Meet Anuka, one of our skilled and caring Nurse Practitioners.

Each month we are excited to meet up with one of our team members. This month we sat down for a quick conversation with Anuka, one of our hardworking and skilled Nurse Practitioners. We hope you enjoy getting to know Anuka!

What is your educational and work background?

Prior to my employment at Winterberry, I worked primarily in Emergency as well Community Health Nursing in remote communities. For my education, I completed my undergraduate degree at McMaster University, and my master’s degree at the University of Toronto.

What made you want to be a Nurse Practitioner?

It was mostly my time in Community Health Nursing, my experience working in those communities as a practitioner made me realize how much a primary care practitioner can influence a patient across their lifespan.

What made you want to be part of the Winterberry team compared to other clinics?

I knew I wanted to be part of a clinic that emphasized a team-based approach to patient care. I know there are advantages and disadvantages to the model, but in my experience having team-based care ensures that no practitioner works in isolation and there is always support for those tricky cases that inevitably pop up.

What type of work do you do in your daily work with patients?

The same work as all the Nurse Practitioners at Winterberry! We conduct physical exams, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and develop treatment plans. We also provide health education and counseling to help patients manage any acute or chronic conditions.

Is there an average day? If yes, what does it look like?

A typical day involves seeing patients for routine and acute health concerns as well as managing patients with chronic illnesses. I also portion out some time to call patients back with results from any tests that were ordered and do prescription renewals. 

What is your favourite part of being an NP?

My favorite part of being an NP is helping a patient solve a problem. It’s not always possible as healthcare can be so complicated, but that moment where I can listen to a patient express a particular concern and then being able to address that concern in a way that meaningfully improves their life is incredibly rewarding.

When you’re not improving patient lives at Winterberry, what will we find you doing?

When I am not at work, I will likely be outdoors enjoying the sun with my wife and our little dog. Unless it’s winter, in which case you will find me indoors waiting for the sun to arrive.