HPCO is grateful to the Program Advisory Committee for their leadership in planning HPCO2026. The annual conference takes a dedicated team of volunteers and staff. The team works throughout the year to plan and deliver a program that spotlights emerging research, innovations in care, and leading practice along with opportunities to reconnect with colleagues and to have fun while supporting your learning objectives. Kudos to a great team!
Program Advisory Committee
Nadine Valk (Co-Chair)
Principal, Nadine Valk Consulting
Amanda Maragos (Co-Chair)
Director of Client Services and Volunteer Programs, Philip Aziz Centre and Emily’s House
Dr. Naheed Dosani, MSC, MD, CCFP(PC), FCFP, BSc
Palliative Care Physician
Dr. Val Fiset, PhD, MScN, RN, CPHCN©
Director, Champlain Hospice Palliative Care Network
Dr. Chris Klinger, PhD, (Co-Chair, Scientific & Clinical Track)
Assistant Professor, McMaster University; Theme Team Lead, National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly
Tara Moffatt, APN-CNS, MN, BScN, RN, CHPCN©, CON©
Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultant, VON
Linda Marie Pacheco, CHPCN©
RN, Paramed Home Health
Dr. Vivian Papaiz, PhD, RN, CHPCN©
Associate Dean, Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology
Dr. Nadine Persaud, PhD
Executive Director, Kensington Hospice
Dr. Christine Pun, MD
Medical Director, Maison McCulloch
Kimberley Rogers, RN, CHPCN©
Manager, Marigold Hospice
Maria Rugg, RN MN CHPCN© CHE
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Hospice Palliative Care Nurse Educator, Life and Death Matters
and Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Coordinator, VON Durham Region
Sue Shipley, BScN RN CHPCN©
Senior Director Clinical Services, Hospice Niagara
Dr. Jitin Sondhi, HBSc, MD, CCFP (PC)
Regional Clinical Co-Lead, Palliative Care, Ontario Health West
Conference Staff Team
Michelle Everets, Conference Manager
Managing Matters*
Camryn Berry, Project Manager
HPCO
Dija Chang Kit, Event Planner
Managing Matters*
Rick Firth, CEO
HPCO
Melissa Horner, Senior Executive Assistant
HPCO
Anand Waindeshkar, Event Planner
Managing Matters*
*Managing Matters is HPCO’s event management partner for the annual conference.