abuse and a variety of topics. Everyone is welcome seeks to develop evidence to guide best practices in parent-child support and intervention. She to come for breakfast and enjoy an is the fi rst UCalgary nursing faculty member informative talk, followed by a Q & A. to be named a fellow of the Canadian Academy For more information, visit of Health Sciences. In 2015, she received the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta’s award nursing.ucalgary.ca/breakfast-series for Excellence in Nursing Research.

Sunday, May 29, 2016 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. University of Calgary

Compassion Under Contemporary Photo: Jean Malek Conditions: A dialogue with leading 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. scholars and community leaders Margaret Atwood Keynote Speaker and Q & A

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Intermission followed by book signing

Noon - 4 p.m. MANAGING EDITOR Breakout Sessions and Panel Discussions: Karen Cook • Compassion in Health Care CREATIVE DIRECTOR Wilma Olivier-Walden • Compassion in the Classroom • Compassion in the Community DESIGNER John Short CONTRIBUTORS Visit nursing.ucalgary.ca for Kaye Coholan, BN ’12 more details, coming early in 2016! Tyler Hume, BN ’13