Leanne Terry, BA MA, Executive Director: Leanne holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, a Bachelor of Arts Degree, and a Social Services Diploma. She has extensive experience in administrative roles within hospital settings and specialized medicine, which she leveraged upon joining the WRNPLC team in 2013. As a strategic thinker, Leanne is dedicated to continuous professional growth and development, particularly in Quality Improvement, Human Resources, Policy Development, and Leadership and Management. She is passionate about the Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (NPLC) model of care, believing deeply in its transformative impact on healthcare delivery. Leanne is a firm advocate for the patient-centered, collaborative model of WRNPLC, recognizing its crucial role and significant benefits to the community
Krysta Cameron, BScN MN-ANP NP-PHC, Clinical Lead: Krysta joined the WRNPLC team in 2017 after graduating with a Master’s Degree in advanced nursing practice from Athabasca University and has most recently completed her certificate in leadership and management from the University of Toronto. Prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, Krysta obtained her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Laurentian University in collaboration with Sault College. Spending most of her RN career in the Emergency departments in Ottawa, Timmins, and Guelph. She has a background in vascular surgery and general surgery and specializes in minor dermatologic procedures. As Clinical Lead, Krysta’s interest and expertise lies in quality improvement and clinical team development. Outside of work she loves to travel and spend time with her family.
Sarah Cleland, NP-PHC MScN BScN: Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Western Ontario in 2008. She began her career working as a Registered Nurse on the Nursing Resource Team for University Health Network in Toronto. With an interest in cardiac care, she pursued specialized coronary care certificates and transitioned to a position as an RN on a cardiac short stay unit at Toronto General Hospital. While in Toronto, Sarah’s passion for health promotion and disease prevention led her to complete her Diabetes Education Certificate through the Michener Institute. In 2012 she returned to school and completed her Master’s of Nursing and Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program. Prior to coming to the Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic, she gained valuable experience working as a Nurse Practitioner with both the Thames Valley Family Health Team in Woodstock, and with a local Family Health Organization in Kitchener. Sarah joined the team in May 2016, and is excited to be working with such a collaborative group to deliver holistic and responsive primary care services.
Sahar Haji, NP-PHC BScN MScN : Sahar graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2012. She began her career as a Registered Nurse on an Internal Medicine unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton and later, went to pursue a career in Primary care. Her experience as a Registered Nurse with the Hamilton Family Health Team sparked an interest in further expanding her scope of practice in primary care. In 2015, Sahar decided to return to school to pursue her Master’s of Nursing and Primary Healthcare Nurse Practitioner Certificate from McMaster University. She started her career as a Nurse Practitioner at the McMaster Halton Family Health Center and after moving to Kitchener in 2018, she joined the Waterloo Region Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic. She is proud to be a part of this wonderful team which focuses on person-centered, integrated, and accessible primary care. Her experience here has been very rewarding and valuable
Sheryl Tigchelaar, BScN MN-ANP NP-PHC FNP-C CDE
Sheryl graduated from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. From 1993 to 2013, she worked in various acute care settings in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ontario. These included inpatient respiratory, surgical, surgical ICU, medical ICU, trauma ICU, interventional cardiology, emergency, and maternity. During this time, she obtained and kept her Critical Care Nursing Certification and worked as both staff nurse, charge nurse and nursing supervisor. In 2013 she graduated from Athabasca University with a Master of Nursing: Advanced Nursing Practice. After graduating, she obtained certification to practice as a Family NP (Nurse Practitioner) in Ontario and in the United States. Her experience as an NP has involved working in Family Health Team settings and working privately for several local physicians. Since joining the WRNPLC in May 2019, she has worked in addiction medicine at both Water Street and Pioneer Park locations and in primary care at our Pioneer Park. She specializes in minor dermatologic procedures and joint injections and is a Certified Diabetic Educator.
Olga Baleca, NP-PHC MScN BScN, Addictions Medicine NP Lead: Olga is a Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner, with an expertise in addiction medicine. She graduated from York University with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2011. She has worked on various units throughout her RN career that sparked her interest in health care accessibility and continuity of care. In 2014, Olga returned to her alma mater and earned her Master of Science in Nursing and Nurse Practitioner Certificate in 2016. Prior to coming to the NPLC in January 2018, Olga worked in East End CHC in Toronto and Chatham-Kent CHC in Chatham where she provided primary care services to patients of all ages and various complexity. Olga has been always passionate about mental health and addictions. In 2018, she became the first NP in our region to take on the role of Nurse Practitioner specializing in addiction medicine. She leads the Cambridge Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic on Wednesdays and Fridays. In January 2021, Olga accepted the role of Regional RAAM Clinical Lead. She is very proud to be part of the NPLC team which focuses on accessible and comprehensive primary care. In her spare time, Olga loves to travel, spend time with her family, friends and pets. She is also fluent in Russian.
Karen Bento, BA BScN MN NP-PHC: Karen has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Guelph and then went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McMaster University. She began her career as a Registered Nurse on a medical/surgical unit at Brantford General Hospital. With an interest in intensive/critical care, she went on to pursue a specialized certificate in critical care nursing and transitioned to working as a RN in the critical care units at Brantford General Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital. After six years of working as an RN she decided to return to school in 2016 to pursue her Masters of Nursing and Primary Healthcare Nurse Practitioner Certificate from the University of Western Ontario. Prior to working with the WRNPLC, Karen started her career as a new NP with the Guelph Family Health Team where she gained some valuable experience. As a new member of the WRNPLC she is enthusiastic about being a part of a collaborative organization that is continually working to deliver holistic patient centered care.
Janet Okrafka, NP-PHC: Janet graduated from McMaster University in association with Conestoga College with her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing in 2014. She began her nursing career at the Wilfried Laurier University Health Centre with a specialized focus on sexual health and mental health care. Soon after Janet began specializing in women’s health working as a sexual assault nurse and Coordinator of the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care and Treatment Centre within the Brantford General Hospital. Janet completed her Masters of Nursing and Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner certificate at McMaster University joining the WRNPLC in early 2021. Janet’s medical areas of interest include women’s health, addictions, and trauma specialized care. Outside of work Janet loves to read, hike and spend time with her family.
Monika Wagner, NP-PHC: Monika obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing through McMaster University in 2013. During her years as an RN, she worked in a psychiatric hospital where she gained experience working with patients with mood and psychotic disorders. During this time, she also obtained the Canadian Nurses’ Association Certification in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. With a motivation to take a holistic approach to health care, she later obtained her Nurse Practitioner in Primary Health Care degree from Western University. Her first experience as an NP was with the NP-Led Clinic in Sault Ste Marie, where she provided primary care in a remote northern setting. She later transitioned to southern Ontario to continue primary care in urban settings. Monika joined the WRNPLC in January of 2023 and is thrilled to be part of such a collaborative, robust health care team.
Katie Sullivan, NP-PHC: Katie graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Bachelor of Nursing in 2006. She began her career in pediatrics and labour and delivery at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, prior to attending Queen’s University for graduate studies. During her time at Queen’s, Katie practiced as a clinical instructor while working as a teaching assistant and faculty advisor. She also spent a summer outpost nursing in Northern Ontario. In 2010, Katie completed the Master of Science in Nursing and Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner program and was appointed Term Adjunct at Queen’s University. In 2011, Katie joined the Kingston Family Health Team where she practiced until moving to Ottawa in 2015, where she gained experience providing primary care to members of the Canadian Armed Forces and patients in long term care. For the last four years, Katie lived in the United States where she practiced primary care and internal medicine in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Amaya Sanchez, NP-PHC: Amaya graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Health Studies in 2013. During this program she developed an interest in the social determinants of health and was first introduced to the role of Nurse Practitioner while completing a community project. Amaya was fascinated by this role’s ability to combine health promotion, disease prevention, and community development. This inspired her to pursue a career in nursing and in 2015, she graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After completing her Critical Care Certification, she worked in a variety of acute care settings including ICU and PACU. In 2022, she graduated from Athabasca University with a Master of Nursing: Nurse Practitioner. After graduating, she obtained her Family Nurse Practitioner Certification. Amaya is very proud to start her career as a Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner with the WRNPLC where she feels will make a difference improving access to comprehensive patient centered care in the community. Amaya is fluent in Spanish.
Reese Drake (He/Him), NP-PHC: Reese graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics from the University of Guelph in 2012, then went on to pursue an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McMaster University in 2014. After completing the Perioperative Nursing course at George Brown College, he began his career as a Registered Nurse in the Operating Room at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. During this time, he graduated with a Master of Science in Clinical Anatomy from Western University. After five years of working as a RN he decided to return to Western and graduated with a Primary Healthcare Nurse Practitioner Certificate in 2021. Reese joined the Waterloo Region NPLC from the Ingersoll NPLC and is privileged to provide primary care to all ages and stages in the region. His medical areas of interest include LGBTQ+ health, MSK and sports health, and performing minor procedures. Outside of work Reese enjoys doing Crossfit, watching and playing hockey, hiking, and spending time with his family and golden retriever.
Linda Morrissey NP-PHC, BScN: Linda is an experienced Nurse Practitioner who has been working in the role since 2007. She attended McMaster University for her BScN, University of Winnipeg for the Outpost Nursing Program, and Lakehead University for her Primary Care NP Certificate. She was exposed to the expanded scope role while working as an Outpost Nursing on First Nations Reserves in Northern Manitoba and North Western Ontario, and loved the role immediately. Her nursing experiences have been varied including Home Care, Public Health, and working in remote hospitals in North Western Ontario, including Emergency Care, Obstetrics, Adult, Pediatric and Geriatric Care. Since becoming a Nurse Practitioner she has worked in Family Health Team, Community Health Centre, and now the Nurse Practitioner Led Models. Linda’s passions in her work have been Women’s Health, Chronic Disease Management, Wound Care, and Behavior Change. She thrives on creating programs and roles, quality improvement, teaching and improving EMR efficiencies with the teams she works with. Linda joined the WRNPLC in May of 2024 and is looking forward to collaborating with the other team members in the WRNPLC to improve how we provide to patients. Linda spends her time outside the clinic with her family, getting out for walks, skiing, golfing and going to the cottage.
Jennifer McLean, NP-PHC, MN, BScN: Jennifer graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2014 from the McMaster University-Conestoga College collaborative program. Throughout her career as a Registered Nurse, Jennifer worked as a staff nurse and Charge Nurse for a mental health and addiction medicine unit, as part of the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence team at Brantford General Hospital, as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Guelph General Hospital, and as a Primary Care Nurse Clinician at Guelph Family Health Team. In 2023, Jennifer graduated with her Master of Nursing and Primary Health Care certification from Athabasca University. Jennifer began her career as a Nurse Practitioner working at Guelph Family Health Team and with a family physician in Hamilton, before transitioning to her role with the WRNPLC. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys travelling, hiking and spending time with family.
Laura Diemert, NP-PHC MScN BScN HBScK: Laura started her academic career by obtaining an Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo. She then went on to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McMaster university, graduating in 2017. After obtaining her critical care certification, Laura spent her RN career working for Hamilton Health Sciences, mostly in the Burn Unit and Trauma ICU. She has also gained experience in the Cardiac Care Unit and various medical/surgical floors. In addition, Laura has taught in the McMaster/Conestoga Collage RN program. During her first maternity leave, she returned to McMaster to start her Master of Science in Nursing and her Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner certification. She graduated in 2024, just after her second maternity leave. In her free time Laura enjoys baking, traveling, hiking with her dog and spending time with friends and loved ones, especially her two small children. Laura grew up in and currently resides in the region. She is passionate about upstream, preventive health measures and is very happy to be giving back to the community she grew up in.
Tracey Clark, MSW: Tracey is a graduate of the UW Social Development Studies and Gerontology program. She went on to complete her MSW at Wilfrid Laurier University in the early 90’s gaining valuable placement experience at the Guelph Wellington Counselling Centre and CMHA. Tracey has worked in a variety of health and social service settings. Working part time as a social worker in a hospital ER provided great experience in a fast-paced interdisciplinary environment. Tracey began her work in primary care at the Hamilton Family Health Team before moving to a primary care practice in KW in 2005. Tracey has spent much of her career working alongside other primary care providers to support people in managing their mental, physical, and overall health. Tracey is excited to join the WRNPLC team and has particular interest in mental health, grief, women’s health issues, perinatal mental health, sleep and overall wellness. Outside of work Tracey enjoys running, hiking, travelling, eating good food and spending time with family.
Catherine Dat, MSW, RSW: Catherine holds a Masters in Sociology from the University of Montreal, a BSW from the University of Waterloo, and an MSW from Wilfried Laurier. Catherine started her career as a policy analyst for Health Canada. She transitioned to clinical social work working for a community counselling agency before joining the WRNPLC team. Catherine is passionate about supporting individuals from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds. She approaches therapy from an eclectic perspective allowing the client’s needs and goals to guide the best therapy model. Catherine is fully bilingual in French and English.
Colleen Mott, RPN: Colleen has been an RPN for over 25 yrs since graduating from Conestoga College. She has worked in a variety of hospital and community settings and spent time in a management position in the long term care sector. In 2016, after spending 5 years with a Family Health Team, Colleen joined the WRNPLC team. Primary care is where her heart is and enjoys being a part of an interprofessional collaborative care team. Outside of work she enjoys music, spending time with her friends and family and travelling.
Christina Tunks, RPN: Christina recently joined the WRNPLC in August of 2023 but has been an RPN for 20 years. She has spent the previous 10 years in Primary Care with a large Family Health Team. When not working, Christina can be found with her family in the outdoors during every season.
Kristen Hayes, RPN: Kristen graduated from Conestoga College’s Registered Practical Nurse program in 2015. She has worked in a variety of health care settings, with most of her experience being in primary care. She previously worked at a local Family Health Team for 6 years, and recently joined the WRNPLC team in 2022. She has a passion for lifelong learning, advocating for patients and working closely with an interprofessional team to help meet patient needs. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, walking, travelling and spending time with her loved ones.
Daniella Vila, RPN: Daniella (or Dani) graduated from the Practical Nursing program at Conestoga College in August 2022 and has worked in various healthcare settings since graduating, including hospitals and Family Health Teams. She recently joined the WRNPLC in May 2024 after a short contract with a Family Health Team in the region. Dani greatly enjoys working in the primary care setting and getting to develop meaningful relationships with her patients to provide quality care. In her free time, Dani enjoys spending time with family and friends, learning new things, binging Netflix, and travelling.
Evgenia Oreshkin, B.Sc Phm. RPh. Clinical Pharmacist: Evgenia has been a practicing pharmacist for 5 years, and she graduated from the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. She has had experiences in different settings of pharmacy practice, including retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and in a Primary Care setting. Her experience as a clinical pharmacist comes from working at Summerville Family Health Team, the largest Family Health Team in the Mississauga-Halton LHIN. Her interests are in helping patients understand and empower them with knowledge about their conditions and the purpose and use of their medications – specifically, how the medications fit in with their overall health. She is a strong supporter of patient-centered, interprofessional care that delivers the best possible individualized care to patients of different backgrounds and health statuses. She has experience organizing and leading patient education groups such as Heart Health, Arthritis and Diabetes groups. She worked to create partnerships with community programs and ministry-level committees to enhance the patient-centered care at her places of practice. Evgenia works part time at the Waterloo Region Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic, and also works a few shifts a month at a retail pharmacy in Waterloo. She has been living in Kitchener for three years (and really likes it after living in Toronto), and enjoys being involved in community events, discovering nature trails, visiting the Elora Gorge and exploring the forests and lakes around the area with her family.
Kim Dawson, BASc MAN RD CDE Registered Dietitian: Kim graduated from University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Nutrition in 2009 and Masters of Applied Nutrition in 2011. She began her career as a Registered Dietitian working with the elderly, working in long term care homes in the Kawartha Lakes area. There she also specialized in Diabetes management, obtaining her Certified Diabetes Educator credentials, and working at Ross Memorial Hospital Diabetes program. Upon moving back to the Waterloo Region in 2018 she spent 6 years working at a Family Health Team in Cambridge, creating a strong foundation and passion for primary care. She joined Waterloo Region Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic in 2024. She prides herself in being an approachable nutrition educator that teaches evidenced based approaches to a variety of medical conditions. She aims to balance quality of life, health, long term sustainability, and individual likes and dislikes in all her appointments.
Diane, Administrative Clinic Coordinator: Diane graduated from Mohawk College’s Medical Office Administration program in 2010. She spent three years as an administrator for a Family Health Team in Hamilton. Following a move to Waterloo Region in 2014, she joined the team at WRNPLC in May 2014. She is proud to be a member of a team with a strong focus on a holistic approach to family medicine. Outside of the clinic, Diane enjoys running, biking, and exploring the coffee shops of Kitchener-Waterloo.
Ashley, Medical Office Assistant: Ashley graduated from Conestoga College with an Ontario College Certificate in General Arts and Science in 2014, she then pursued further education receiving a diploma in Health Office Administration in 2016. She has primarily worked within clinical settings with extensive hands-on experience in providing administrative support to complex medical groups and healthcare facilities. She joined the Waterloo Region Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic in October 2020 and enjoys working with such a collaborative team. Ashley’s passion is working in the healthcare setting providing support to her community. When she is not in the office, she’s exploring the lovely outdoors
Meghan, Medical Office Assistant: Meghan graduated from Conestoga College with her diploma in Health Office Administration in 2015. She completed her practicum placement with Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Women’s and Children’s Health and was offered a position immediately following graduation in June 2015. Meghan has since gained experience working with Canadian Blood Services in 2017 before finding her love for primary care with a multi-physician family health team. She joined Waterloo Region Nurse Practitioner Clinic in August 2021 and is excited to be a part of such a close-knit team with similar goals and values.
Christine, Medical Administrative Assistant: Christine graduated from Mohawk College’s Executive Office Administration Program in 1998. After graduation, she worked in the dental field where she learned the value of patient care. She then transitioned to the Primary Care field where she gained valuable experience, working for over 12 years as a Medical Receptionist for a Family Health Team. Christine recently joined the team at WRNPLC where she continues to focus on patient care. Outside of the clinic, Christine enjoys spending time with her family and cooking. She is fluent in Portuguese.
Priyanka, Medical Office Assistant: Priyanka graduated from Conestoga College with a graduate certificate in Healthcare Administration and Service Management in 2024. She has over three years of experience in healthcare administration, having worked in both hospital and clinical settings. Priyanka has provided administrative support in fast-paced medical environments, ensuring efficient operations and quality patient care. She joined the Waterloo Region Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic in January 2025 and enjoys being part of a dedicated and collaborative team. Priyanka is passionate about contributing to the healthcare field and making a positive impact on patients’ experiences.