Congratulations to Dr. Stephenson for her position as Medical Lead, Collaborative Emergency Response. We asked Dr. Stephenson a few questions to get to know her, here is what she had to say.
Where did you complete medical school and residency?
Medical School: University of Calgary
Residency: UBC Rural Family Practice Program
Additional training: In Africa and New Zealand before returning to Canada to write the Emergency Medicine exams.
Why did you choose your field of specialty?
Emergency Medicine is my perfect job. I get to help people when they most need help, I get to work as part of a fantastic team, and every day/night is different and endlessly challenging on many levels.
What is most meaningful to you about practicing medicine?
The chance to help people with the challenges that life sends their way, no matter the challenge or who the person is. Everyone is unique and amazing in their own way.
What are your professional interests and notable achievements?
Emergency Medicine and Transport Medicine are both team sports. I have achieved nothing without my team. I have been part of teams that worked long hours in challenging situations helping their communities, navigating change, pandemics, weather disasters and resource deficits. Helping to build the CERT Team has been a long-held dream. I am grateful and humbled to have a chance to participate in CERT becoming a reality. The nurses, drivers and RTs that work together to get our patients where they need to go are talented, committed and genuinely kind people. They have made this whole experience so much fun! It is an honour to work with the CERT leadership team; my co-lead Matt Erickson from whom I learn daily, Katie McTaggart and Abby Howe, who are masters at building the team and Brian Lee, who is an amazing CNE and leader.
What are your hopes for the future of healthcare?
I hope we can navigate the significant change needed to make our systems sustainable and effective. We must find a way to change our system to be patient-driven and confront the colonialism and prejudice embedded in healthcare and society. These are long roads to walk, but we must walk them together. We have the opportunity to build new relationships with all our patients, particularly the first nation communities on whose land we live as uninvited guests. I am looking forward to paddling together to make things better for everyone.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy in your spare time?
Every second I am not working, I want to be with my amazing little girls, my furry babies and my husband. They are my life. Together we enjoy this beautiful land hiking, swimming, boating, biking, and paddling our SUPs.