Welcome! Let’s start easy. What excites you about the work you do?

My passion lies in making meaningful change both for the people we serve but also for those who are working with those people. I am a tireless advocate for excellent care and service. I do my best work in collaboration with others and in teams. Healthcare is the most complex industry, and one view will not bring us to the reform and change that is required today. I am strategic and visionary. I thrive in work environments that have energy and passion. I love to create possibility where maybe there isn’t and create leadership among care providers who may not have seen that as a possibility for them. I am and will always be a nurse—that is my reference group, but equally I know that nurses must play in a cast of interprofessional and interdisciplinary team members to contribute to excellent patient care.

When I reflect on some of the goodbye wishes I’ve received in the last couple of weeks since the announcement of my move, a pretty resonating theme is my commitment to high quality patient care and service. What does that mean to people, what do they come to Holland Bloorview to receive, and then how do they get the care and service? It’s that whole experience that excites me. Holland Bloorview is a beacon, so well-known for excellence. My goal is to continue that drive for excellence—especially in the current environment where some of the values we have held so near and dear are being challenged through this pandemic. We must keep learning and recreating together.

What is one of your career highlights?

The nursing process has you plan something, do something and then look back and evaluate how it went. One of my sources of great pride is redesigning what now is referred to as the family birthing centre at Michael Garron Hospital. It’s as old as my twins [laughs], and they’re 18 years old. I ended up having them in that birthing centre when it opened. There was a lot of leadership turnover during that planning phase. Through that process, we changed the service delivery model and we moved into a physical environment that supported that service delivery model. Out 20 years, it’s still vibrant. We looked at not only implementing the recent trends driving where clients and families wanted to go in terms of their birthing experience, but we also listened to staff, physicians and donors. I’m really proud that we were able to grow and sustain the program and space over time.

What drew you to Holland Bloorview?

I was drawn to Holland Bloorview for its mission to improving the lives of children and youth—the “no boundaries” mission to remove barriers and see everyone for the strengths they have. Then there’s the reputation. You don’t have to look far or talk to many people before you get that this is a really magical place for children and youth. People are very proud, and there’s a legacy here that’s been built over the years. All the people who started their careers here as students say that their best years were at Holland Bloorview.

The ability to blend operational management and a focus on nursing is sort of my sweet spot. Also, I am thrilled and excited to have the ability to work with practitioners from a variety of backgrounds and all categories of nursing. We can’t be successful as a discipline on our own.

I was drawn not only to the great organization but also to the leaders of Holland Bloorview. I was drawn to Julia [Hanigsberg, president and CEO of Holland Bloorview]. I had a sense that Julia would be a great person as a mentor, as a courageous leader. I value lifelong learning, and having the opportunity to learn from great leaders is essential. Julia has presence and warmth—it’s in her eyes. Even with a mask on, you can see her eyes dance with energy and compassion! I have met many leaders now at Holland Bloorview and I will be privileged to learn from all of them.

This is a new client population for me. Working with people with disabilities, the diversity, which is so, so key in our context right now—I’m excited to learn about what that means.

And then there is the academic agenda, too. I’ve always had a goal to be part of an academic teaching environment. That relationship with the university, with students, with learning and research—there’s a combination there that is essential if we really want to innovate and change for the better.

What are your short-term goals?

One of my short-term goals is to spend a lot of time listening and appreciating the really great work that happens at Holland Bloorview. I want to understand what the key priorities might be. I also want to get to know direct-care professionals and staff—building strong relationships builds trust and teamwork!

OK, now it’s time for the lightning round. In which area of the city do you live?

I’ve lived in East York for most of my life. I love the access to the ravine system and Toronto life!

Do you have a partner, kids, a pet?

No pets … yet, although my boys are sure we will get a dog at some point! I’ve been married for 30 years to a fantastic man—my best friend. I have three fantastic boys—a 20-year-old who’s in his third year of business at Laurier and twin boys who are 18, and they just started in business at Laurier as well. They have kept me very busy for the last 20 years. They were great all-around athletes and played competitive hockey right through high school.

What’s the last film you watched?

My husband and I watch movies, but our tastes differ somewhat! I enjoy the classics like The Wizard of Oz. I also enjoy romantic TV dramas—I watched the whole Downton Abbey series and recently enjoyed Outlander as well.

If a song were to be written about your life, which performer or band would you want to sing it?

My family loves country music. There are a couple of songs that Thomas Rhett wrote—“Marry Me” is one, where he shows the narrative of a person’s life as they meet their significant other and how they grow up together and have kids. I would say probably someone like him. He writes some meaningful ballads and they make me cry—he triggers the emotions.

You’re hosting a dinner party. Name three people, living or deceased, whom you’d invite?

I’d have to invite Florence Nightingale. I’d really want to talk to Florence about all the legacy work she did in terms of appreciating that people were more than their illness. She was a great mathematician, statistician, quality improvement expert and nurse! Of course, I would invite my mom and dad back to have another meal with me—they passed away a few years ago. I miss them very much and they made me who are I am today. OK, now I’m shedding a tear again!

You’re given a free trip anywhere in the world. Budget isn’t a concern, and neither is time. Where do you go and why?

I would go to Italy. I’m Italian; both my parents were Italian. I would take my family with me. I would love to take my kids back and to do a really meaningful tour. I had the benefit of doing it a few years ago, so I’d really like to expose them to the culture, the food, the beliefs, the language, the architecture, to be able to pass along that knowledge.

What’s your favourite food?

I would have to say it’s a pasta of some kind. I could probably eat pasta every day. I make a great Bolognese sauce, but when I have a chance to eat out I always order an Alfredo or a white sauce. I haven’t mastered those to the same degree [laughs]. A nice homemade pasta with sauce is my favourite.

Which three adjectives would your closest friends use to describe you?

They would say I’m compassionate, energetic and fun! I love to find humour in life, which can be so stressful!