Board member bios

Joanne Cabrera (Zerk) — President

I dreamed of being a nurse since I was a little girl. I always knew I wanted to be in health care. Those dreams were nearly dashed in my early 20's but I worked as hard as I knew how to find a way. I was accepted to the Mount Royal Nursing program in 1984.

Since graduating in 1986, I have worked primarily for Alberta Health Services in various roles. In 2009, I completed my Masters degree in Health Science.

Aside from a wonderful career, I am a busy grandmother of 4, mother of three and active member of the ATA (Alberta Triathlon Association). I enjoy reconnecting with old friends and colleagues and meeting new ones through the alumni association. I hope to inspire my grandchildren to pursue health in any form by example, and to chase their dreams until the catch them - just as I have done.

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Deborah Chernichko (Mandryk) — Past President

I graduated from the Mount Royal Diploma program in 1986. I am married and have two children; a daughter and a son. I am currently working in mental health services with Alberta Health Services.

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Elsa Katherina van Goudoever— Vice President

I have truly enjoyed all my involvement with Mount Royal University Nursing. I graduated in 2011, and was actually part of the Alumni Chapter two years prior serving as the Director-at-Large/Student Representative.  I am currently working as a casual RN at Bethany Cochrane and Bethany Harvest Hills, as well as the Outpatient Urology Clinic at the Rockyview, where I had my final focus. I have many goals for my future nursing career that I look forward to pursuing. I am proud to be an alumni and cannot wait for many upcoming years with the Nursing Alumni Chapter and all the enjoyment it entails.

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Nabil Rombough  — Treasurer


As a proud member of the Mount Royal Nursing Alumni Chapter, I am devoted to providing past, present, and future nursing alumni with resources, support, and a friendly social environment for all to enjoy. I am currently attending Mount Royal University Nursing program and will be a future nursing alumni in 2013.

The support provided to me through the Nursing Alumni Chapter has been bountiful, and I am driven to extend this support to all Mount Royal Nursing Alumni.

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Cynthia Myrhaug— Secretary

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Darlene Dawson — Director at-Large/Faculty Representative

I am a graduate of the Mount Royal College Diploma Nursing Program. As well, I completed the inaugural Adult Critical Care Program, in the focus area of cardiovascular nursing, which at that time was a part of the Foothills Hospital School of Nursing. I went on to complete my Bachelor of Nursing, and also my Master of Nursing from the University of Calgary. I have worked in various areas of acute care and community settings. I have had a strong focus in cardiovascular medical and surgical nursing, critical care, worked as a clinical instructor, had middle management experience, participated in data collection and research, and was a Parish Nurse. My love of community and faith has been married together as I am now is a representative and Chair of the Board of the Canadian Association of Parish Nursing Ministry.

As a wife and mother of three grown children and the grandmother of three, I balance my time between work, family, and friends. As an active member of my church community, I serve in ministries serving the poor. I enjoy traveling, singing, gardening, reading and an array of crafts that include knitting, sewing, and painting.

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Nabil Rombough — Director-at-Large/Student Representative

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Liz Gail Nicholson — Director-at-Large

I graduated from Mount Royal University in 1988 as a mother of two young children. My career started in medical teaching at the Calgary General Hospital and after three years, I moved to the ICU/CCU. There I spent the next 17 years as a bedside RN and Clinician. I was involved in the restructuring of services and ultimately the permanent move to the Peter Lougheed Center and sadly watched the implosion of the old hospital. I spent a brief time in ER until I ended up in my current position as a Lung Transplant and Pulmonary Hypertension Coordinator for Southern Alberta.

A few firsts (and a last) I had the honour of participating in:

- The first code blue at the PLC NU 44 3rd day as a GN
- The first group of RN's trained to start IVs at the Calgary General Hospital that was not on the IV team
- The Last Code Team to leave the old Calgary General Hospital
- The first group of RNs to run CRRT in ICU
- The first group of RNs to initiate the Code 66 team at the PLC
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