Dean's Message

Welcome to SIAST's Science and Health Services programs.

Faculty and staff in the Science and Health Division are committed to providing students with excellent education experiences.  Our goal is to offer quality programs that produce highly skilled graduates - graduates who are ready for exciting jobs in a wide variety of science fields and health professions.  We pursue community, industry, educational and provincial partnerships that enhance our students’ educational experiences, and we serve our communities by acting as a resource for their training needs through continuing education courses and programs.

Our programs
Our Science programs—offering diplomas in Veterinary Technology, Chemical Technology and Biotechnology—prepare students for rewarding careers that underscore their scientific knowledge, analytical abilities and laboratory skills. 

Our Health Services programs, with certificates and diplomas in Dental Assisting and Hygiene, Medical Diagnostics, Health Information Management, Paramedic Programs, Pharmacy Technician, and Continuing Care, help students develop the skills necessary to provide exceptional health care service to those in need. 

These nationally accredited programs include hands-on industry training or a practicum, ensuring that students are job-ready upon graduation.  As with all SIAST programs, Science and Health Services programs feature small classes and opportunities for one-on-one instruction.

Our faculty
As the dean of Science and Health, I am privileged to serve an amazing team of faculty and staff, many of whom are SIAST graduates.  I am consistently awed and inspired by their dedication to the well-being of our students and to the integrity of our programs.  They go above and beyond to engage our students in stimulating, cutting edge experiential teaching and learning practices that serve as launching pads into successful technical careers for our graduates in Saskatchewan.

Sincerely,
Lynda Kushnir Pekrul,
Dean of Science and Health

About Lynda
Lynda holds a BScN from the University of Saskatchewan, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Diploma in Critical Care Nursing from the Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba.  She has worked in nursing and the health care system for many years, and has held senior management positions with regulatory bodies and professional associations, corporate, provincial and federal employers.   Before joining SIAST in 2009, Lynda was the Regional Nursing Officer and Director of Primary Health Services for Health Canada, First Nations and Inuit Health. 

Lynda's professional commitments have included provincial, national and international activities.  Most notably, she was President of the Canadian Nurses' Association, 1998-2000, and served terms representing Canada at the International Council of Nurses, and with the Commonwealth Nurses Federation.  Lynda has participated in a variety of international projects, including projects for WHO-PAHO in the Caribbean, lecture tours with the Brazilian Nurses Association, and health system assessments for the Canadian Partners-in-Progress Projects, Ukraine.   Lynda's research, presentation and publication focus has been on workplace violence in the health care system.