Meet Your 2024 Executive Team!
IPAC-CSO President
.png)
Mary Ellen Konrad, BA MLT CIC, has been an Infection Control Professional at Halton Health care since 2014. She currently is the Surgical and TB lead. Mary Ellen has over 25 years of Healthcare experience working in Microbiology Laboratories as well as Technical sales and training. Mary Ellen holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Windsor and a Diploma in Medical Technology from Fanshawe College. She is also certified in Infection Prevention and Control. (CIC) In her spare time she enjoys travelling.
IPAC-CSO President-Elect
.png)
Manish Patel, MSc CIC, has been working in the field of Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) for almost 10 years in Canada. He is a Certified Infection Control practitioner with Niagara health (NH) since 2012. He did his Masters in Medical Microbiology from India. Started his journey in 2011 in IPAC in Canada. Currently working as IPAC lead and having expertise in Management of AROs & ARI, Outbreak Management, Data Management and IPAC Surveillance. His other interest are projects related to Construction and Renovation, CAUTI (Cather associated Urinary Tract Infection).
IPAC-CSO Past President
Bois Marufov, MD MSc CIC, is an IPAC Manager at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS). Bois is an experienced public health and infection control professional and prior to joining HHS in 2023, he has worked at Public Health Ontario (PHO), the US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), and a number of international organizations including WHO. He has a Master of Science degree from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK and a medical degree from Samarkand State Medical Institute in Uzbekistan. He holds Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC). He is a strong advocate of using data for decision making in healthcare and improving IPAC in LTC sector. Bois lives in Waterloo Region with his family and enjoys raising awareness around saving our home planet using renewable energy. LinkedIn page
Membership Director
Tricia Hutton, RN CIC, Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner for Trillium Heath Partners. She has been with Trillium Health Partners since 1998 in the front line of Medicine, Oncology and Emergency as an RN up until 1998 when she joined the Infection Prevention and Control Team. Tricia lives with her family in Burlington Ontario and loves gardening and gathering with family and friends.
Treasurer
Connie Gittens-Webber
Education Committee Chair
Justyna Graves, RPN CIC, is a Registered Practical Nurse for Halton Healthcare, her career started as a cardiology nurse where she grew a passion in infection control. She volunteered and later became the Infection Control Coordinator and special projects in Halton Healthcare, spearheading and leading their Hand Hygiene program. After working in infection control for 5 years she is the lead organizer of the Halton IPAC Hub and recently became CIC certified.
Education Committee Co-Chair
Joshua Vereecke, RN, is an Infection Control Professional (ICP) at Halton Healthcare, and Georgetown Hospital site lead. After starting his nursing career at the patient bedside on an acute respirology unit, Josh quickly discovered his desire to lead and support and took on on the Clinical Resource Nurse role during the pandemic. After an immense opportunity for collaboration, leadership and networking, Joshua transitioned to Infection Prevention and Control seizing an opportunity for professional development with a continued desire to support others in their learning needs. Other interests: process improvement, go-green initiatives, cost-saving initiatives, working out, cooking
Chapter Webmaster
.png)
Marissa Perrella, BASc, CIC, CPHI(C), is an Infection Control Practitioner (ICP) at Niagara Health. Marissa started her career in infection control as a Certified Public Health Inspector in 2017 and found passion in the IPAC program. She obtained her Certificate in Infection Control in 2019 and transitioned over to working in acute care by 2020 to focus solely on infection control. The IPAC surveillance program that she is most passionate about is central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). Marissa lives in the Niagara region and can often be found out at the barn horseback riding after hours.
IPAC CSO Secretary
.jpg)
Jennifer Sharron, with 25 years of dedicated service, is an experienced RN whose career has spanned diverse roles. After beginning as a neonatal nurse in Houston, Texas, McMaster Children’s Hospital, and Niagara Health, Jennifer transitioned to public health where she has spent over 15 years in the infectious disease program. She obtained her Certificate in Infection Control in 2012. Jennifer lives in St. Catharines with her family and loyal dog Boomer. Embracing an active lifestyle, she enjoys running and learning to be a better curler. There’s still a long way to go, but she’s having fun.
