Geriatric Education Series

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.  Chantal also recently worked a research assistant for the University of Sherbrook. She has experience working as an occupational therapist, clinical coordinator and case manager in a variety of clinical settings such as a rehabilitation center and in the community.  In her current role, Chantal enjoys helping community-dwelling seniors optimize their health and access community services that will support them to remain in their homes.

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.

Jennifer is an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) working at The Ottawa Hospital in the Division of Geriatrics. She started her specialization in Geriatrics as a Geriatric Emergency Management Nurse conducting targeted geriatric assessments in the Emergency Department and connecting at risk older adults to further specialized geriatric care and services in the community. Next, she joined the In-patient Geriatric Medicine Consult Team providing recommendations for the care of admitted patients with geriatric concerns through comprehensive geriatric assessments. Currently, in her role as APN she is committed to improving clinical outcomes for the older adult population through advanced nursing practice, program development, consultation, research, education and leadership. She is pursuing a Master’s in Nursing with a leadership focus that will be completed this December.

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.

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.

Dr. Walker has worked as a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the Ottawa Hospital for 25 years.  She provides consultation services in an acute care in-patient setting where she conducts cognitive assessments for diagnostic, treatment planning and functional purposes, as well as capacity assessments under the Health Care Consent Act.  Dr. Walker is a Clinician Investigator with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute where she has a research program evaluating cognitive health in multiple sclerosis.  She has held leadership roles with the University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute.  She is an Associate Professor of Medicine and an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the University of Ottawa, as well as an Adjunct Research Professor with both Psychology and Cognitive Science at Carleton University.  She also has a private practice where she provides neuropsychological evaluations.

Lisa is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Georgian College and York University’s collaborative Nursing program.  She is currently a member of The Royal’s Geriatric Psychiatry Outreach and Behaviour Supports Ontario (BSO) team.  Prior to this, she worked on the Geriatric Psychiatry inpatient unit at The Royal.  Her initial start in Geriatric Nursing began as a Unit Nurse at The Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre.  Lisa’s passion for advancing care in the Geriatric population and continuing education was the inspiration for her to return to school as a mature student and enter the Nursing profession.