2025 Nominees & Winners

Commitment to Clinical Education

Winner – Michael Ivany – North Bay Regional Health Centre

Starting in forensic mental health practice in North Bay in 2007, Michael supervises multiple OT and OTA students annually. In forensic practice there is space to support people in what matters most to them at an often difficult time in their lives. Balancing individual intervention towards work, leisure or self-care goals with support through psychotherapy and group work there’s enough diversity to challenge and find motivation. Michael continues to engage with the regulatory college as well as provide frequent student placements which together provide moments of reflection, growth, practice enhancement with new initiatives and allows for connections with future colleagues. Michael continues to express gratitude for the chance to be a part of preceptorship.

Nominees:

• Michael Ivany – North Bay Regional Health Centre
• Lindsay Johnson – Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
• Stephanie Secondi – THRIVE Child Development Centre
• Justine Slewidge – THRIVE Child Development Centre
• Ashley Mason – Ramsey Lake Health Centre and Kirkwood Place
• Amanda Longe – Lake of the Woods District Hospital
• Stephanie Chu – FIREFLY
• Sarah Club – FIREFLY
• Saudia Jabar – Ontario Health at Home
• Kyra Michel – Ontario Health at Home
• Val Waiser – Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
• Valerie Fecteau – St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre Sudbury

Innovative Preceptor Award

Winner – Nina Vendetti – North Bay Regional Health Centre 

I attended Western University for my Bachelor of Health Sciences and then headed to Queen University to complete my Masters in Occupational therapy. I have worked at the North Bay Regional Health Centre for 14  years where we serve the specialized dementia care population and those with concurrent disorders. The small regional program is located in Sudbury, ON where I moved with my husband and started a life together. We have three daughters and two dogs and live on a small farm north of Sudbury in Blezzard Valley. Working in mental health was not where I thought I would end up, but is certainly where my heart is. The special groups of people I serve have taught me many life lessons, mostly to be grateful and present. I hope that students come here and learn that dementia and mental illness is not as daunting as it is made out to be, that with awareness and education, the stigma will decrease.

Nominees:

• Nina Vendetti – North Bay Regional Health Centre
• Monique Jardine – North Bay Regional Health Centre

Interprofessional Collaborator

Winner – Kristi MacWilliam – Lake of the Woods District Hospital 

Kristi is an Occupational Therapist at Lake of the Woods District Hospital. In her current role she works as a part of an interdisciplinary acute care team, supporting individuals on their journey to a safe and fulfilling discharge home by enabling increased participation in meaningful activity after acute illness, injury, or surgery. Prior to transitioning to acute care, Kristi worked as a pediatric Occupational Therapist for 4 years at FIREFLY, where she provided a variety of school-based and community-based services to children and youth ages 0-21 around the Kenora region and surround First Nation communities.

Nominee:

• Kirsti MacWilliam – Lake of the Woods District Hospital

Northern Ambassador

Winner – Kate Stadnyk – One Kids Place

Kate Stadnyk has been working in Northern Ontario working as an Occupational Therapist for 20 years.  Not from the North, she started her career in Sault Ste. Marie after participation in the northern studies stream of McMaster.  In 2008 she relocated to North Bay to work for One Kids Place where she has been for 17 years now.  Kate also liaises with preceptors, students and universities in her role as the OT-Clinical Learning Liaison with NOSM’s rehabilitation sciences program.  Kate cherishes the lifestyle benefits to living in the north and enjoys sharing this with students encouraging them to embrace every recreational and clinical opportunity during their placement time in the north. She has taken many students over the years and will continue to do so as these experiences continue to rejuvenate her passion for the profession and clinical education.

Nominees: 

• Kate Stadnyk – One Kids Place
• Erica Ogilvie – Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre

Commitment to Clinical Education

Winner – Sandhya Aiyer – Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre 

With over 9 years of practice, I have refined my skills in various diverse environments from India to Ontario. I have been practicing in Northwest Ontario for over 4 years and hold a deep passion to provide holistic and evidence-based care for my patients here. Practicing in a rural setting, I have learnt to navigate the complexities of healthcare challenges-limited access to services, geographical isolation and diverse patient needs over the years.  The challenges have only amplified the value of my work and I am committed to continue providing expert rehabilitation services to the community where such services are vital yet scarce. My advanced training and certifications include: Certified in Mulligan-Mobilization with movement Manual Therapy, Certified in Neurodynamic solutions for upper and lower quadrant, Clinically specialized and experienced with special interest in treating spine related conditions and pain using Mckenzie MDT Therapy, Certified in Mckenzie MDT Part A and B, Certified in Level 1 and 2 of Concussion management, Certified in Non internal pelvic floor therapy, Clinical preceptor for student placements through NOSM.

Nominees:

• Sandhya Aiyer – Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre
• Alec St. Pierre – Summit Physiotherapy Performance
• Julie Lo – St. Joseph’s Hospital
• Denise Pare – Sensenbrenner Hospital
• Derek Debassige – Manitoulin Physio Centre
• Deanna Sullivan – Sioux Lookout First Nations Healthy Authority (Red Lake Satelilite Office)
• Penny Jacobs – NEO Kids Children Treatment Centre
• Ashley Jewell – Integro Physiotherapy

Innovative Preceptor Award

Winner – Alexa Tipper – Manitoulin Physio Centre

Alexa is a physiotherapist who was born and raised on Manitoulin Island. After completing her Master’s degree at Western University in 2019, Alexa returned home to Northern Ontario, where she now provides home care services within Manitoulin’s seven Indigenous communities through her employment at Manitoulin Physio Centre (MPC). Alexa is also the lead of MPC’s persistent pain program, and is proud to be a recurring clinical presenter at Ngwaagan Gamig Recovery Centre. Alexa enjoys making the most of life on Manitoulin through hiking, hunting, paddling, and managing the flower farm she and her wife own together. Alexa is incredibly honored to receive this award and hopes to continue sharing the wonders of the north with students through preceptorship for the rest of her career.

Nominee: 

Alexa Tipper – Manitoulin Physio Centre

Interprofessional Collaborator

Winner – Sarah Jones – THRIVE Child Development Centre

I am Sarah Jones, I am a Physiotherapist in Sault Ste. Marie. I work in pediatrics at THRIVE Child Development Centre and have for the past 15 years, working out of our Sault Ste. Marie, Elliot Lake and Blind River offices. I have had a variety of students over the years through NOSM placements, International and Physiotherapy Assistant programs. I enjoy ensuring each unique learner gets a full experience of what pediatric physiotherapy has to offer as I can incorporate early intervention, school based therapy and wheelchair seating in one placement in hopes to encourage them to pursue a career in pediatric physiotherapy.

Nominee: 

• Sarah Jones – THRIVE Child Development Centre

Northern Ambassador

Winner – Tyler Neil – Lake of the Woods District Hospital 

Tyler is a Physiotherapist working at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora, ON. He provides care in several areas of the hospital including in outpatients, inpatients, and immediate post-surgical care for those receiving orthopedics surgeries. Tyler has been a Physiotherapist for 3 years and is proud to serve his hometown community.

Nominee:

• Tyler Neil – Lake of the Woods District Hospital

Commitment to Clinical Education

Winner – Susan Coulter – Children’s Treatment Centre

Susan Coulter is a registered Speech-Language Pathologist in the Preschool Speech and Language (PSL) Program in Thunder Bay since 2002 working at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit and Children’s Centre Thunder Bay and has provided services in: Thunder Bay, Murillo, Nipigon, and Greenstone. Susan participated in the Nitam Giigidowin: community engagement demonstration project from 2010-2012 presenting posters at the American Speech and Hearing Association convention in 2011 and the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (now SAC) convention in 2012. She participated in the Motor Speech Pathway clinical research study and is a member of the Motor Speech community of practice in Ontario. Susan is an Assistant Clinical Professor (Adjunct) in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University and Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Speech Language Pathology at the University of Toronto. Susan has been a clinical educator to a number of SLP and Communicative Disorders Assistant students.

Nominees: 

• Susan Coulter – Children’s Treatment Centre
• Brenda Liddle – Huntsville District Memorial Hospital
• Allana Gowan – South Muskoka Memorial Hospital
• Bethany McKinley-Young – FIREFLY

Innovative Preceptor Award

Winner – Bethany McKinley-Young – FIREFLY

My name is Bethany McKinley-Young, and I am a speech-language pathologist, living and working in Northwestern Ontario. I grew up in Ottawa, and moved to Halifax in 2015 to pursue my undergraduate and masters’ degrees, before moving to Kenora in 2022 with my partner. From a young age, I have been passionate about working with underserved or under-resourced communities, which is what led me to pursue a position at FIREFLY. Through a partnership between FIREFLY and the Kenora Chiefs Advisory, I work with Indigenous children and youth, providing services to clients in their homes, schools and daycares. It is important to me to provide family- and client-centered care, and I enjoy meeting clients and families in their communities, and working with them and other professionals to develop wholistic service plans. Outside of work, I enjoy swimming, reading and spending time outdoors with my friends and family.

Nominee:

• Bethany McKinley-Young – FIREFLY

Northern Ambassador

Winner – Karen Figliomeni – Superior Speech Services

Karen Figliomeni is the Sole Proprietor and Service Provider of Superior Speech Services located in Schreiber, Ontario. Karen has been providing speech-language pathology services to clients of all ages and disorders along the north shore of Lake Superior for over 30 years. She is also a part-time Professor for the Educational Support Program at Confederation College. Karen loves being a Preceptor for NOSM SLP students so that she can share her passion for both her profession and the area she lives in. Karen enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time with friends and family.

Nominee:

• Karen Figliomeni – Superior Speech Services