Who We Are

Team Members

Medical Lead: Dr. Phil Deacon

The Medical Lead for the MMFHT is selected by the MMFHT Board. Dr. Deacon serves as the MMFHT's Medical Lead and works collaboratively with the Executive Director to communicate information about clinical activity and programs to the Board. He works with team members to monitor the quality of clinical practice within the MMFHT and provides a leadership role involving program development and evaluation. Dr. Deacon represents the MMFHT at provincial and regional meetings. The Executive Director reports directly to the Medical Lead.

CHronic disease management Registered nurse: Danielle parsons

The Chronic Disease Management Nurse provides a pro-active, patient-centered approach that addresses chronic disease early in the disease cycle. The focus is to prevent disease progression and reduce potential health complications.

Education and support include group settings and individual counselling that can strengthen the patient's ability to help self manage their condition.

Health Promoters and Registered Kinesiologists: Sandy Turner, Theresa Grubb

How many times have you heard you need to be more active? Did you know increasing physical activity is a very effective way of combating all of the modifiable risk factors associated with chronic disease? Adding more regular exercise to your life will give you increased energy, make you feel better and improve your quality of life.

Need some help getting started? Regardless of what stage you are at with your exercise program, the Health Promoter can help you determine your current fitness level and create a program aimed at improving your health. Exercise programs are also suitable for those with chronic disease and other health problems.

Social Workers: Joanne White, Kathy Penner-Dyck, Emily Kaye

The Social Worker provides linkages to community resources, psycho-education related to the prevention of mental health problems as well as individual, couple, family and group counseling and psychotherapy.

Some of the mental health concerns the Social Worker can help with include:

• Depression • Self-Esteem • Anxiety Disorders/Worry • Coping with Illness
• Anger Management • Stress Management • Parenting Concerns

Registered Dietitians: Paula Seifried, Jenny Harrison

Healthy eating is an important part of overall well-being. Whether you have a specific medical condition or just want information about choosing healthier foods, the Registered Dietitians can help you make informed choices about the food you eat.

With so much information available, it can be difficult to separate nutrition fact from fiction. The Registered Dietitian can help translate nutritional science into realistic advice that you can use in your everyday life.
Also, valuable information on:

• Food allergies and intolerances        • Nutrition for healthy pregnancy
• Healthy vegetarian eating          • Nutrition for infants and children
• Healthy eating on a budget     • Vitamins and minerals for good health

Clinical pharmacist: robin brown

The Clinical Pharmacist helps people to understand the medications they are taking, make decisions about medication choices, understand how food, activity and other medications affect the medication you are taking and help in organizing medications around food and daily activities.

The Pharmacist also works with other members of the team to provide information about drug interactions, medication choices and the best way to help you, the patient, if medication is an option.

Clinical Registered Nurse: Leah coburn

The Clinical Registered Nurse works with the various Family Health Team doctors and other health care practitioners to help treat and educate patients about various medical conditions. She provides advice and emotional support to patients and their family as well as helps with general health screening, diagnostic testing, administering treatments as ordered, immunizing, blood drawing and patient follow-up.

Nurse Practitioners: jodi colwill, chantelle koeslag, brittany koster

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) works collaboratively with family physicians and other members of the Family Health Team. NPs have the competency to diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe treatments including medications, and perform medical procedures. They work with individuals and families to manage illness or chronic conditions, prevent illness through health screening, and promote wellness through education and community resources. In essence, NPs bring together the medical knowledge needed to diagnose and treat illnesses with the values and skills of nursing.

Physician Assistant: Cailin Hill

Physician Assistants (PAs) are health care professionals who work with physicians to provide health care. Under the overall supervision of a physician PAs take histories, conduct physical examinations, order and interpret tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, and counsel on preventive health care.

Telemedicine Coordinators

Registered Nurse: Pam Turton

Registered Practical Nurses: Tracy Livingston, Julia Gallant

The Telemedicine Nurses are new positions funded by the Waterloo-Wellington LHIN (Local Integration Network). These nurses are instrumental to expanding clinical telemedicine in the Minto-Mapleton and Mount Forest areas. The nurses will be working with both Family Health Teams and hospital sites in north Wellington. The goals of the Clinical Telemedicine Program is to reduce wait times for specialist consultation and improve access for patients.

These nurses are networked with 10 other nurses in the Region, all whom are certified for telemedicine by the Ontario Telemedicine Network.

Outreach Worker: Jesse Sepers

The Outreach Worker is available to help you reach out and find the resources you need, when you need them. She will help you get connected to community agencies, to navigate social programs, and support you when family or friends can't help. We know that there are many factors in your life that can affect your health. When people have support, they live healthier lives.

Executive Director: Shirley Borges

The Executive Director is responsible for providing leadership in the establishment of FHT offices and the recruitment of qualified staff. She is accountable to the Board of Directors to advise on matters of policy, health, human resources and financial matters. The Executive Director is responsible for the development of an annual business plan and budget and is expected to regularly interface with the Ministry of Health's FHT Consultant. She reports directly to the FHT's Medical Lead and to the full Board of Directors at bi-monthly board meetings. FHT staff look to the Executive Director for leadership, problem solving and support. All staff and patient concerns regarding the functioning of the FHT are directed to the Executive Director.

Medical Receptionist (Drayton Clinic): Linda Gallina

The Drayton Receptionist provides receptionist and administrative support to FHT interprofessional staff and the Executive Director in the Drayton Office. Linda is the friendly face and voice that greets our patients and the public in Drayton. She is the primary contact for booking appointments with Team members in Drayton and Palmerston.

Medical Receptionist (Clifford Clinic): Kelly Burrows

The Medical Receptionist at the Clifford site works closely with the Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse. She also provides support to visiting physicians and allied health professionals of the Team when they visit the Clifford site. She organizes and coordinates activities of the Clifford site in collaboration with the onsite Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner. The Medical Receptionist performs such tasks as reception, books appointments and makes arrangements for referrals requested by the Nurse Practitioner and doctors.