Ginette Lemire Rodger Scholarship

I happened upon nursing thanks to some wise advice from my older sister, who happened to be visiting me as I filled out my university application at 17 years old. She observed over my shoulder when I was puzzling over the “pick a major” page and suggested, “you should do nursing. It’s science, its people, and it’s a good way to live out what you believe…and you can travel the world with it.” The logic of it still resonates to me today. 

I have worked mainly in emergency (7 years) and community health (8 years) in British Columbia since graduating at age 21, as well as some transcultural experiences. These areas have given me a unique lens to see possibilities of system change at both downstream and upstream levels of health care. For this reason, I am currently doing my Masters in Health Administration through the University of British Columbia, a two-year program. 

In the words of Dr Jane Philpott from her new book Health For All (2024), I have begun to think about how I can “get my hands on some levers” to influence system change, after working mostly on the individual level for my career so far. Especially in light of the human resources crisis in healthcare, I hope to influence cultural changes so nurses are once again energised to go to work for a job that is always learning, relational, meaningful, and properly appreciated.