Where did you complete medical school and residency?
Dalhousie Medical School for medical school
University of Calgary for Neurology Residency and Fellowship (Stroke)
Why did you choose your field of specialty?
The brain is a fascinating organism, and originally I chose neurosciences so that I could learn more about memory and learning, as well as muscle control. Then in medical school, I observed how neurologists regularly work with teams of health care professionals, and this multidisciplinary approach appealed to me. At the end of my residency, I was very torn about subspecialty neurology, as I had done a PhD in neuromuscular medicine and considered becoming a physician-scientist. However, I found that I really enjoyed acute medicine and treating patients in the emergency room. In the end, I chose stroke neurology, as it allowed me to help people in their time of need and follow them in clinic for longitudinal follow up.
What is most meaningful to you about practicing medicine?
When a patient has a stroke, their life could potentially change irrevocably. As a stroke neurologist, I find the most meaning in attending to patients in this acute period. During this time, we educate, help make decisions and communicate with patients and their families; I enjoy these parts of my job the most. In addition, we can then follow along with our patients and families along their stroke journey. Following patients allows me to get to know my patients and to engage in important "detective work ."We work hard to determine the cause of strokes as this helps us tailor medications and therapies to each individual. Overall, I find following patients across all aspects of their stroke journey to be highly rewarding and meaningful.
Stroke medicine is also very unique in how we work with many other health professionals, such as nurses, allied health, and emergency room staff, including paramedics on a daily basis. I enjoy the collaborative work environment, and I look forward to building our excellent team that is involved in stroke care across the Island.
What are your professional interests and notable achievements?
I am very interested in the delivery of stroke care and transport medicine. I have been working with BC Ambulance Services for the past three years to help improve the transportation of stroke patients on the Island. We have been able to enact the first bypass protocols in BC so that patients can be appropriately transferred in an efficient manner. We started with one bypass, and we have been able to extend this program to serve most of the Gulf Islands and the Northern Island region. I enjoy working with other health care professionals to expand our services and improve care! I also enjoy the expanding and changing world of stroke medicine. We will work hard with our colleagues in the emergency room and the pharmacy to introduce new medications to help patients. I think education and planning are so important for stroke care, and I look forward to being directly involved in these initiatives.
What are your hopes for the future of healthcare?
I hope we will be able to provide uniform and excellent care to every resident of Vancouver Island and the surrounding Islands.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
My love of the outdoors drew me to Vancouver Island, and I continue to recharge by hiking, biking and camping! I especially love gravel cycling and mountain biking. I enjoy travelling around the Island and exploring new trails on the weekends. In the winter, I cross-country ski. When I have longer vacations, I enjoy travelling for long-distance hikes. I have completed the Laugavegur trek in Iceland, the Mont Blanc circuit in Europe and the Torres del Paine circuit in Argentina. I hope to go to Nepal one day!