Betty Harvey,
RNEC BScN MScN
Betty Harvey is a Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Practitioner with the Primary Care Diabetes Support Program at St. Joseph’s Health Care, in London, Ontario. She has been a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in diabetes, for 17 years. Betty is also an Associate Professor with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Western Ontario. She received her BScN from the University of New Brunswick, and her MScN from the University of Western Ontario. Betty’s research interests include pediatric obesity, diabetes prevention, and diabetes management in high-risk, marginalized population (ethnic groups, mental health). Betty is also co-creator of the Primary Care Diabetes “Boot Camp,” a Canada-wide program designed to equip primary care RNs, NPs & AHCP with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to take on the role of diabetes prevention and management.
Highlights of Betty’s work in diabetes include:
- Member of Health Canada Multicultural Diabetes Advisory (2001).
- Identified as a Best Practice Model for diabetes prevention by the Canadian Ethnocultural Counsel (2003).
- Recipient of the 2004 Association of Ontario Community Health Centres Epic Award for excellence in clinical services.
- Recipient of the Canadian Diabetes Association, Frederick G. Banting Award (2005).
- Featured in both the federal and Ontario Quality Health Council Reports (2007).
- Expert Committee member, 2008 Canadian Diabetes Association Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Betty was born and raised in Central West Africa until age 19. She is Mom to 14-year-old Megan, and is supported daily by her husband, Frank.
Amanda Mikalachki,
RN BScN CDE
Amanda Mikalachki has been a diabetes educator since 2002. Her diabetes-related work includes: lead CDE with St. Joseph’s Primary Care Diabetes Support Program in London, Ontario. Previously, she has been a CDE in traditional DEC model at the Lawson Diabetes Centre. London, Ontario; CDE In Interdisciplinary, Primary Care Embedded Diabetes Service, London Intercommunity Health Centre; and Project Coordinator for PRIISME Diabetes Project, focusing on innovative diabetes service delivery models, including embedding CDEs in primary care settings, community pharmacies, and in community information infrastructures. Amanda is also co-creator of the Primary Care Diabetes “Boot Camp,” a Canada-wide program designed to equip primary care RNs, NPs & AHCP with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to take on the role of diabetes prevention and management.
Amanda has given talks to the general public on consumer-related diabetes issues, and professional development talks targeting primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, pharmacists and other AHCP. She has been a presenter at the Canadian Diabetes Association and Ontario Hospital Association conferences, and for the Chronic Disease Prevention and Management model. Amanda’s research interests include interventions promoting effective self-care and innovative service delivery models. She received her nursing education at Ryerson University and the University of Western Ontario.
Amanda is Mum to 11-year-old Gillian.
Stewart B. Harris,
MD MPH FCFP FACPM
Dr. Stewart Harris is a Professor at the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine/Department of Family Medicine with cross appointments in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Division of Endocrinology at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario. Stewart was a Career Scientist with the Ontario Ministry of Health. He holds the Ian McWhinney Chair of Family Medicine Studies and the Canadian Diabetes Association Chair in Diabetes Management, The University of Western Ontario. He was also Chair of the Canadian Diabetes Association 2003 Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee and has been Chair and Vice-Chair of the Clinical & Scientific Section of the Canadian Diabetes Association.
Stewart received his medical education and family medicine training from the University of Calgary, Alberta. He obtained further training at Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, completing a Masters Degree in Public Health and a Fellowship in Preventive Medicine. His major research interests focus on type 2 diabetes in high-risk populations, including Aboriginal Canadians, new immigrant groups, patients with mental health conditions, and the application of clinical practice guidelines for the management of diabetes in primary care.
Stewart has published over 160 articles in major peer-reviewed journals. He has received numerous awards for teaching, healthcare research and service, including the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Dr. Gerald S. Wong Service Award (2007) in recognition of his significant contribution to the diabetes community. He has been a board member on numerous national and provincial diabetes-related committees, including the Northern Ontario Diabetes Network, the National Diabetes Surveillance System, the Ontario Ministry of Health Task Force for Diabetes Management, and the Canadian Diabetes Association.
We have a 13-year history in integrated care teams, and primary care-based diabetes delivery models (Community Outreach Diabetes Education for Family Physicians, London Intercommunity Health Centre). We understand the diabetes education centre model of care and solo practice. Our work in integrated diabetes care has been recognized as a “Best Practice” (Ontario Quality Health Council, Health Council of Canada).
