As a manager currently on the COVID team at Toronto Public Health, I bring 25 years of nursing experience augmented by a lifelong passion for learning. My most recent accomplishments include a doctorate in health administration and becoming a certified health executive. Prior to this, I completed a master of community health and a bachelor of science in nursing. With more than 20 years of clinical experience in a variety of health sectors including long-term care, acute maternal-infant care, community nursing, public health and nursing education, I then moved into formal leadership roles.

During the past 10 years, I have held a number of leadership positions in a variety of public health programs. This includes child and family health programs, vulnerable adult seniors programs and nutrition programs. I also served as an acting director for healthy communities programs in Toronto Public Health. I was also a volunteer board chair of a violence against women shelter for two terms. This position involved governance of policies and procedures, working with the executive director to address emerging issues, monitoring of financial statements and meeting board requirements for the provincial ministry. Always keen to share my knowledge and expertise, I served as a sessional instructor at Ryerson University where I taught in the post–registered nurse (RN) diploma program for eight years.

I served as a representative on RNAO’s Board of Directors from 2013-2017 and provided leadership and guidance to Region 7’s executive which serves more than 3,000 members. During this time, I worked with the executive to facilitate executive meetings, annual general meetings, awards and recognition ceremonies and I represented RNAO at provincial and municipal levels. I served in other RNAO roles such as executive member for the Maternal Child Nurses’ Interest Group and constituency member. I have also served as the Region 7 team lead for Queen’s Park Day, Queen’s Park on the Road, Nursing Week and Take Your MPP To Work. During these activities, I advocated for healthy public policy on poverty, housing, enhancing the role of RNs and nurse practitioners (NP), supervised injection services, pharmacare and not-for-profit health care.

I believe that RNAO must continue to be a strong voice for ongoing and new nursing and health-care issues. We must advocate for health system transformation and provincial policy that will support a better tomorrow for all citizens in acute care, community and the places where our seniors call home. By using nursing knowledge, advocacy, research and best practice guidelines, we will promote excellence in health care in Ontario, Canada and around the world.

I also envision reducing anti-Black racism in nursing. As a member of RNAO’s Black Nurses Task Force, I am committed to strengthening our health-care system by supporting emerging leaders and increasing awareness on all forms of racism and discrimination.

Leadership philosophy: Leaders must have a vision for excellence, commit to health-care transformation and inspire individuals to act. Leaders must be effective, genuine and respectful communicators. Health leaders collaborate with others to improve health-care outcomes for all, provincially and internationally.