Board of Directors & Bylaws

Brent Kitchen

Enterprise Risk Management, Saskatchewan Health Authority - Executive Director

Brent has a unique breadth of experience gained through progressively responsible leadership roles over 20 years in the former Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region. Brent served as Executive Director of Patient and Employee Safety, Director of the Quality and Strategy Business Unit for the Surgical Services, Women’s and Children’s, Ambulatory Care and Kidney Program portfolio, Director of Risk Management and Regional Manager of Respiratory Services. Brent’s certificate in Risk Management and Safety through the Canadian Health Care Association, his completion of the Saskatchewan Leadership Program, his Lean Leader certification as well as his certificate in Health Care Administration through the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Commerce are important contributors to his achievements.

Frank Suchorab

Oliver Lodge - Executive Director/CEO

Frank is currently the Executive Director/CEO of Oliver Lodge in Saskatoon where he provides oversight to a 140-bed special care home, day program and 69-space low-income senior apartment. Frank brings over 33 years of Saskatchewan health care experience inclusive of frontline positions in both provincial and federal forensic health care facilities as well as progressive leadership roles in primary care, acute care and continuing care.

Frank is a dually trained psychiatric and registered nurse who holds a BSN from the University of Saskatchewan. He remains very active in his professional body. Provincially he is a College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) Workplace Educator and Discipline Committee member. Nationally Frank represents the CRNS as a member of the Canadian Nurses Protective Society.

Frank is LEAN Leader trained and he has been a longstanding ethics committee member for both the SHA and now SHA Affiliate group.  Frank is committed to growing innovative care initiatives and healthy, respectful policy disruption in order to enhance compassionate, patient/resident centered, safe and quality health care delivery.

Heather Monaghan

Association of Personal Care Home Operators of Saskatchewan

Heather served as Director, Vice President, and Acting President of the Association of Personal Care Home Operators of Saskatchewan while sitting on its Board for over 15 years. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse and has owned and operated 4 Personal Care Homes as well as provided private Home Care services in Southern Saskatchewan.

Heather has served as a consultant for the Ministry of Health on several of their Personal Care Home projects in the areas of care staff training and policy development.

Heather holds her Bachelor of Education and is currently an adult educator at Regina Trades & Skills Centre for their Personal Support Assistant course. She has taught high school students with Prairie Valley School Division and worked as an adult educator with St. John’s Ambulance and the Canadian Mental Health Association periodically over the past 25 years.

Heather is actively involved in the fields of education and public service as they pertain to both Mental Health and Senior Care. She has provided many presentations to seniors’ groups and to community service organizations, such as the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan. Heather strives to educate others in all aspects of senior care and support, including those of safety, and she works with seniors to promote quality of life and quality of care.

Kyle Matthies

Organizational Development & Employee Wellness, Saskatchewan Health Authority - Executive Director

In his portfolio with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Kyle is the lead in organizational and leadership development, healthy workplace, return to work, accommodations, attendance management, succession planning and staff orientation. In his previous role as Vice President, People and Quality for the former Five Hills Health Region, Kyle was responsible for Human Resources, Communications, Continuous Improvement, Occupational Health, Patient and Staff Safety and Patient and Family-Centered Care.

Through projects such as the design and development of the new Regional Hospital in Moose Jaw, Kyle has had the opportunity to experience the importance of building relationships and working collaboratively with patients, families, staff and physicians, in order to ensure the safe delivery of quality health care services. He graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Education and is a certified and practicing Lean Leader.

Mike Edge

Staff Safety, Saskatchewan Health Authority - Executive Director

Mike is the Executive Director, Staff Safety and is located in Saskatoon. He has been with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) since 2014 working in several roles including Director, Human Resources Business Partnerships (HRBP) – Urban Saskatoon and Acting Executive Director – HR Business Partnerships.

Before joining the SHA, Mike served as an Emergency Medical Technician in Spiritwood, SK, where he provided round-the-clock emergency care in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals. His time as an Emergency Medical Technician honed his ability to respond effectively in high-pressure situations and prioritize patient well-being.

Mike’s commitment to safety and quality extends beyond healthcare. He also worked in Cameco’s Safety, Health, Radiation, Environment, and Quality portfolio. In this role, Mike focused on maintaining and improving the radiation safety program at the mine site, working closely with provincial inspectors and federal regulators to ensure compliance with safety protocols and reporting requirements. Additionally, Mike served as a member of the mine rescue team and emergency response team during his tenure at Cameco.

From an educational standpoint, Mike holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Queens University and a Bachelor of Science in Toxicology from the University of Saskatchewan. This academic foundation, combined with his extensive practical experience, equips Mike with a strong understanding of business operations, organizational development, and the importance of regulatory compliance.

Driven by his passion for continuous improvement and fostering a robust safety culture, Mike is dedicated to collaborating with key stakeholders and system partners. He strives to create safer workplaces and enhance the well-being of staff within healthcare.

Karen Abrey

Continuing Care, Saskatchewan Health Authority - Executive Director

Karen is a Registered Nurse and comes to this role with over 36 years’ experience in both Primary Health care and Continuing Care settings, most recently as Director of Continuing Care for the SW. She has worked within Occupational Health nursing both in the private and public sector and within the educational system of Rural Community colleges. Karen is a SIAST graduate in Diploma Nursing as well as a Diploma trained Gerontology and Occupational Health nurse. She has completed the Saskatchewan Leadership Program and is currently enrolled in the Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Program. Her commitment to advocating for resident-directed care supports the development of partnerships within the System and partners in Health to ensure the right care in the right place. Karen is committed to supporting her passion of providing a high standard in quality of life for residents that supports recognition of individuality and the right to choose while partnering with families to support best possible care.

Denise Dick

Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) - First Vice President

Denise Dick, RN, is currently the First Vice-President for the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) and has been an active member within her Union since the start of her career in 1982. Denise began her registered nursing career 31 years ago at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan on the Pediatric Unit, followed by her experience on the Surgical Unit. For the past 17 years Denise has been making a difference in the lives of women and children on the Women’s Health Unit which consists of Labour and Delivery, Nursery, Postpartum and Women’s Surgeries.

Denise’s involvement with Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) started early in her career when she was asked to represent SUN during an OH&S Committee meeting; it was then that her passion for safety and her activism was ignited. Denise continued to represent SUN as the Co-chair of Moose Jaw Union Hospital’s Joint OH&S Committee for 10 years. Denise’s tenure as OH&S Co-chair was during a time when Health Regions were being developed and Districts were being phased out, thus there was a need to develop strong safety programs and regional safety policies. During her time as Co-chair, the OH&S Committee at Moose Jaw Union Hospital developed a number of new safety policies including ones specific to violence and harassment, as well as conducted many inspections of work sites.

Denise has completed a number of different courses regarding OH&S – both available through the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety as well as through the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) – and continued to share her passion for safety by participating on the SFL OH&S Committee and co-facilitating workshops at the SFL’s OH&S Conference held each year.

Denise truly believes that safety is a part of everything we do; if we were to each take responsibility for what we can change, life would be so much better for everyone.

Jason Monteith

Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) West - Vice President

Jason Monteith is the Vice-President for SEIU-West, a province-wide union local that represents over 13,000 members who work in a multitude of sectors in Saskatchewan. He began his career with the Saskatchewan Health Authority in 1998 and served as shop steward for over 20 years and as Unit Chair at Royal University Hospital (RUH) since 2013. He worked as a 4^th Class Power Engineer and Licensed Refrigeration Engineer at RUH in Saskatoon. Jason is a proud SEIU-West member and Union activist committed to fairness and who advocates tirelessly for worker rights.

Jason has a true passion for Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S). He has many years of experience serving on OH&S committees and has received ongoing training through both the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety and his Union. Because of his strong belief in empowering workers through education, Jason has dedicated his time as a facilitator delivering several OH&S training sessions though both his Union and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL). He is currently the chair of the SFL’s OH&S and Workers’ Compensation Committee.

Jason is excited to be a part of the SASWH Board and eager to see the improvements that can be made when everyone works collaboratively toward the common goal of making safer workplaces across the province.

Krishna Vegunta

Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan (HSAS) - Physiotherapist

Krishna Vegunta was born and raised in India, and moved to Germany where he completed training to become a Physical Therapist in 1990. Since that time, he has practiced in Germany and Canada in a diverse range of healthcare environments, including acute care, rehab, and private practice. Krishna is currently working in home care for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. In addition to his work as a PT, Krishna also spent four years as an instructor for the Transferring Lifting Repositioning (TLR®) Program ©. He looks forward to his time on the board and contributing to SASWH making advancements towards their shared vision of workplace health and safety: a priority for all.

Corinne Sopel

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Region 5, Local 5430 - General Vice President

Corinne has worked in healthcare for over 26 years in various classifications (dietary, ESW, LSW, MSW, CCA). She was an active trainer for many years, training the TLR and PART programs to SHA staff. She was an active member of the OH&S committee as a member and a co-chair with a passion for safety in the workplace for both staff and clients. Corinne is currently the General Vice President for CUPE 5430 Region 5 (former Sunrise Health Region) and has been in this elected position for the past three years. Prior to that she was in the elected position as Regional Vice President for the same region for two years prior. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, walking and reading. Corinne is an active pickleball player and also enjoys traveling. She looks forward to working together as part of the SASWH Board.

Genny Goodyear

Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU) - Health Information Management Practitioner

Genny Goodyear is an experienced and dedicated healthcare worker who takes great pride in contributing to a safe and healthy environment for all employees and patients. Genny resides in rural Saskatchewan and works at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre. Throughout her 36 years with the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Genny has worked various positions including: office clerk, porter, and her current position, Health Information Management Practitioner.

 In addition to her vast experience as a dedicated healthcare professional, Genny is a proud and active member of SGEU on both the local and provincial levels. Genny has held numerous elected positions with SGEU including, current co-chair of Saskatoon, Member of Provincial Grievance Committee, Member of Joint Job Evaluation Committee, Member of Provincial Council, and Vice Chair of the Health Sector.

Genny is passionate in her belief that a safe and respectful work environment is a crucial element to providing exceptional health care. In April of 2023, Genny will bring this passion to her role as the new Vice President of the Health Sector.

Nick Fattore

Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan (HSAS) - Labour Relations Officer

Nick Fattore is a dedicated advocate for workplace safety and the well-being of workers in Saskatchewan. Currently serving as a Labour Relations Officer (LRO) for the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan (HSAS) in Regina, Nick brings a wealth of experience in promoting and advocating for safe and equitable working conditions for healthcare workers in the province.

Prior to his role at HSAS, Nick held positions within the Saskatchewan Health Authority, where he contributed to Labour Relations and Occupational Health and Safety initiatives. As an Occupational Health and Safety Staff Specialist, he promoted a culture of safety across multiple facilities. He actively participated in various safety-based committees, including Occupational Health Committees, Fire Safety and Planning Committee, Emergency Preparedness Committee, and Opioid Exposure Response Committee. Nick’s responsibilities included identifying and mitigating workplace hazards, conducting thorough incident investigations, and implementing effective workplace safety policies and procedures.

Nick earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from the University of Saskatchewan, where he developed a passion for healthcare and an understanding of the challenges faced by healthcare workers in maintaining a safe work environment. Driven by a commitment to continuous improvement, Nick has pursued opportunities to enhance his expertise in workplace safety, completing several occupational health and safety training programs and LEAN management courses. His dedication to promoting workplace safety and supporting healthcare workers underscores his commitment to creating safe and healthy work environments for all individuals in Saskatchewan. He looks forward to working collaboratively with fellow board members to drive meaningful change and ensure the safety and well-being of all healthcare professionals across the province.