Melvin Kellie Award

With a background in Biochemistry and a short stint in the Banking sector, I found myself yearning for fulfillment in my career. My husband and some friends suggested Nursing which was immediately appealing to me as I wanted to work in healthcare while also interacting closely with the public. My experience thus far has been very rewarding as I have come to realize the many amazing opportunities that nursing has to offer. I currently work as an orthopedic surgery nurse with a largely geriatric population which gives me a great vantage point when it comes to understanding their needs. It also helps me identify deficits in the healthcare system affecting this cohort, as well as possible solutions to address their concerns. This is what inspired me to pursue my masters, as it allows me to conduct research geared towards improving provision of care to patients and their caregivers in acute care settings particularly for people with neurodegenerative disorders. My current focus is on the use of assistive technology in acute care settings to improve the experiences of people with dementia and their caregivers. I am extremely grateful to have the support of my family, supervisors, and funding agencies such CNF that allow me to do this work.