Our Team
Lindsay Chiddenton, MN RN (she/her)
Clinical Manager of Quality, Innovation, Research & Training
Lindsay has a clinical background in nursing, and she has also held several leadership roles in areas such as patient safety and quality improvement. She has a particular interest in continuous and systematic improvement through a Learning Health System approach. Lindsay enjoys spending time with her family, camping and yoga.
Holly Murphy, MN, RN BScN, CPMHN(C) (she/her)
Advanced Practice Leader
Holly is a Master's prepared Registered Nurse with experience at IWK Health since 2003, in roles spanning clinical care, professional practice, patient safety, and management. As the Advanced Practice Leader for Trauma Informed Care, she is dedicated to fostering safer physical, psychological, cultural, and intersectional environments for clients, staff, and communities. Recognizing the deep connection between trauma-informed care, person- and family-centered care, and the principles of EDIRA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Accessibility), Holly believes these approaches must align to create truly inclusive and supportive environments. She values the power of partnerships, believing that collective efforts lead to the most impactful and sustainable change. She is also a strong advocate for staff wellness and resiliency, emphasizing the importance of doing meaningful work while maintaining personal well-being. Outside of work, Holly enjoys quality time with family and friends, practicing mindfulness, and being outdoors—especially by the ocean or around a campfire.
Tonya Grant, MSW, RSW (she/her)
NSH Provincial Clinical Lead for Trauma Informed Care
NSH Child/Youth Mental Health & Addictions Program
Tonya has worked for numerous years with children, youth, adults and their families as a MH&A Clinician and also in leadership roles to support practice. Tonya believes that overall well-being and collective resiliency is built from connection, relationships and social justice. Tonya enjoys history, music, travelling and spending lots of time with family and friends.
Trudy Flinn (she/her)
Administrative Assistant
Trudy joined the IWK MH Program in 2018 and oversees the administrative functions for the Trauma Informed Care team. She has more than 25 years’ experience as an administrative professional. Trudy enjoys spending time at her cottage with family and friends.
Amy Jones, MSW, RSW (she/her)
Clinical Social Worker & Co-Lead IWK/Dalhousie Family Therapy Training Clinic
Amy has been with the IWK MHA Program since 2003 and has worked extensively in the field of child and adolescent mental health as a clinician and clinical supervisor. She has a particular interest in family therapy, clinical supervision, and treatment of childhood trauma. Amy’s passions include time with family/friends, athletics, literature and travel.
Kimberley Clark (she/her)
Point of Care Mentor
Bio to come!
Prasanna Kariyawansa (he/him)
Trauma Informed Care Consultant
Prasanna is a settler who started his career a few decades ago in the IWK Health Mental Health & Addictions Program as a Youth Care Worker and is now a Social Worker. He has worked in several care areas ranging from intake services, day treatment services and inpatient care. He uses his past and current life experiences to guide his practice and draw attention to the resiliency, strengths and ongoing impacts of colonization on Mi’kmaq, African Nova Scotian and other equity deserving individuals, families and communities. In this role, he enjoys supporting professionals to integrate the principles of Trauma Informed Care into their daily practice. In his personal time, Prasanna enjoys time with his family, meditating and wilderness camping.
Colin James Morrison, MSW, RSW (he/him)
Trauma Informed Care Consultant
Colin has been with the IWK Health Centre for over 20 years, beginning as a youth care worker and later transitioning into his role as a clinical social worker. He has extensive experience working with children, youth, and families, specializing in trauma-informed practice, gender-sensitive approaches, and queer-affirming care.
In addition to his clinical work, Colin teaches part-time at Dalhousie University’s School of Social Work, where his research focuses on toxic or harmful masculinity and its impacts on the mental health and healing of male trauma survivors. Passionate about promoting healing and resilience, Colin combines research, education, and clinical practice to support individuals and communities.
Outside of work, Colin enjoys weekend hikes, outdoor adventures with his partner, and being a proud dad to two amazing cats.
Coleen Flynn, MSW RSW RMFT, she/her
Trauma Informed Care Consultant
Coleen is a Clinical Social Worker and Registered Marriage and Family Therapist that has worked at the IWK for over 20 years. Coleen began her IWK career as a clinician and team lead at Reproductive Mental Health Services and then moved to the role of clinician and admission co lead at Children’s Intensive Services. Recently, Coleen has worked at the Family Intensive Outreach Services as a clinician and ESFT supervisor.
Coleen has also taught at the Dalhousie School of Social Work in the Undergraduate and Graduate programs and presently has a private practice in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Coleen is excited to join the Trauma Informed Care team in the new role as a TIC Consultant.
Dr. Susan McWilliam, PhD (she/her)
Research and Evaluation Consultant
Sue completed her PhD and postdoctoral work at Dalhousie University in the Interdisciplinary Health Program (Health Administration, Health Promotion and Sociology) with a focus on community engagement and advocacy, program design, research, and evaluation. Sue started at the IWK in 2014 as the MHA Acting Advanced Practice Lead for Outcomes, Evaluation, and Research. She then co-created the Trauma Informed Care Program as the Research and Evaluation Lead. Sue is now supporting many MHA teams as a member of the new Learning Health System team. Sue’s work recognizes the importance of the social determinants of health, equity and access, and co-design. Sue’s research focuses on building a national blueprint for trauma informed care and better supporting care experienced youth. Sue loves her family, their dogs, baking, traveling and soccer.
