Atikokan Family Health Team Staff
Karen Lusignan
AFHT Executive Director
Karen Lusignan is the Executive Director for the Family Health Team. Karen was born and raised mostly in Atikokan and moved to Thunder Bay in 2002 to complete her BScN from Lakehead University in 2006. After graduation Karen went on to do a Leadership and Management Training Development Program from York University in 2012, and Leadership Thunder Bay in 2014. Prior to moving back to Atikokan in 2015 Karen spent eight years working at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care developing and managing their Community and Personal Support Services Program. In her position, Lusignan oversaw 17 staff delivering a wide range of programs to people of all ages. Karen is pleased with the growth the Family Health Team has shown-both in terms of programming and its acceptance within the community – and looks forward to enhancing that.
Administrative Professionals
Uma Ruban
Program Assistant
Uma is the current full-time Program Assistant covering maternity leave at the Family Health Team.
Candice Potts
Administrative Assistant
Candice is the full-time Administrative Assistant at the Family Health Team.
Sheila Ferguson
Clerical Assistant
Sheila is the full-time Clerical Assistant at the Family Health Team.
Integrated Health Professionals
Jackie King
Registered Practical Nurse
Jackie King has been with our team since 2013. She has been an RPN for over 19 years working in home care, acute care and long-term care. She has her Wound Care Certification and manages our Hypertension Program. She also acts as a liaison between the physicians and the patients.
Ashley McEvoy
Registered Practical Nurse
Ashley McEvoy has been with our team since 2008. She completed her RPN Diploma in 2007 from Confederation College and worked briefly in acute care before joining our team. Ashley manages our INR program and acts as a liaison between the physicians and the patients.
Lisa Campbell
Registered Nurse
Lisa Campbell has been a Registered Nurse with us since 2009. She received her education from Confederation College. She worked in the acute care sector for 9 years before joining the family health team. Lisa manages our smoking cessation program, our telederm program, our chronic disease self management program and our immunization program.
Kristin St. Pierre
Registered Nurse
Born and raised in Atikokan, Kristin completed her BScN from Lakehead University in 2011. She then started working at the Atikokan General Hospital in the emergency department and acute care for the next two years.
After those two years, Kristin decided to move to the rural community of Westlock, Alberta where her spouse was employed, hoping to gain more experience and skills in her career. There she worked at the Westlock Healthcare Centre, a primary stroke centre, where she gained further experience with emergency, surgical orthopaedics, and obstetrics. In this position, Kristin acted as Charge Nurse on a 30 bed acute floor, while collaborating with a diverse group of health care providers.
In 2015, after having their first child Isaac, home was calling. By May 2016 Kristin and her spouse Andrew (who now works for Tramin as a Red Seal Journeyman Welder) finally made the move back home where they can raise their family. Since then they haven’t been happier and look forward to the many opportunities their promising careers hold.
Alan Poelman
Mental Health Worker
Alan Poelman has recently started the position of Mental Health Worker within our team. He has completed a BScN at Laurentian University and a HBSW at Algoma University, and is currently registered as a Social Worker through OCSWSSW. Prior to working with our team, Alan has been employed as a Children’s Mental Health Therapist and Family Services Worker. He is now managing our mental health programs, which include one on one sessions and group sessions within the community.
Glenys Vanstone
Pharmacist
Glenys Vanstone is a clinical pharmacist who works for Northwest Telepharmacy Solutions from whom we have contracted services since 2014. Glenys completed her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Manitoba in 1990 and has 27 years of experience in hospital, homecare and family health teams. Glenys provides medication reviews and reconciliation, drug information and supportive coverage for INR service and smoking cessation program. Glenys provides services to family health team patients remotely via telephone or videoconference.
Laura Thibodeau
Registered Dietitian
Laura Thibodeau gained her Bachelor of Science in food and nutrition from the University of Western Ontario, and completed a 10 month dietetic internship through the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. With 10 years experience in the health field, Laura is knowledgeable in disease management and prevention through proper nutrition. Laura works one on one with clients to meet their unique health goals through realistic food and lifestyle interventions . She uses an evidence based and client centred approach to ensure patient safety and high quality of care. In her free time, Laura enjoys hiking, skiing and trying new recipes.