Dr. Helen Mussallem Award
My name is Kateryna Aksenchuk and I am entering my second year of Master of Nursing studies at Ryerson University. I was very honored to receive the Canadian Nurses Foundation Dr. Helen Mussallem Award. This award means so much to me because of my deep desire to continuously advance myself through education. Graduating from the Ryerson University Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in 2011, I decided to go back to school right away and obtain a graduate degree in nursing. It is through awards such as this that I am able to continue to study and advance myself professionally. As well, receiving an award with a name of a highly distinguished individual in nursing, such as Dr. Helen Mussallem, further pushes me to strive for success in all areas of my nursing career and makes me realize that there are no limits to what I can achieve. By the Fall of 2013, I hope to complete my thesis on patients’ experiences with interprofessional care and apply for a PhD in Nursing program. During my doctorate education, I wish to delve deeper into my interest with interprofessional practice and combine it with my passion for gerontology. With the rising elderly population, daily advancements in medical technology, and constant pressures on our healthcare system to cut down costs, the care delivery has become very complex. I feel that interprofessional care and practice can be an ideal solution to overcoming the issues we as healthcare professionals are met with in our current healthcare system. Placing the patient at the center of the care delivery and working together to create better health outcomes will make a difference. It is my intention that the research I am conducting within the field of interprofessional care and practice will make an impact on care delivery and the nursing profession as we move forward into the challenging future. Upon completion of my PhD studies, I want to become a nursing educator and instruct future nurses with the same passion for the profession as I have witnessed in all my educators throughout the years.
