Kimberly Derkach, RN, BScN, earned her degree in Nursing from the University of Saskatchewan, where she is now a Nursing faculty member and Instructor. Kim’s nursing experience has been specialized in the areas of neuroscience, neurosurgery, education, special needs, pediatrics, caregiving, geriatrics, chronic care, and mental health and wellness. Through both personal health challenges and her nursing experience, Kim has developed a passion for holistic therapies as they have completely enhanced her life.  She learned to heal her physical and mental health by balancing her work life, spending time in nature, nourishing her body and implementing daily breath, meditation, mindfulness, gratitude and faith based practices. Kim is also a mental health advocate with a focus on grief, loss, and chronic disease. She believes that in order for true healing to occur one must consider all levels of healing; physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. At times when one aspect is out of balance all areas suffer. From this integrated approach, she assists those who are suffering develop compassion, build resiliency and embrace their story. As a Nurse Kim recognizes that every illness has a story, but that we also always have the opportunity to rewrite our story. Together we can support each other as we grow and heal. Community is powerful medicine.

Sherry Hole, RN, BN, MN first graduated, in 1991, with a diploma in nursing, followed by a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Nursing, a Certificate in Mental Health Nursing and a Diploma in University Teaching from UNB, New Brunswick where she has been teaching nursing since 2007. She is also a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor. She recently obtained certification as an Integrative Mental Health Coach, and certification as a Holistic Nurse (HN-BC) and a Health & Wellness Nurse Coach (HWNC-BC) through the American Holistic Nurses Association. Her areas of expertise also include administration, geriatrics, caregiving, chronic care, and psychiatric mental health and wellness. Sherry’s a passion for holistic interventions, mindfulness, and self-care arise from personal experience and her belief that everyone has the innate ability and inner wisdom to heal themselves. She attributes her success as a Holistic Nurse to her experience serving as an Executive Board Member of CHNA since 2015. Her goal is to honour each individual’s unique experience with illness and health while offering guidance and support during their healing journey.

Linda Muzio RN, BScN MSA, has had the pleasure of practicing registered nursing for over 38 years. She graduated from Queens College-City University of NY, with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, New York University(NYU) with a BScN (where she was introduced to Therapeutic Touch), and completed a Masters in Health Administration from Central Michigan University. Linda’s career spans all of the domains of nursing-clinical, education, research, administration and policy and recently retired from her position of Project Manager and Nursing Practice Consultant with the SRNA, the regulatory body for RNs in Saskatchewan. While at the SRNA she provided support to RNs who applied to have their holistic nursing practice hours recognized as RN hours for licensure. Evidence from the literature demonstrates that energy and other holistic therapies work. Linda believes wholeheartedly that nurses practicing holistic therapies should have recognition from their provincial/jurisdictional regulatory bodies so that they can continue to practice and identify themselves as nurses. Well positioned to be leaders in holistic health, nurses possess the competencies and bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this field of healing. Linda employs Therapeutic Touch, Reiki and Healing Touch in her healing practice. She has been a board member of CHNA since 2008, holding positions of regional representative and president.

Danielle is a Registered Nurse in Newfoundland. In 2004, Danielle graduated from Dalhousie University with a double major in Psychology and Philosophy. With a keen interest in Psychology, well-being and mental health, Danielle continued her studies and completed her honours in Psychology at Memorial University. While working on her Masters in Humanities, Danielle began to feel the need to travel and to broaden her horizons. She left her studies behind and spent a year teaching English in South Korea where she developed an interest in meditation, energy healing and chakras. Since returning to Canada, Danielle has completed the Bachelor of Nursing program from Memorial University and has obtained her certificate in Basic and Advanced Foot Care Management. Currently, Danielle works as an acute care nurse on a medicine and palliative ward. She has also opened her own independent practice in foot care as a mobile foot care nurse. As the owner of Dawe Holistic Foot Care, Danielle is specifically interested in providing an overall sense of wellness to her clients through such interventions as routine and advanced foot care, reflexology, chakra balancing, and tarot.