Update: Who will provide THCU services and products?
Larry Hershfield is taking the position of senior health promotion field support specialist, and as such will work closely with THCU. A member of the Centre for Health Promotion (CHP) at the University of Toronto since 1991, he developed THCU from the beginning and managed it to March 31, 2011. Hershfield is very proud of the many innovations THCU developed including the recent online tools beginning with the Online Health Program Planner. He has made major contributions to facilitating health promotion in Ontario through such roles as curriculum consultant and keynote speaker at the Health Promotion Summer School and the Canadian Health Network. Prior to his involvement with the CHP, he held senior positions in the public health field, including director of the prevention and health promotion programs division at the Addiction Research Foundation. His interest in health communication and health promotion was shaped by graduate work in social psychology and over 35 years of developing diverse programs.
Nimira Lalani has worked in the fields of adult education, health promotion/public health, research, and knowledge exchange for 15 years. Originally from London, England, she studied nutrition at the University of British Columbia and completed a master's of science in Community Health Sciences from the University of Calgary. She enjoys communicating, using her love of words in teaching, writing, getting to know others and developing relationships. Lalani has a creative streak and enjoys finding novel ways to address complex problems. She is committed to using a social justice, client-centered approach in her work and to bringing about meaningful change. Lalani will be joining us as our health promotion field support specialist, policy and planning.
Susan Snelling will be joining us as our health promotion field support specialist, evaluation. She has been providing consulting and training on evaluation for 15 years, including 10 years in a local public health unit setting. At the Sudbury & District Health Unit, she was manager of research and evaluation, and evaluation specialist. She recently completed a Canadian Health Services Research Foundation fellowship in the Executive Training for Research Application (EXTRA) program, where her team's work focused on applying evidence on reducing health inequities to a local public health context. Snelling has a doctorate of philosophy in psychology, and holds the Credentialed Evaluator designation from the Canadian Evaluation Society.
Sophie Rosa holds a master's of science in health studies and gerontology, a bachelor of science in psychology and a bachelor of arts in professional writing in English. Her professional background covers over 12 years of experience in health promotion, communications and strategic planning. She has led numerous national, provincial and municipal communication and public engagement initiatives for the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Previously, Rosa functioned as a senior communications advisor in the public service and as a freelance health writer. She began her career as a communications advisor for the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and as a health promotion specialist for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. Fluently bilingual, Rosa joins us as our health promotion field support specialist, health communication.
In addition to the staff listed above, a program service coordinator is being hired and the new "blended" model will be implemented to deliver THCU services. This will be a mix of OAHPP staff and procured services.
Melody Roberts, Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, strategic advisor, who is responsible for leading the design, implementation, strategic management, monitoring and evaluation of capacity building initiatives for the health promotion chronic disease and injury prevention unit will be responsible for overseeing THCU. |
