QRS Educational Services

DARLENE HUTTON - PRESIDENT, CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS, ACLS-EP, ACLS INSTRUCTOR TRAINING, PROGRAM DEVELOPER AND PRESENTER FOR ECG INTERPRETATION, RHYTHM INTERPRETATION, CARDIOLOGY UPDATE.

Darlene Hutton, RN, BScN, MSN, has been a nurse since 1983 and has always had a passion for cardiology, research, evidence-based practice, education and resuscitation training. As a CCU manager, she led Quality Assurance initiatives on Improving Door to Needle times. As a Research manager, she participated in the first fibrinolytic trials and went on to coordinate research in heart failure, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, hypertension and diabetic trials. Many of these trials were game-changers in our current practice today. Darlene started QRS 30 years ago with the goal of providing high-quality courses to anyone anywhere, and all the high-quality instructors who work with QRS are equally passionate about education and resuscitation

SEVERINA (SEVI) CESTA - VICE PRESIDENT, CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS, ACLS-EP, CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR TRAINER

Sevi Cesta, BScN, RN, CNCC(C), MN, has been nursing for over 25 years. The majority of that time has been within her passion of Critical Care; from bedside, to Educator and currently Manager. Sevi has held a variety of other positions during her career including Clinical Research Coordinator, Faculty at Seneca College, and she holds an Adjunct Clinical Appointment with University of Toronto. Sevi is currently the co-lead for the code blue committee in her organization ensuring policies and practice are reflective of the latest Heart and Stroke standards. 

SCOTT CHUBBS - CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS, ACLE-EP, PALS, PEARS, PHTLS. MEDICAL DIRECTOR.

Scott has worked for 20 years in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). He was initially trained as Bachelor of Nursing, graduating from Memorial University of Nfld in 1995-99. He joined CAF 1996. His nursing experience includes: Med Surg, ER, Childrens' Hospital Eastern Ontario. His CAF experience includes deployments to Kabul and Kandahar (seconded to US 10th Mountain Division).

Scott started med school in Sep 2007 University of Ottawa, completed June 2011 and started Family Medicine in July 2011 with University of Toronto completing February 2014. 

He is a PALS, ACLS, TNCC, NRP instructor and Medical Director.  

BILL MCCREADIE - CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS, ACLS EP, PALS, PEARS. CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR TRAINER FOR BLS. 

Bill comes with a background in Pediatric Cardiovascular Perfusion, Experimental Surgery and Pathology and an extensive teaching history. He has taught in support of all levels of the health care industry including pre-hospital, nursing, physicians and other allied personnel. Bill has a strong foundation as an instructor and project manager in health care settings. He builds on his strong foundations in health care and a working knowledge of principles of adult education and leadership to provide a positive educational experience for all participants. 

BUD EYRE -   CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS, ACLS-EP.

Bud has been an instructor with QRS since 2010. His health care background includes paramedic and nursing. His nursing experience has taken place in rural hospitals to a large urban 32 bed ICU. With his work experience in psychiatry, med-surg, emergency and ICU, Bud is able to provide a dynamic course geared to the participants. 

Bud has also been heavily involved with community service and volunteer work, and has dedicated over 37 years and over 30,000 volunteer hours with St. John Ambulance. Bud has been a Commander in the Order of St. John as well as a recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal for outstanding contributions to his community. 

SUZANNE VANDERLIP: CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS, ACLS-EP

Suzanne Vanderlip, RN, BScN, CNCC(c) is an energetic and passionate nurse who began her career in orthopedics and sports medicine and then moved to critical care and has never looked back. She has worked in a variety of critical care settings, from trauma, cardiovascular, medicine and surgical ICUs, in several tertiary and community based hospitals. Suzanne is a graduate of Ryerson University completing her diploma, BScN and Masters in Nursing.  She currently works as a Professional Practice Leader in critical care and acute medicine and maintains her critical care CNA certification. In addition Suzanne is a certified Crisis Prevention and Intervention trainer.  She is a strong advocate for all members of the inter-professional team that work tirelessly in treating and caring for acutely ill patients. 

DANNY QUANN -   CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS, PALS, PEARS, TNCC

Danny Quann, RN (EC), MN, CEN, is a certified emergency/critical care RN with 16 years of experience and has worked in ED/ICU as a staff RN, a clinical educator, and a manager. His passion is resuscitation and enjoys teaching novice and experienced providers alike.

ANDREA MITCHELL: CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS

Andrea has worked in the critical care field for over 23 years.  Her background is in Emergency, Cardiac Catheterization Lab, and the Intensive Care unit.  Andrea is also a Critical Care Clinical Instructor for George Brown College.  She loves to share her knowledge and is looking forward to meeting with you.

MICHAEL ROFFEY - CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS, ACLS-EP

Michael has been a paramedic with Toronto EMS since 1999 and currently works as the Coordinator of Paramedic Practice at Sunnybrook Centre for Prehospital Medicine. He has extensive experience in education, program design and development, as well as teaching courses such as the Primary Care Paramedic Program, Advanced Care Paramedic Program and Continuing Medical Education programs. 

MARTIN JOHNSTON - CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS, ACLS-EP, PROGRAM PRESENTER OF THE QRS ADULT & PAEDIATRIC TRAUMA COURSE

Martin has been a Paramedic since 2002.  He is currently assigned as a Clinical Specialist Superintendent for Toronto Paramedic Services, Education and Development Unit.  Martin mainly oversees the practice of newly hired Paramedics during their first year of employment, assists with program development and delivery of the PCP and ACP programs and coordinates Paramedic placements with community colleges.  He has taught Paramedics, Nurses, Doctors, Firefighters, Police Officers and he is most proud of his teaching with our Canadian Military personnel. Martin has vast experience teaching trauma and ACLS courses to a wide range of audience.

JUANITA MAC IASSAC -  CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS

Juanita MacIassic, RN, BScN, MN, has been in nursing for over 30 years and has had the pleasure and opportunity to care for patients in all areas of the nursing field. 

While working in ICU, Juanita returned to school and obtained her BScN in Nursing. Juanita's goal is to teach others what she has learned throughout the years.  Juanita has taught full time at a community college and was impressed with the eagerness of the students to soak in all the knowledge and experience that they could.  Their positive attitude, eagerness to learn and grow inspired her to continue her learning and obtained her Master degree in Nursing in 2008.  She was the critical care and cardiology nurse educator where she taught and mentored nurses and she now works in a large urban Burn Unit.

 STEVE DARLING - CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS, ACLS-EP, PALS, PEARS

Steve has been involved in EMS for over 35 years in both Land and Air disciplines. Recently, Steve returned from Clinical practice with Ornge Transport Medicine, after holding a Deputy Chief position with York Region EMS.  Steve is passionate about medicine and enjoys sharing his knowledge to assist others to learn so they, in turn can pass on knowledge. Teaching also ensures that Steve is up-to-date on patient care advances.

RICHARD RENTA - CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS, PALS, PEARS

Rich has been a paramedic since 1998 and a Advanced Care Paramedic since 2002.  He has taught paramedic students at various colleges from 2004 to 2014.  Rich was a bike paramedic, rapid response paramedic and a Heart Alive Instructor, with experience as an Acting Supervisor/Superintendent. He was a Captain Leader with York Region Paramedic Services and on the peer support team.

EHSAN ADIBAN: CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS

Ehsan is an experienced Nurse and has been in the health care industry for more than 26 years. He started working as a nurse in Critical Care, Emergency and cardiology departments. Ehsan has been a member of European and American Life support group since 2006. He has taught many courses such as ALS, BLS, Disaster Management, Emergency care, BTLS, ATLS and many medical and nursing courses at colleges and universities in the Middle East and the North America.  

KAT DOWKER:  CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR BLS, ACLS

Kat Dowker, BScN, MScN, also holds Cardiovascular ICU, Coronary Care and Emergency Nursing Certificates, and is CNA certified in Emergency Nursing.  Kat has 13 years of Emergency and Cardiovascular critical care experience and she currently works as the clinical educator in the ER at Kingston General Hospital.  Kat is passionate about critical care, trauma, resuscitation and burnout.

PAMELA TWISELTON – July 18, 1958 - Oct. 18, 2016

We lost a very dear friend and QRS instructor on October 18, 2016. Pamela started working as a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) in 1985 and became an Advance Care Paramedic (ACP) in 1991. Up until her diagnosis of glioblastoma, she had been teaching PALS, ACLS, PEARS, and BLS for over 20 years. In early 2015, Pamela completed her Master’s in Education focusing on the adult learners in the inter-professional environment.