2026 BD AWARD WINNERS

The CVAA Board of Directors are pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 - CVAA/BD Excellence in Vascular Access Management & Infusion Therapy Award!  The award recognizes the important contributions made in vascular access management and infusion therapy practice with a focus on peripheral IV therapy. 

Here is the presentation made to the winners!


Purpose of the award:

  • Promote safety and quality improvement in peripheral IV vascular access management and infusion practices for optimal patient outcomes 
  • Recognize champions in Canadian vascular access management and infusion therapy practice
  • Raise the awareness of the impact of individual contributions to system wide results

We had a great number of deserving applicants and the submissions were blindly reviewed by the Board of Directors. We are very pleased to announce the following recipients:

National Winner – Caroline Marchionni, RN, MScAdmin, MScA, Assistant Professor, Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montréal, QC

  • Caroline led innovation in vascular access education at McGill, transforming the undergraduate curriculum to embed evidence-based VAIN (vascular access and infusion nursing)  and PIV best practices using entry-to-practice competencies and current standards
  • Caroline founded and scaled the Vascular Access Student Club (VASC), delivering 40+ educational events (e.g., hands-on PIV infection labs and multidisciplinary workshops) and building a national pipeline for vascular access skills, leadership, and mentorship through data-driven quality improvement, 
  • Caroline improved learner confidence and clinical outcomes, demonstrating increased USG-PIV competency, reduced reinsertion attempts, and improved patient comfort—particularly in DIVA populations
  • Caroline champions hands-on, competency-based training, leading ultrasound-guided PIV workshops and advancing skills in ANTT, central line care, and complication prevention across both academic and clinical settings
  • Caroline extends her impact nationally through research and CVAA leadership, publishing validated tools for PIV confidence assessment and revitalizing CVAA Quebec to advance best practices and guideline adoption across Canada

Regional Winner - Hannah Timbers, RPN, USG PIV Project, Business Lead, CarePartners, Tara, ON

  • Hannah led the implementation of Ultrasound-guided PIV practices, improving first-attempt success, reducing complications, and enhancing patient comfort across community care settings
  • Hannah champions patient safety and quality improvement, with a strong focus on CLABSI prevention, aseptic technique, and evidence-based vascular access practices
  • Hannah is a respected clinical leader and mentor, empowering frontline nurses through education, hands-on training, and sustained competency development through structured change management, 
  • Hannah drives sustainable practice change, embedding best practices, audits, and quality indicators into everyday care
  • Hannah’s work delivers measurable improvements in patient outcomes and experience, supporting harm reduction, care standardization, and clinical excellence across CarePartners

Regional Winner – Shelby Leblanc, RN, BScN, Systemic Therapy, Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program, Yarmouth Regional Hospital, Brooklyn, NS

  • Shelby exemplifies excellence in vascular access and infusion therapy within Oncology Systemic Therapy, directly influencing patient outcomes, safety, and quality of care
  • Shelby champions patient and clinician safety, demonstrating meticulous adherence to evidence-based techniques that reduce complications such as infection, infiltration, and catheter failure
  • Shelby is recognized for her strong clinical judgment and efficiency, ensuring timely device selection, minimizing delays, and optimizing patient flow and treatment delivery through consistent application of best practices
  • Shelby drives care standardization, supporting improved outcomes and reducing variation across oncology care settings
  • Shelby’s professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to continuous learning elevate both patient experience and clinical excellence within her organization
     

CVAA is appreciative of the initiative and support of BD Canada, one of our 2026 Bronze Corporate Members, and wish to thank them for funding this award.

PAST BD AWARD WINNERS

2025 CVAA/BD Excellence in Vascular Access Management & Infusion Therapy Award

Regional and National Winners:
First Place/NATIONAL and REGIONAL Winner – Sarah Gallie, Hospital for SickKids, Newmarket, ON
Second Place/REGIONAL Winner – Ilka Chobanova, Interior Health Authority - Royal Inland Hospital, Kamloops, BC
Third Place/REGIONAL Winner - Jennifer Theis, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Waterloo, ON

2024 CVAA/BD Excellence in Vascular Access Management & Infusion Therapy Award

Regional and National Winners:
First Place/NATIONAL and REGIONAL Winner – Gillian Weppler, IV Therapy, St. Mary’s General Hospital, Waterloo, ON
Second Place/REGIONAL Winner – Sarajayne Charnley, Ambulatory Care/PICC Team, Headwaters Health Care Centre, Orangeville, ON
Third Place/REGIONAL Winner - Emily Panke, Level II Neonatal ICU (SCBU)/ Nursery/Labour and Delivery, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Bermuda

2023 CVAA/BD Excellence in Vascular Access Management & Infusion Therapy Award

Regional and National Winners:
First Place/NATIONAL and REGIONAL Winner – Bryan Kitchen, Clinical Resource Nurse Vascular Access PICC Program, Health Sciences Centre, MB
Second Place/REGIONAL Winner – Nadine Smith, Clinical Educator, Infusion Therapy, IWK Children’s Hospital NS

2022 CVAA/BD Excellence in Vascular Access Management & Infusion Therapy Award

Regional and National Winners:
First Place/NATIONAL and REGIONAL Winner – Lollita Rahaman, William Osler Health System, Brampton, ON
Second Place/REGIONAL Winner – Sandra Vaz-Gonsalves, Alberta Health Services - Peter Lougheed Centre, Calgary, AB
Third Place/REGIONAL Winner – Kimberlei Dool, Chilliwack General Hospital, Chilliwack, BC

2021 CVAA/BD Excellence in Vascular Access Management & Infusion Therapy Award

Regional and National Winners:
First Place/NATIONAL and REGIONAL Winner – Krista Getson, Prince County Hospital, Summerside PE
Second Place/REGIONAL Winner – Demar Thompson, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Bermuda
Third Place/REGIONAL Winner – Patricia Connick, PConnick Consulting, Bracebridge, ON

2020 CVAA/BD Excellence in Vascular Access Management & Infusion Therapy Award 

Regional and National Winners:
First Place/NATIONAL Winner – Julia Casey, NB 
Second Place/REGIONAL Winner – Chanda MacDonald, NS 
Third Place/REGIONAL Winner – Miranda Harrington (Board Student Ambassador), Madolyn Connolly and Catherine Farmer joint founding members of McGill Ingram School of Nursing (ISON) Vascular Access Student Club (VASC) 

2019 CVAA/BD Excellence in Vascular Access Management & Infusion Therapy Award

Regional and National Winners:
First Place/NATIONAL Winner – Tracey Hagan-O'Connor, PEI
Second Place/REGIONAL Winner – Kathleen Toth, BC
Third Place/REGIONAL Winner – Nicole Jackson, Bermuda

2018 CVAA/BD Excellence in Vascular Access Management & Infusion Therapy Award

Regional and National Winners:
First Place/NATIONAL Winner – Tannia Agnot-Johnston, Winnipeg, MB
Second Place/REGIONAL Winner – Janice Buttle, New Glasgow, NS
Third Place/REGIONAL Winner – Nancy Friesen, Winnipeg, MB

2017 CVAA/BD Excellence in Vascular Access Management & Infusion Therapy Award

Regional and National Winners:
• First Place/NATIONAL Winner – Shelley Lacelle, Sudbury, ON
• Second Place/REGIONAL Winner – Cathy Duerksen, Vancouver, BC
• Third Place/REGIONAL Winner – Nathan Best, Vancouver, BC

2016 CVAA/BD Excellence in Optimal Vascular Access & Infusion Therapy Award

Regional and National Winners:
• East (Quebec and Maritime provinces) NATIONAL – Kim Bowness - Health PEI Prince County Hospital - Alberton, PE
• West (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) REGIONAL – Kristie Naayer - Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre - Abbotsford, BC
• Central (Ontario, Bermuda) REGIONAL – Carmen Cernusca - Niagara Health System - Welland, ON

2015 CVAA/BD Excellence in Infusion Therapy Award

Regional and National Winners:
• West (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) NATIONAL – Cherie Pinkerton - Winnipeg, MB
• Central (Ontario, Bermuda) REGIONAL – Daphne Broadhurst and Diane Roscoe - Ottawa, ON

2014 CVAA/BD Excellence in Infusion Therapy Award

Regional and National Winners:
• West (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) NATIONAL – Tami Jemson - Lake Country, BC
• Central (Ontario, Bermuda) REGIONAL  – Kristin Goncalves - Mississauga, ON
• East (Quebec and Maritime provinces) REGIONAL – France Paquet - Montreal, QC