Canadian Nurses Association installs 46th president: Dr. Karima Velji, RN, CHE, of Toronto, Ontario

WINNIPEG, June 18, 2014 /CNW/ - Dr. Karima Velji, RN, CHE, was officially installed as the 46th president of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) during today's closing ceremonies at its highly successful biennial convention in Winnipeg. As president, she will represent 151,404 registered nurse (RN) members across Canada.

"As the national representative for the registered nursing profession, I will be guided by the principles of engagement and accountability," said Velji. "It is so important to unleash the power of registered nurses and to demonstrate the impact of the care we provide. I want to inspire my fellow nurses to realize the powerful difference we are making in the lives of those we serve, so we can safeguard the exceptional trust Canadians place in us."

Velji is a health-care executive with more than 25 years of progressive leadership experience spanning the full continuum of care. Her expertise is in the development and implementation of innovative models of care, interprofessional practice and quality/safety systems. She has consulted with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in Ontario and with Toronto's Central Local Health Integration Network. A peer-funded scholar, awards recipient and sought-after speaker, Velji is also the newly-appointed vice chair of Accreditation Canada's board of directors. Most recently, she was the chief operating officer and chief nursing executive at Baycrest, a global leader in innovations on aging and brain health, and was vice-president of patient care and chief nursing executive at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, now a program in the University Health Network.

The change of command comes as CNA concludes its annual meeting and biennial convention. CNA's presidents are elected to the volunteer position by CNA's voting membership. Velji spent the past two years as president-elect and receives the chain of office from outgoing president Dr. Barb Mildon. Mildon is currently vice-president of professional practice and research and chief nurse executive at the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. CNA's new president-elect is Barbara Shellian.

CNA is the national professional voice of registered nurses in Canada. A federation of 11 provincial and territorial nursing associations and colleges representing 151,404 registered nurses, CNA advances the practice and profession of nursing to improve health outcomes and strengthen Canada's publicly funded, not-for-profit health system.

SOURCE: Canadian Nurses Association

For further information: For more information or interview requests, please contact: Kate Headley, External Communications Coordinator, Canadian Nurses Association, Telephone: [phone], ext. 561, Cell: 613-697-7507, E-mail: [e-mail]