Caregiver Connect Team

Sharon Goodwin is Vice President of Quality and Risk, Chief Practice Executive at VON Canada. As a member of the senior management team at VON, she is responsible for the quality, risk and professional practice portfolio for VON. Sharon was the Chief Information Officer at VON from 2006 to 2008, and she oversaw the development of an information systems vision and plan for VON and development of the IBM partnership. Sharon has a broad background in health care, nursing and health informatics. Prior to her current position she was the Ontario Director of Operations for Clinidata Corporation where she pioneered a new telephone nurse advice service for Ontario (Telehealth Ontario).

Prior to this, she was the Manager of Case Management department at the Near North Community Care Access Center. Sharon is a qualified Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner and was influential in the implementation of the NP role in Ontario. Sharon has served as member at large Nursing Practice for RNAO Board of Directors and as Chair of the Nurse Practitioners Association of Ontario (Interest group of RNAO). Originally a graduate of Algonquin College, Sharon obtained her BScN and NP certificate from Laurentian University and a Masters in Nursing from Athabasca University. She is the recipient of several academic and business awards. Sharon is currently working on her Doctorate in Health Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Bonnie Schroeder, MSW, RSW is the Director, Caregiving at VON Canada. Since 2000, Bonnie has had several roles including Caregiver Project Manager (2000-2008) and National Coordinator for the Canadian Caregiver Coalition (2000-2004). Under her portfolio, Bonnie is responsibility for VON caregiving initiatives including the launch of Caregiver Connect and sustaining partner of the Canadian Caregiver Coalition. She is also content lead on a variety of caregiving projects related to policy, practice, and research within VON Canada. Bonnie obtained her Masters degree Social Work from Carleton University in Ottawa in 1999. She is active member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).

Patrick Villemaire is the web developer at VON Canada. As a member of the Caregiver Connect Team since mid 2007, Patrick has provided technical advice and ongoing support from the initial concept, to launch and beyond. He is a graduate of the Multimedia and Communication Studies Program at McMaster University

Tanya Isert (B.Sc, PMP), is new to the VON team located in the National office. She is currently in the role as IS/IT Project Manager, participating in program projects such as the Life and Business Intelligence programs. She has over eight years in project management experience in the IT sector and is PMP certified. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Biology and Psychology. She is really excited to be working at VON and to take part in the important work that this organization does!

Pamela Belfer has been working with VON on the caregiving portfolio since joining the organization in 2007.  Since joining VON, she has acted as a project coordinator on funded projects including, Safe use of Medicines, Neighbours Helping Neighbours, Healthy Workplaces and SMART.  Her role on the Caregiver Connect team includes providing administrative support to the team, posting upcoming events on the site, distribution of the Caregiver Connector newsletter, and providing promotional materials at conferences where VON is present.