Geriatric Education Series

Timah Black-Geisterfer has been a nurse for over 30 years. She began her career in Long Term Care as a registered Nursing Assistant and team leader. After graduating from nursing school and receiving her registration, Timah worked in various acute care settings including oncology, nephrology and cardiology. Timah spent 8 years abroad working in an ambulatory clinic in Moscow, Russia. This unique experience gave her insight into culture perspectives in health care. For the past 15 years, Timah has worked on both the inpatient unit and with the Outreach program giving care to the elderly coping with dementia. Her present position as Outreach Psychiatry allows her to enhance the lived experience of individuals with dementia by building capacity with staff, offering support to families and responding to those with dementia who are experiencing distress through assessment and treatment.

Chantal completed a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Ottawa. She has been a Geriatric Assessor with the Geriatric Assessment Outreach Team of the Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario (RGPEO) since 2015.  Prior to this, she was a case manager with the previously named CCAC and worked as an occupational therapist and clinical coordinator for an in and outpatient rehabilitation program.  Chantal has an interest in continuing education and broadening her knowledge in geriatrics; her professional career includes participation in various initiatives through the RPEGO, guest teaching at the University of Ottawa and being a research assistant for the University of Sherbrook.

Ioanna has worked at The Ottawa Hospital since 1999, primarily in the Emergency Department. Ioanna spent 12 years a nurse educator providing education and support to TOH nurses within the Emergency, Internal Medicine and Geriatrics.

Currently, as the program manager for the RGPEO, Ioanna leads and supports the Geriatric Assessment Outreach Team and Central Intake for Specialized Geriatric Services (Geriatric Medicine). Ioanna also supports many geriatric initiatives and advocates for improved assessment and management of older adults in the community. Her primary interest is in disseminating geriatric knowledge and developing new standards to enhance geriatric care.

Joanna is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor’s in science of nursing from the University of Ottawa and Algonquin College collaborative program. She currently works as the Centralized Intake Coordinator with Geriatric Psychiatry Community Services of Ottawa (GPCSO). She previously worked in a variety of settings including geriatric rehabilitation in complex continuing care, long-term care, as well as community assisted living services for high-risk seniors. She is also Gerontological Nurse Certified.

Louise has been a registered nurse since 1992. She has worked as a Public Health Nurse and a Care Coordinator for the former CCAC.  And for 15 years, she worked as a Geriatric Assessor for the Geriatric Assessment Outreach Team.  Currently, she is the Care Facilitator for the Queensway Carleton Geriatric Day Hospital.

Dr. Lori Della Malva obtained her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with Neuropsychology as her area of competence, in 1990. She joined the Ottawa Hospital in 1991 and over the course of the years, has worked on various in-patient and out-patient services. Currently, she provides in-patient services across all units at the Civic Campus, including University of Ottawa Heart Institute and is the Neuropsychologist for both the Geriatric Day Hospital and for the Deep Brain Stimulation implant surgery program. She is also a Clinical Professor at the University of Ottawa.

Cheryl is a Geriatric Assessor with the Geriatric Assessment Outreach Team of the Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario.  She has been with the team for over 10 years, and, prior to this, she worked as a physiotherapist at the Queensway Carleton Hospital.  Cheryl completed her Bachelors of Science in Physiotherapy Degree at McGill University in 2002 and has had experience working in a variety of clinical settings such as acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, retirement homes and long-term care facilities.  In her current role, Cheryl enjoys helping community-dwelling seniors access health care and community services that will support them to remain as independent as possible.

Courteney Munch graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, completed her Advanced Studies in Critical Care Nursing Certificate in 2017, and completed her Master of Science in Nursing in 2023.  Courteney has worked at The Ottawa Hospital since 2007 in various roles including as a Registered Nurse in Medical Oncology, Intensive Care and Post-Anesthesia Care, as the Nurse Educator in Peri-anesthesia and Intensive Care, a Corporate Nurse Educator within Nursing Professional Practice, and as a Nurse Specialist with the Geriatric Medicine Consult Team (GMCT).

Currently, as the Advanced Practice Nurse for the Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) team and the Geriatric Medicine Consult Team (GMCT) of the Ottawa Hospital, Courteney shares her knowledge and expertise in the assessment and management of frail older adults across the spectrum of care, leads the GEM and GMCT team members, and supports the Geriatric Medicine team to continue to lead and advocate for exemplary care for older adults.