President
Jennifer Mador
Jennifer Mador has been a Nurse Practitioner for over 10 years with clinical experiences ranging from rural health, emergency care, inpatient family medicine and family practice. She has practiced across Canada in the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta. She has been a part of the NPAA board of directors since 2021 working predominantly on the independent practice initiative through her roles as Director of Rural Primary Care and Vice President.
She is also a doctoral student at Johns Hopkins University completing an MBA and DNP combined degree. It is through these studies that she hopes to bring modern leadership skills and business acumen to the role of NPAA president while incorporating her previous clinical experiences.
She is passionate about the pivotal role of Nurse Practitioners within the healthcare landscape and recognizes these benefits have yet to be realized within the province of Alberta. She will strive to maintain the momentum created by her predecessors in working towards strong NP representation, improved patient access and quality of care in Alberta.
Past President
Dr Susan Prendergast
Dr. Susan Prendergast NP has been involved in Nurse Practitioner curriculum design, education regulation, and research for over 15 years in Alberta as well as Nova Scotia and British Columbia. Graduating with her undergraduate degree from McMaster University, she worked as a RN in the NICU and public health in Ontario, B.C. and Alberta. As well, Susan was fortunate to be able to complete her Midwifery education and to work alongside pregnant and birthing women in New Zealand.
Susan’s experiences working overseas spurred an interest in her to pursue a graduate degree. Since completing her MN-NP, Susan has worked in primary care with women and unattached patients but also, as a second support to local Midwives.
Susan’s research passions center around birth and mothering and as well, Nurse Practitioner education and practice. Susan continues to work clinically as a NP and is the owner and Clinical Director of Ellithia Healthcare, a primary care practice where she provides care virtually for people seeking support with fertility and endocrine health.
Treasurer
Corinne Oneill
Corinne has over 25 years experience in the healthcare industry.
Corinne is passionate about equitable access to all Albertans and the role of NPs in Primary Care.
In her free time she can be found travelling and volunteering with animals.
Secretary
Jennifer Danielsen
After spending the majority of my RN career working in Northern Manitoba it was a natural progression to complete my Nurse Practitioner training. I graduated from the NP All Ages program in 2017. Since this time I have been fortunate to work in a rural all ages primary care NP position. It was here that I found my passion for primary care and keeping Albertans healthy and out of the hospital. I was inspired to join the NPAA to assist in advocating for Nurse Practitioners, to improve the role and develop a sustainable funding model. I am thrilled to be starting my second term and look forward to continuing to connect with NPs, stakeholders and Albertans to improve access to NPs and the important care they provide to patients both in primary and acute care settings. I actively practice for the CRPCN in Chestermere and have an aesthetics practice. When I am not working you can find me trying a new coffee shop, biking, kayaking or completing a DIY project around my house.
Director of Education
Dr. Mohamed El-Hussein
Dr. El-Hussein is a Ph.D. prepared NP who has been working in academia for the past 20 years. He is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, in the Faculty of Health, Community and Education at MRU where he has taught for the past decade. He’s also an adjunct Associate Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary.
Dr. El-Hussein has published over 35 articles in a variety of national and international nursing journals and always has research projects on the go. Dr. El-Hussein’s impact on nursing education in Canada is reflected in his contributions to the science of nursing education through publications, grants, presentations and through other knowledge dissemination activities. Mohamed’s research program focuses on clinical reasoning in nursing practice and the utilization of innovative teaching strategies to enhance critical thinking among nurses. To stay current in clinical practice as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) Dr. El-Hussein continues to hold a casual position as an NP in the division of Cardiology at the Rockyview General Hospital
As a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and academic Dr. El Hussein sees himself as a Knowledge broker who has the knowledge and expertise to facilitate bridging the gap between research and practice to improve outcomes for patients and keep his students up to date. Because he remains clinically active, Dr. El Hussein’s research is grounded in the day-to-day issues pertaining to patients and relevant to the students. As a researcher immersed in a clinical setting Dr. El Hussein is in an excellent position to identify what research questions matter to the patient, to the nursing students, and to the profession. He is in a prime position to interpret and apply research findings in a practical and useful way.
Director of Communications
Darwin Lahue
Darwin Lahue NP, MN, MSc is known for his passion for patient care and in providing high quality healthcare to patients. With an extensive NP work experience, which includes correctional health, psychiatric emergency care, primary health care, telemedicine and urgent care services, he has developed a comprehensive approach in providing compassionate medical services to each patient. Currently, Darwin can be found spending his time disseminating updates to the NPAA group as the director of communications, and providing high quality healthcare in the Urgent Care setting.
Director of Membership
Christiane Eitzenberger
Christiane Eitzenberger commenced her nursing career in 2007 upon graduation from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Nursing Degree. She gained valuable experience in a southern Alberta semi-rural primary care clinic, and quickly recognized the importance and value that Nurse Practitioners bring to the Health Care System; Christiane subsequently obtained her Master of Nursing Degree as a Nurse Practitioner (Family All Ages) through Athabasca University in 2015. She presently continues her work at the Bigelow Fowler Clinics in Lethbridge as part of the Chinook Primary Care Network, providing primary care to Albertans with a specialization in diabetes and obesity care.
Christiane additionally holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from the University of Liechtenstein, and the sum of her education and experiences suit her well to advocate for the Nurse Practitioner role in Alberta.
In her free time, she can be found travelling, mountain biking or simply enjoying a walk with her dog in the Lethbridge coulees.