CAAN Council
Maria Di Mola,
R.N. MEd
President
Maria has been a pediatric apheresis nurse, clinical practice leader, and educator for the apheresis program in her 26 years at Sick Kids Hospital. Her primary passion is advancing apheresis practice through teaching and research.
Maria actively champions education opportunities for CAAN members and has initiated new CAAN Education Bursaries including the CAAN Travel Scholarship.
Mathew Bentley,
R.N.
Vice President
Mathew is currently the Clinical Nurse Educator for the Hematology and Apheresis Program at Vancouver General Hospital in BC. He has been nursing for 12 years, and for the past 7 he has specialized in apheresis and is excited to foster learning in this field.
Megan Buchholz,
R.N.
Secretary
Megan is currently the unit leader for the apheresis team at her organization with an outstanding 14 years of service in this area of practice. Previously a CAAN president for a term of 2 years, she plans on using her unique experience to establish a community of specialized practitioners by connecting apheresis teams across Canada.
Justin Kim,
R.N.
Program Coordinator
A long-standing member of CAAN, Justin works at the largest apheresis facility for adults in Canada. He is dedicated to overseeing the organization’s development in order to better facilitate continuous learning and support for apheresis nurses & patients.
Kruti Parekh,
R.N.
Media Secretary
Kruti specializes in apheresis care for adults. With 7 years of apheresis experience working at the largest center in Canada, she hopes to use her knowledge and skillset to enhance best practices across the nation.
Ashley McNaughton,
R.N.
Treasurer
Ashley has been both, an adult & pediatric apheresis nurse over the past 7 years. She continues to enjoy advancing her knowledge and skillset in this growing field with the hope of optimizing patient experience.
Pam Wiseman,
R.N.
East Coast Representative
Pam has been a hematology/oncology nurse for the past 15 years with 10 of those years dedicated to apheresis. In 2020, she became the apheresis & stem cell transplant coordinator for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. She hopes to facilitate learning in apheresis for nurses in Eastern Canada.
Nicole de Grood,
R.N.
West Coast Representative
Nicole joins the CAAN team from the Apheresis Program in Vancouver, BC. She brings extensive knowledge and experience from her time in the ICU, ER, and Psychiatry. As one of the most experienced members of the VGH Apheresis Unit, she has cultivated a strong interest in this specialized field. In her current role, she focuses on precepting new nurses and fostering a unit culture that emphasizes education and advancements in apheresis.
Ana Franco,
R.N.
Bilingual Representative
Ana's nursing career spans over 30 years, with the last 10 devoted to adult apheresis in Montreal. Ana is dedicated to providing high standards of care, developing collaborative partnerships, and advancing apheresis practice in her unit. She has a true passion for learning , teaching, as well as professional growth.
Paulo Bautista,
R.N. MAN, CNEPH(C)
Prairies Representative
Paula is a registered nurse with 15 years of experience in plasmapheresis and hemodialysis. He works at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, specializing in therapeutic apheresis and kidney health. He’s passionate about advancing nursing education and improving patient care. Paulo is committed to training and mentoring nurses and an advocate of best practices in his specialty. He supports professional development and fosters connections through collaboration within the healthcare community.