Helen Healey RN, BScN
Director, Accreditation Services
Accreditation Specialist, Vancouver
As Director, Accreditation Services, Ms. Healey is responsible for the co-ordination and planning of the accreditation process.
Helen comes to the Diagnostic Accreditation Program from Fraser Health, where she held the position of Manager, Risk Management Systems. Helen provided leadership in the development of Fraser Health’s risk management, client relations, and patient safety systems. She led and facilitated the development of a quality review structure and processes, the establishment of risk management practices on all fronts of the organization, and contributed significantly to the foundation of an enterprise-wide approach to risk management.
Previously Helen was a Quality Management Advisor for the former Fraser South Region, where she provided leadership in the areas of quality improvement, and served as a key resource during preparation for regional Accreditation surveys by the CCHSA.
Helen has a BSc.N (Hon) from the University of British Columbia with a background in ICU, and CCU nursing. She also has experience in clinical research.
Nisha Esmail RN, BScN, MHA
Manager, Surveyor Operations
Nisha Esmail has recently joined the Diagnostic Accreditation Program (DAP) as the Manager of Surveyor Operations.
Nisha has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Victoria, and a Masters in Health Administration from the University of British Columbia. Previous to her role at the DAP, Nisha has gained several years of experience as a Clinical Analyst with Providence Health Care (PHC), where she supported the Operating Room System. She was also selected to participate in the Administrative Residency Program at PHC where she had the opportunity to work with the Senior Leadership Team on many large scale projects and initiatives. Nisha is also an active volunteer with over 10 years of voluntary experience in various organizations.
Nisha is the main point of contact for all of the DAP’s surveying activities including recruitment, retention, orientation, development and scheduling of all surveyors to fulfill the DAP’s on-site surveying mandate.
Karin Kijek RT
Proficiency Testing Specialist
Karin brings to the Proficiency Testing Specialist role a background in the medical laboratory field that has spanned over 30 years. She has spent 12 years as a Laboratory Technologist in both research and clinical diagnostics before moving into a sales capacity with Bio-Rad Laboratories. In this role, she was recognized for her proactive customer support and developing loyal client relationships.
Karin has also worked in various capacities for HealthMetrx and Randox Laboratories gaining considerable experience in interpretation and troubleshooting of quality control and proficiency testing data.
Lorna Tom BSc, RT
Accreditation Specialist, Fraser
Lorna comes to the Diagnostic Accreditation Program from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) Laboratory Services where as a Laboratory Technologist, she acquired experience in a clinical, environmental, and research capacity.
At the BCCDC, her most recent position was in Quality Management as the Laboratory Quality Specialist – Drinking Water. Her role was in assisting with the implementation of Quality Management Systems for Laboratory Services as well as developing and coordinating quality assurance programs for provincial drinking water testing laboratories. She was also involved in the University of British Columbia (UBC) Enhanced Water Quality Assurance Program (EWQA) as an auditor.
Lorna has a BSc. in Microbiology from UBC and an RT in Microbiology. She has also completed certificates in Management Systems from the BC Institute of Technology and in Laboratory Quality Management from the UBC Program Office for Laboratory Quality Management.
Catherine Sheppard, RT
Accreditation Specialist,
Northern & Vancouver Island
As Accreditation Specialist, Cathy is the first point of contact for clients in this geographic area. She is responsible for coordination and support of the accreditation process and cycle.
Cathy has been successful attaining her position at the Diagnostic Accreditation Program based on previous experience and continuing education activities. Arriving from PHSA Laboratories as a Quality Specialist, her responsibilities included occurrence management, process improvement, preparation for accreditation and, design and implementation of a quality management system (QMS). This environment allowed for exposure to specialty laboratory services such as research, high-volume and provincial referral center.
Previously, Cathy was a Laboratory Manager and technologist in a remote laboratory, which included implementation of a QMS in preparation for accreditation.
Cathy is a CSMLS Registered Technologist and has attained a Clinical Laboratory Management Certificate through the Michener Institute in Toronto, Ontario. 
Gail McNabb, BSc, ART
Accreditation Specialist, Interior
Gail joins the Diagnostic Accreditation Program after previously holding the position of Laboratory Manager for the high volume Lane Level Lab at the Provincial Health Services Authority and technical supervisory positions at BC Centre for Disease Control and St. Joseph’s Health Centre in London, Ontario. These positions included the involvement in Continuous Quality Improvement Committees, Quality teams, and assisting these Labs in attaining accreditation status from the Diagnostic Accreditation Program and College of American Pathologists (CAP).
Gail was also involved in quality initiatives for the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario and received continuing educational courses in quality management in Ontario. She recently completed the Laboratory Quality Management Certificate Program from the University of British Columbia.
Gail’s education achievements include an Honours BSc. in Bacteriology and Immunology from the University of Western Ontario, a General RT and ART in Virology.
Gail is the first point of contact for the DAP’s client organizations in the Interior health region of British Columbia.