Biography
I was born and raised in a small town in northern Alberta. I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature and English from the University of Alberta before moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba. My professional background includes nearly a decade as a policy advisor/issue manager for the Premier of Manitoba and project manager working in the Premier’s Policy and Planning Committee of Cabinet. During my time with government I gained experience in strategic communications, policy development and issues management. I also have a background in the performing and literary arts as a musician and published author and member of the Board of Directors of Prairie Fire literary magazine.
As a student in the University of Manitoba’s Master of Physician Assistant program CAPA, I acted as student representative to CAPA from 2014-2016. I graduated with my MPAS degree in 2016 and I am excited and proud to be working as a PA in the challenging field of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.
We have come a long way as health care practitioners in provinces like Manitoba during the past decade, but there is more work to be done in terms of public education and relationship-building with elected representatives and policy makers at provincial and federal levels of government. I am excited about the future of the profession and our limitless potential to help sustain and improve patient care in all areas of medicine.
Platform
I believe that effective advocacy and public communication are two keys to sustaining and expanding the success of PAs in the prairie provinces. If elected, I will draw on my years of experience in government working with media and lawmakers to further the PA profession in the region.
- The targeted advocacy aimed at provincial and federal decision makers by CAPA, including the regulation of PAs as practitioners recognized federally under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, is an important national function of our association.
I will also advocate for PAs in the prairie region by:
- Acting as an accessible and knowledgeable collaborator with provincial government representatives in provinces with working PAs and as a strong advocate for introduction of PAs where the profession is not integrated into the health workforce.
- Carrying out twice yearly surveys of regional CAPA members to determine priorities of PAs working in a variety of fields and bringing these concerns and ideas to CAPA leadership and representatives of provincial and federal governments.
- Encouraging prairie PAs (including students) to be active CAPA members via regular in-person and telephone meetings.
- We as PAs also need to be aware of the public perception of the profession and consistently work to improve public awareness of the scope and value of our role within healthcare teams. We have accomplished a lot in the way of raising awareness of PAs and our skills, but there’s more to do. That’s why I will place a high priority on strengthening public education efforts in the prairie provinces by:
- Establishing relationships with media in rural and urban communities to ensure that community members are aware of the role PAs play in their care and the breadth and scope of the profession.
- PAs working in rural and remote areas have the potential to be community medical leaders and their role in their respective communities should be highlighted in local media and at local health-related events.
- Working to establish and publicise a roster of PAs to act as medical experts accessible and health advocates to media and other bodies seeking commentary on a wide range of healthcare topics (i.e. rural health, family practice, psychiatry).
- Actively advocating for media coverage of the profession and related healthcare issues, representing PAs and promoting them as highly-trained and important members of sustainable healthcare teams.