Emily is the Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator for the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative and OVCARE. In her new role, Emily is motivated to implement and develop initiatives to improve the accessibility of information related to gynecologic cancer care. Emily’s research and professional interests focus on addressing how gender and sex, and other social determinants of health, influence the health of all women+. Emily has diverse research experience in studying sexual health, endometriosis, miscarriage, and HIV related care. Clinically Emily has 5 years of experience working in childbirth, early pregnancy, and recurrent pregnancy loss care as a Registered Nurse.

1. What kind of impact do you hope to make as GCI Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator?

What appealed to me the most about this role was the opportunity to make information more accessible to patients, clinicians, researchers, decision makers, and so forth. A lot of the time when change is proposed in the healthcare system, there are barriers due to a lack of information about the change, why it is important, and how to implement it into a unique environment. With this role of Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator, I am hoping to bridge that gap to ensure that changes can be delivered efficiently and effectively so that at the end of the day, patients can receive more positive outcomes.

2. How has your clinical experience as a nurse contributed to your approach to this role?

I am so grateful for my clinical experience. Working as a nurse taught me how to advocate for patients and gave me the opportunity to witness different barriers in the healthcare system.  It has also given me insight into how the healthcare system can adapt to better meet the needs of patients.  

3. What do you enjoy most about working at the GCI?

So far, I like the diversity of the role and the opportunity to take on many different responsibilities. For the coordinator component, I get to form connections and support the rollout of large projects. I am also able to do KMb things to support the GCI, like creating stickers and planning activities for kids to participate in. With such a variety of responsibilities I am taking on, I enjoy how they allow me to exercise different parts of my skillset.

Also, the team here at the GCI is a very well-rounded and great network of people who have the right intentions and strong goals aimed at improving the way healthcare is delivered to patients and how patients experience their care.  

4. What are some interesting projects you have worked on or will be working on in the near future?

I am excited to engage with the Patient and Family Advisory Committee (PFAC). I think it is a unique and privileged position to be in to be able to learn from the patients and understand what the priorities in care are. I am also excited about some of the other projects where I get to take on the KT role and oversee the development of knowledge translation activities from the beginning to its end. For instance, the Accelerator Grant that I am working on right now is focused on developing toolkits, with the collaboration of patients and clinicians, that would help to standardize care across the country.

5. What are your career goals moving forward?

My goal is to build a portfolio of knowledge translation abilities and skills so that I can learn more about implementation science and knowledge translation as a discipline. Overall, my goal is to gain more insight on how change is made in the healthcare system and what doors that might open in terms of healthcare leadership.

6. How do you like to spend your free time?

I am learning to sew right now, which is proving much more difficult than I would have expected. I also like to take roller skating, yoga and pilates classes.

7. Name at least one person to send appreciation message? and why? 

My shoutout would go to my friend and mentor Pearl, who is a nurse I met working at the Early Pregnancy and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Clinics at BC Women’s. Since starting there, she has taken me under her wing, and we started working together on a bunch of different projects and research activities. She has always been great at helping me learn the ways of the healthcare system as well as getting me inspired and excited about different ideas.