10th Anniversary of CAMDR – Founding Members

Join us to hear from CAMDR founding members:

Abdool Karim will speak on: Driving force for a National Association, Feasibility studies, Role of Getinge Advisory Group, Reaching out to Provincial leaders and managers, Paying for a website, Brain storming with group of volunteers, Personal investment, Initial pains and successes

Dianne Trudeau will speak on: Conference history- A look back over 10 years – where we started & how far we’ve come.

Merlee Rodway will speak on: CAMDR- Leaders, Members and Opportunities for the Future!

Gale Schultz will speak on: Industry Partnerships and Financial Linkages

Meet the speakers:

Abdool Karim – MDRC Manager at Sunnybrook Health Sciences center x15 years. Coordinator of Quality and Education at SHSC x5 years Manager SPD at Humber River hospital Coordinator at North York General Hospital x10 years. BSc degree MD degree and MBA

Dianne Trudeau – A Registered Nurse with over 40 years of expertise in Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR). Involved in auditing medical device reprocessing practices since 2007. Managed, sequentially, the various MDR departments for the major hospitals in Vancouver between 1983-2015. Actively involved nationally (CSA) and internationally (ISO) in medical device reprocessing standards development for over 35 years. Formerly an Executive member of the Canadian Association of Medical Device Reprocessing (CAMDR). Chaired the CSA Sterilization Technical Committee for 22 years. Was the recipient of CSA Award of Merit in 1996 & 2010. Participated on the following medical device reprocessing committees: BC’s Ministry of Health Best Practice reprocessing guidelines, Accreditation Canada, Health Canada’s Scientific Advisory Panel. Represented Canada on a WHO (World Health Organization) medical device working group. An independent consultant specializing in medical device reprocessing for 9 years and has worked on projects i.e. Montreal Neuro Centre, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Fraser Health Authority, Penticton Regional Hospital & BC College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Merlee Steele-Rodway is a registered nurse with over 40 years of experiences that includes Head Nurse, Educator, Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) Coordinator, research, and Regional Director of IPAC and Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR) in the Eastern region of Newfoundland & Labrador. Merlee began working with IPAC in 2003 and even in her retirement from acute care, now as an IPAC/MDR consultant, she continues to be available to provide consultation, interpretation of standards and education to her colleagues ensuring transfer of experience, knowledge, and continued promotion of safe patient care. In 2019, Merlee was the recipient of the 3M Champion of Infection Prevention and Control Award from IPAC-Canada. She has been a long-time member of IPAC-Canada Special interest groups and the Online IPAC Education Advisory Board and is also a member of the Saskatchewan Polytech’s Online MDRT Program Advisory Board. Merlee was awarded the 2024 Honorary Membership from IPAC-Canada in recognition of here extraordinary service to the infection prevention and control profession. Merlee is a founding member of the Canadian Association of Pediatric Nurses and the Canadian Association of Medical Device Reprocessing (CAMDR) of which she is a past president. She continues to be an active participant on various provincial and national IPAC & MDR committees, revising audit tools, webinars and is the IPAC representative and current co-chair on the Canadian Standards Association Z314- Medical device reprocessing in all healthcare settings -Technical Committee. She participated in developing the only Canadian Certification for Medical Device Reprocessing with the CSA. In 2020/21, Merlee revised the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) On-line Community MDR Courses that include endoscopy, dentals, community general and reprocessing of foot care medical devices.

Gale Schultz – Gale is the retired Regional Director, MDR for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. She is past vice-chair of CSA Technical Advisory Committee for MDR. In retirement Gale has done some education with Footcare Nurses and Physicians Clinics and returned to work during Covid as a consultant with Shared Health Manitoba. Now Gale enjoys traveling and spending time with her children & grandchildren.