The registered nurses at Access Community Therapists are certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses (WOCN's) and are registered with the College of Registered Nurses of BC. Our nurses primarily work in wound care including wound assessment, treatment and management.
Our Nurses
Susan Andrews
Susan Andrews is a certified wound ostomy and continence nurse who works part time as an enterostomal therapist at the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster B.C. and also works with Access on the wound prevention program for spinal cord injured individuals. Susan recently participated in the creation of a Canadian Best Practice Guideline for Spinal Cord Injury and Pressure wounds and worked for several years at the Provincial Spinal Cord Injured Wound Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital. During this time she completed an electrical stimulation course and lead annual conferences related to Spinal Cord Injury and Wound Care. Susan completed her nursing degree in 1998 at the University of Victoria and her wound ostomy and continence course at Emory University in 2005.
Karen Desormeau
Registered Nurse
Cassandra Howlett
Cassandra has joined the Access team as a full time Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse. She graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Prior to this, she completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Cassandra combines her two passions to ensure her nursing practice encompasses mental health awareness, trauma informed practice, and cultural safety. Since becoming a Registered Nurse, Cassandra has gained experience in Home Health and Community settings. Cassandra believes in the holistic model of health care and enjoys meeting clients where they are in their lives and in their personal wellness journeys. Cassandra strives to support her client’s autonomy and focuses on health promotion/illness prevention through education. Cassandra is working towards becoming a certified wound, ostomy and continence nurse and is currently enrolled in the wound, ostomy and continence program at Emory University. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, traveling, yoga, and baking.
Fara Lambing
Fara obtained her registered nursing degree at BCIT in 2009 and has over fifteen years nursing experience. She has worked in a variety of settings including public health, geriatrics, palliative, acute care, home, and community health. Fara completed the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN) program at Emory University in 2022 and joined Access to provide assessment and consultative treatment for persons at risk of pressure injuries. Fara believes in patient-centered care where barriers are identified, and patients empowered to engage, and participate in, achieving their goals of care with positive outcomes.
In her spare time, Fara enjoys reading books, cooking, and playing with her cat
Jessica Lee
Jessica is a registered nurse that currently works part-time as a wound clinician in the primary care setting. She has previously worked in both acute care and home health before starting with Access. She completed the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse program at Emory University in 2018 and has been working as a WOCN since. She has a Bachelor of Nursing Degree from BCIT and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. When she’s not working she is likely travelling or out enjoying the sunshine on her paddleboard or bicycle.
Heather McMurtry
Heather has worked in a variety of nursing roles over the past 22 years. This has included surgical, medical, palliative and community based nursing. In 2009 she completed the Wound Ostomy and Continence program at Cleveland Clinic. She began working as a WOCN and joined the team at Access in 2011. She enjoys the hands on aspects of nursing as well as the opportunity to teach wound, Ostomy and continence skills to patients, nurses and other clinicians. Since joining Access, Heather has worked on the wound prevention team where she collaborates closely with OT's and PT's in ensuring that clients with spinal cord injury, brain injury or amputations remain wound-free. After work, she minds her bees, cycles with her husband and competes in triathlons.
Vladimir Medakovic
Vladimir, a true lifelong learner, is currently working as a Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN) but has studied in a variety of disciplines within the health care field: After graduating from the University of Belgrade (Serbia) in Dental Technology he enrolled in their Veterinary Medicine program. Upon moving to Canada in 1988 Vladimir continued his studies in health care - initially studying Psychology at York University then completing nursing training at the George Brown College in Toronto (1996) followed by completion of a Bachelor of Nursing degree at Athabasca University. In 2008 Vladimir completed the WOCN program at the Harrisburg Area program in Pennsylvania USA. In 2011 he graduated with a Masters of Nursing degree from the University of Southern Queensland. Vladimir has worked in a variety of nursing roles over the past 18 years, starting in acute care in Toronto, then as a Home Care Nurse and Case Manager in Ontario and then BC. He began working as a WOCN in 2008 at the Vancouver Coastal Health then as a Wound Clinic Nurse at Fraser Health in 2009, and joined the wound team at Access in 2010. Vladimir's interest in Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing includes: spinal cord injury related issues, pressure ulcers, arterial venous ulcers, complex wound care and clinical research and education.
Bonnie Nybo
Registered Nurse
Bonnie Nybo has worked as a nurse for over 30 years in various roles; many years were spent working in the acute ICU spine program at VGH, various outpatient clinics and in Rehabilitation at GF Strong. Bonnie received her NCA (Nurse Continence Advisor) designation in 2011 from McMaster University. Her current role is in the outpatient programs at GF Strong as the Clinical Resource Nurse/Nurse Continence Advisor. She also works with Access on the wound prevention program for Spinal Cord injured individuals. Bonnie’s focus is on Health Maintenance for people with spinal cord injury, with a special interest in continence. On her off days you might find her chasing her two grandsons or enjoying her “happy place” on the mountain.