Collaborative Care Team


Our Family Health Team includes a wide range of health care professionals who provide health programs, services, and health education.

The members of our collaborative care team ensure that patients receive specific, high-quality care:

Programs Administration

Jo Ann Newell

Medical Administrator

Jo Ann has been a medical receptionist for more than 35 years. She is also the manager of the Kawartha Lakes After Hours Clinic. Jo Ann holds a certificate in medical administration from Durham College and has a sterling reputation for being patient-centred, supportive and flexible while retaining her outgoing and upbeat demeanour. Jo Ann and her family live here locally.

Programs Coordinator

Debbie McLeod

B.Sc.N, ENCc, RN

Debbie has been our Family Health Programs Co-ordinator for the past 10 years and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from Ryerson University.
She has held several different nursing roles throughout her 30 + year career mainly in Critical Care Emergency Nursing as well as Administrative Co-ordinator of the Nursing Division at Ross Memorial Hospital.
Debbie’s special interest is health promotion and disease prevention.
She and her family reside in Lindsay.

Clinical Social Worker

Susan Hudson

MSW, RSW

Susan joined the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team in December 2022 as a registered social worker, bringing over 25 years of interdisciplinary social work experience.

She holds a Social Work Honours Diploma from Humber College, an Honours B.A. from Guelph University, and a Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University. Susan is trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Gottman Theory, Mindfulness, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Susan values social justice and inclusivity and works with clients through a trauma-informed lens. In her personal time, she enjoys spending time outdoors to recharge.

Clinical Social Worker

Taylor Pypker

BSW, MSW, RSW

Taylor is a Registered Social Worker practicing at the Family Health Team, bringing a strong academic foundation and diverse clinical experience.

She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours, With Distinction) from Wilfrid Laurier University, where she was a Dean's Honour Roll recipient. Her placement experience spans hospital, community, and child welfare settings — including Lakeridge Health Hospital, SOAR Community Services, and Hamilton Child and Family Supports — providing her with a well-rounded foundation across a broad range of client populations and practice environments.

Taylor is committed to trauma-informed, client-centred, and strengths-based care, and is passionate about supporting the patients of the City of Kawartha Lakes and the surrounding community.