Our Faculty
Marlene Fairhurst-Vaughan, RN BScN
Continuing Care DEPARTMENT HEAD
A graduate of St. Francis Xavier University, Marlene began her nursing adventure in Houston, Texas on a busy cardiac unit. After feeling a pull to return to the Maritimes she joined the team in the Coronary Care Unit at the Victoria General Hospital (now known as the QEII Health Sciences Centre) in Halifax, NS. Marlene's passion for teaching was sparked by an opportunity to work with a medical equipment company, providing workshops and in-services for nurses. Prior to joining the Centre for Health Studies, Marlene enjoyed 14 years working alongside some of the best researchers in Canada within the specialties of cardiology, kidney transplant and hematology. It is during this time that a great appreciation was gained for the specialized care that is needed and required for our geriatric population. Much of her research experience involved seniors with a debilitating disease. Marlene is also a facilitator with the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia (CRNNS) providing a link between RN's and the college's educational information. In June of 2008, Marlene received her certificate in adult education from Dalhousie University. Teaching in the CCA program offers Marlene the opportunity to build a strong team of caring, professional and highly skilled individuals. Empowering and inspiring CCA students to appreciate and value the importance of their role is a journey that she fully enjoys.
Kim Sowinski, RN
Continuing Care DEPARTMENT HEAD
Kim received her diploma from Georgian College in 1997 and was employed in both homecare and long-term care before turning her passion for education into a career. She began her career as a health care educator by facilitating in-services for nurses. An approved Palliative Care facilitator, Kim specializes in palliative care and received her Certificate in Adult Education in 2006. Kim enjoys sharing her experiences and watching people enter the CCA program and succeed. She believes it’s a great environment to be a part of and feels fortunate to be one of the people involved in educating new staff to be part of this growing industry.
SOPHIE PITRE-ARSENEAULT
DIETICIAN
In their nutrition module, CCA students meet Sophie Pitre-Arseneault, Dietician at the Centre for Health Studies. Sophie obtained a Bachelor of Science with a major in Nutrition in 1994 and went on to graduate as a Dietician in 1995 and then received her Masters of Public Administration in 2007. Sophie began her career as a Nutritionist for the Women, Infant and Children Program and then worked as a Clinical Dietician for The Aroostook Medical Centre both in Presque Isle, Maine. In 2000, Sophie moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia to start her career as a public servant working for the Public Health Agency of Canada as a Program Consultant for the Community Action Program for Children and the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program. Since 2008, Sophie has brought her knowledge and experience in the area of nutrition to our students to better prepare them to serve their clients in their homes or long term care facilities.
Janet Millar
Physiotherapist
CCA students benefit from the knowledge and wisdom of Janet Millar, Centre for Health Studies Physiotherapist, while studying body mechanics. A graduate of Acadia and Dalhousie universities, Janet has spent most of her 40+ years as a Physiotherapist working in Neurosciences. In 2006, Janet retired from her Physiotherapy practice at the QEII Health Sciences Center, but she continues to be very active in the community. She has been the Maritimes Parkinson Clinic coordinator since its inception 12 years ago; she has acted as the Physiotherapist for the Dartmouth Stroke Club for 34 years; and, over the years has practiced and taught at several local continuing care facilities, as well as the Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Center. She now shares Nursing Staff and Allied Health Care Professionals Safe and Efficient Body Mechanics, a program she developed, with our CCA students in an atmosphere that is fun, skill oriented and focused on client and provider well-being.
Patricia MacKay, LPN
Clinical Supervisor
After graduating from the Dartmouth Vocational School - Akerley, Patricia spent most of her nursing career in long-term care. Her passion for education was sparked when she started teaching CPR at the Heart and Stroke Foundation in 1986; she later taught First Aid with the Canadian Red Cross and the Alzheimer Disease and Other Dementias Care Course.
In 2008, Patricia began working as a Skills Development Supervisor at the Nova Scotia Community College. With over 30 years of experience as an LPN, Patricia now enjoys passing on her knowledge and experience to our Centre for Health Studies students in the Continuing Care Assistant program, and watching them grow into professionals in the industry.
PATRICIA (PADDY) DAVIS, LPN
CLINICAL SUPERVISOR
Patricia became an LPN in 1989 and continued her education at Memorial University and Cabot College from 1993 to 1994. She started her career at Lake Side Homes in Gander, NL, and has gone on to work in an Alzheimer’s Unit, a Special Care Unit and as an Ambulance Escort. In 2002, Patricia moved to Nova Scotia with her family and began working with Scotia Homes. She gained further experience working with St. Vincent Guest House, a Rehab Centre with Capital Health, and finally at Camp Hill Veterans Building. Since 2009, Patricia has shared her insight with our CCA students; she feels that it is a truly rewarding job where she can share her healthcare knowledge and experience.