Meet our Team Archives - Winterberry Family Medicine

Each month we catch up to one of our Winterberry team members. This month, we spoke with Samantha who is one of our Registered Dieticians and an important part of many of our patient’s lives. We hope you enjoy getting to know Samantha and understanding her important role!

Samantha, how long have you been with Winterberry?

I have been with Winterberry since October of 2021.

Tell us about your work at Winterberry. What’s your role?

In my role as a Registered dietician at Winterberry, I have the privilege of collaborating with patients to set realistic, attainable goals that support their overall health.

I believe that nutrition is about more than just the foods we eat—it’s also about enjoyment, celebration, and nourishment. My approach involves helping patients make thoughtful changes to their current eating habits to support a wide range of health goals, including lowering cholesterol, managing blood sugar levels, supporting liver function, addressing gastrointestinal issues, and promoting healthy weight loss.

A core part of my practice is helping patients build a positive and balanced relationship with food. I truly love what I do, because I see how many people feel pressured to achieve a “perfect diet,” often driven by unrealistic expectations. I aim to dismantle those myths and help patients understand that all foods can have a place in a healthy lifestyle—and that nourishing our bodies can, and should, be enjoyable.

What made you want to be a Registered dietician (RD)?

I studied Biochemistry at Brock University, and in my third year, I began to struggle with the idea of working in a lab long term. I was hoping for a career that would allow me to build meaningful relationships and help others directly. When plagued with brain fog whilst studying for an Organic Chemistry exam, it became clear that I was not nourishing my body well (either that, or I’d spent so long studying molecules that I started to lose my own structure!). This turned into a passion for nutrition that I couldn’t ignore, and I decided to pursue a career as a Registered dietician.

What is your educational and work background as an RD?

I transferred to Ryerson University, where I enrolled in the Food and Nutrition Program, and later completed the Professional Masters Diploma in Dietetics at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. During this time, I not only learned to nourish myself, but I also discovered an immense joy in helping others do the same.

My Gastrointestinal Disorders Rotation provided valuable experience that I’ve applied to help Winterberry patients manage an array of digestive disorders. Additionally, through my Pediatric Rotation, I developed skills that I’ve applied to assist the youngest Winterberry patients with picky eating and the introduction of solid foods. I also have experience nourishing the most vulnerable of newborns, having worked at McMaster Children’s Hospital in the Neonatal ICU. There, I collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to calculate nutritional needs and prepare feeds for premature neonates.

I understand you are now a Certified Bariatric Educator, what kind of work do you do in that role?

Yes! Early April 2025 I obtained my Certified Bariatric Educator Certification and am very grateful for the knowledge and perspective that I gained. Obesity is a chronic disease rooted in brain neurochemistry and requires a multifactorial approach to care.

As a Registered dietician and CBE, I strive to provide client-centered care, helping patients set realistic dietary and activity goals aimed at fostering sustainable lifestyle changes.

My approach focuses on health rather than weight alone, encouraging patients to pay attention to improvements in their energy levels, how they feel, and key metabolic markers such as blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Recognizing the genetic, environmental, social, and psychological factors that impact weight, I ensure that my care is individualized to meet the unique needs of each patient.

What made you want to pursue the Certificate in Bariatric Education?

In my experience as a Registered dietician at Winterberry, I often see patients feeling discouraged and struggling with weight management. “I’m eating lots of fibre and protein and walking daily. Why isn’t the weight coming off!?” Despite making dietary changes and incorporating regular activity, many find it difficult to reach their goals, leading to frustration. I felt it was essential to deepen my understanding of the metabolic, environmental, genetic, and psychological factors that influence weight so I could better support my patients. Through this journey, I’ve gained a greater appreciation for the role of psychological interventions, pharmacological therapies, and surgical options in helping patients manage obesity as a chronic disease.

What makes Winterberry a unique place to work?

The Winterberry team has been welcoming, supportive, and accommodating from day one. I feel that I have the autonomy to create individualized Nutrition Care Plans for my patients, with the support of an exceptional healthcare team to provide multidisciplinary support as needed. I value my remote work that supports work-life balance, increased productivity, and reduced commuting stress.

Is there an average day at Winterberry?

An average day at Winterberry begins with logging into work, checking my emails, and reviewing and screening the patients scheduled for the day. Today, for example, I had a new intake with a patient on Ozempic who is working toward weight loss goals. They shared that physical limitations impact their ability to stay active, which often leads to reliance on take-out foods. Together, we explored simple strategies to optimize their protein intake and discussed bulk meal preparation to help make the healthy choice the easy choice.

Later, I met with a patient for a follow-up who has a history of bariatric surgery who I helped manage significant gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, including stomach pain and bloating. Although they had been doing well from a nutritional standpoint with managed GI symptoms, seeing a number on the scale that didn’t align with their expectations left them feeling discouraged and ready to “throw in the towel.” Our session focused on challenging the “all or nothing” mindset and reinforcing the understanding that health encompasses much more than just a number on the scale.

Throughout the day, I ensure that all nutrition encounters are accurately documented in our EMR system and communicate with other members of the care team as needed. I also make time to stay current with the latest evidence by reading scholarly nutrition articles and consulting Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition (PEN), ensuring that my interventions remain relevant, practical, and evidence-informed. Additionally, I enjoy creating nutrition resources—something I find both rewarding and impactful in supporting patient education and engagement.

What is your favourite part of your job?

My favorite part of this job is being able to make a meaningful difference in my patients’ lives. Today, I received one of the most rewarding compliments—a patient shared that my nutrition support has truly improved their quality of life, and they expressed gratitude for the thorough and genuine care I’ve provided. Moments like that are why I do what I do, and honestly, that’s all I could ever ask for.

When you’re not helping Winterberry patients, what will we find you doing?

When I’m not supporting patients at Winterberry, you’ll find me cooking for my family, taking my daughter to the park, going for walks with friends (latte in hand!), attending church, or planning dinner parties for loved ones. I also enjoy hiking, staying active with at-home Pilates—no excuses!—and unwinding by playing the piano. These moments bring balance and joy to my life and help fuel the energy I bring to my work.

Each month we catch up to one of our hard working and caring team members. This month we had the pleasure of finding out more about Hannah and her work at Winterberry. Enjoy this quick Q+A and join me as we thank Hannah for being part of our team!

Hannah, how long have you been with Winterberry?

I have been working at Winterberry since August 2024, so about 7 months now!

Tell us about your work at Winterberry. What’s your role?

I work as an RPN (Registered Practical Nurse) at Winterberry. My role varies from day to day as a clinic nurse. Some days I see patients for in-office appointments including administering vaccinations, checking blood pressure’s, performing procedures such as PAP’s and Diabetic appointments. Other days I work as a phone nurse triaging patients needs and facilitating appointments and referrals over the phone.

What made you want to be an RPN?

Growing up, my mother was a veterinarian who owned her own practice. I was always going into work with her in her clinic and seeing first-hand healthcare being provided to animals! I do have a love for animals, and people would always ask me if I was going to follow in my mom’s footsteps and become a vet. Although that was very tempting, I am a social butterfly through and through and wanted to work with humans as opposed to animals. Being a nurse is the best of both worlds! I get to explore my passion for healthcare and work directly with patients every day and build lasting therapeutic relationships.

What is your educational and work background?

I went to Mohawk College for the RPN program. My program was a specialty program “RPN working in Aboriginal Communities”. I had classes at McMaster as well as a rural Brantford campus.

My work background is emergency medicine. I worked as an RPN in the ER for 4 years prior to starting at Winterberry. I worked locally and did some travel nursing in rural communities in Nova Scotia working in their Emergency Departments.

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

What drew me to Winterberry is the team approach. Our team is composed of RPN’s, RN’s, Nurse Practitioners, Physicians, Registered Dieticians, Mental Health Counsellors, and more! We all work collaboratively together to ensure our patients receive the best healthcare possible. There are endless learning opportunities when working with such a big team. I get to see many different aspects of healthcare and learn how different specialties manage cases. I’ve learned so much in 7 months already! There are so many different moving parts to healthcare, and I feel lucky to be able to learn about other specialties in my day-to-day work as a nurse.

Is there an average day as an RPN at Winterberry?

Every day is different at the clinic. It’s always busy and my schedule changes daily! I’d say an average day includes in-office appointments where I see patients face to face. Appointments that I see most frequently include blood pressures, cervical cancer screening procedures, vaccine administration, blood work reviews, weight-management appointments, and diabetic procedural appointments. But truly, every day is different!

What is your favourite part of your job?

My favourite part about working as an RPN at Winterberry is being able to make patients feel safe and heard. Primary care is essentially preventative healthcare. A major part of what we do is to try to catch problems before they arise. With my background being emergency medicine, I was used to “reactive” healthcare, trying to fix and manage medical problems after they have already occurred. Primary care gives me the opportunity to listen to patients’ concerns and address them to the best of my ability to ensure we stop a problem before it progresses to something serious.

Another favourite part of my job are the people I work alongside. The relationships I have built with my coworkers makes me excited to come into work everyday! We have a great work environment, and I feel lucky to be a part of the team!

When you’re not helping Winterberry patients, what will we find you doing?

On my days off, you will always find me with family and friends! Whether that be hanging out in our backyard, going on walks, or having family dinner. My community is the most important thing to me!

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.

At Winterberry, we love to recognize and celebrate our team and this month, we’re shining our light on Rebecca and Brittney from our Billing Team. In each of these Team Showcase articles we aim to get to know different team members, their backgrounds and their experience at Winterberry. We hope you enjoy this quick Q+A!

Brittney and Rebecca, tell us about your work at Winterberry. What’s your role?

We both do the OHIP billing for the clinic as well as help the administration team when needed.

What is your educational and work background?

We both have college degrees in Medical Office Administration. Rebecca went to Mohawk College, Brittney went to Everest College and both of us graduated with Honors.

Impressive! What made you want to be in the billing department?

Brittney – I wanted a change from the first role I had at Winterberry which was in administration. I expressed an interest in expanding on my Medical Office Administration knowledge and within my first year, was given the opportunity to become part of the billing department.

Rebecca – I really enjoyed the billing portion of my college program and the opportunity was presented to move into the billing department about a year into my career with Winterberry.

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

Rebecca – My college professor knew they were hiring for my position, and asked if I would like to apply to work for them. I researched the clinic and I really liked their healthcare model so I applied. My 5 year anniversary is coming up in November and I have only grown happier being a part of Winterberry.

Brittney- Working within the clinic has opened up many opportunities to expand and work as a team, which is much different from other clinics I have been apart of. You get to know and love the team you work with and everything that comes with the clinic. It’s been a great 6 years at Winterberry so far, and I am happy to be part of such a wonderful team and to be given the opportunities that have been offered.

We are so lucky to have you both! Is there an average day in the billing department? If yes, what does it look like?

Rebecca + Brittney- The average day will consist of validating health cards and ensuring all day sheets and bills processed to the Ministry are completed in a timely manner.

What is your favourite part of your job?

Rebecca- My favourite part of my job is being able to work with such a great team that make me feel like I’m part of a second family. I enjoy making sure patients are getting the help and support that they need with their health care. We have amazing patients that really appreciate our team and they make sure we know how much they appreciate us.

Brittney- My favourite part of this job would be the team I work with. It’s a great feeling working with some wonderful coworkers which makes our job so much easier. I can’t forget to mention the patients! We get to know them and build trust and confidence so they know that Winterberry will provide excellent care for them.

When you’re not helping Winterberry run efficiently, what will we find you doing?

Rebecca- I love spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy working out/weight lifting, cooking, walking my dog, and going to the movies with my daughter.

Brittney- Outside of the clinic you will find me spending time with my family, as well outdoor activities such as camping and going up north to the family cottage.

Each month we catch up to one of our team members but during this Holiday Season we decided to celebrate our entire team! To do that, we reached out to Rachel, our Human Resources Manager and asked her questions about our team and what makes them special!

This job must give you great insight into the Winterberry team, is that right?

I get the privilege of interacting with the entire team throughout the year for various reasons, including onboarding, any HR or payroll related questions, and more!

How many members of the Winterberry team are there?

We currently have 61 team members and more to be joining us soon!

Thinking about the Winterberry team as a whole, what words would you use to describe it?

Dedicated. Each and every person on our team is willing to go above and beyond to provide excellent patient care, whether that’s through empathetic listening, providing educational resources, and using preventative care practices. Our team strives to work together to benefit our patients and their families.

Health care is serious and important work. What are the ways that the Winterberry team supports each other so each member can thrive and grow?

Each team member knows that if they have a question, they can go to anyone on the team and ask. There are no silly questions when working in the healthcare field. Ensuring that we are providing accurate information to our team and patients is essential. When there are new guidelines or best practices, that is shared among the entire team to make sure everyone is getting the same information and that we are providing consistent care.

What makes Winterberry such a special place for our team members?

We really try to show our team members that we care about them. Whether it’s a quarterly team social gathering, or fun raffles/prizes. We try to make the office an inviting environment, as we see each other almost every day!

Who is the longest serving member of the team?

Krysta, our Operations Manager, and Marijana, one of our Nurse Practitioners, have both been a part of the Winterberry team since 2015!

If you were to give one message to the entire Winterberry team this holiday season, what would it be?

Be kind to yourselves this holiday season and to others. As magical as the holidays can be, for some it can be a tough season. Remembering to keep in mind what’s truly important, is each other.

Each month we shine our spotlight on one of our caring and skilled team members. This month we’re catching up with Dinisha and finding out about what brought to her healthcare and to Winterberry. Enjoy getting to know Dinisha!

Dinisha, tell us about your work at Winterberry. What’s your role?

I work as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) at Winterberry. I see a wide range of patients from newborn to end of life.

What is your educational and work background?

My education consist of a 4 year BScN at York University followed by a 2 year Masters in Family Nurse Practitioner at D’Youville University.

My nursing career started off at Trillium in the oncology and palliative floor where I found a passion for end-of-life care. As I started furthering my education, I took a deep interest in pediatrics and worked along side with a pediatrician for ~2.5 years, focusing on pediatric mental health, GI, cardiac, weight, and dermatology concerns.

What made you want to be a Nurse Practitioner?

After working as a bedside RN for 6 months, I wanted to make an active change in helping people better their lives and overall health. By furthering my education, I was able to be autonomous which allowed me to help make informed decisions with my patients.

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

Winterberry is one of the only clinics I have come across that works as a multidisciplinary team. Working with different nurses who each specialized in different area, mental health counsellors, and dieticians, made providing the best care for my patients well worth it. Having access to such a brilliant team where each person brings something remarkable to the table is astonishing!

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

I obtain a sound history from my patients in order to get to know them and understand them. By giving an extra 5 min and knowing the patient, I am able to make a care plan that fits their lifestyle.

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

On an average day I see 25-30 patients, and each of them teach me something new daily!

What is your favourite part of being an NP?

I love being an NP because I learn something new everyday. There is no one path to recovery, there are many and being able to make a plan that fits my patient’s lifestyle is what brings me a lot of joy!

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

You will find me working out at the gym, cooking, baking something sweet and playing with my dog, Milo!

Each month we catch up to one of our busy Winterberry team members and interview them for our Team Showcase. This month we were happy to speak to Claudia about her role at Winterberry and to get to know her better.

Claudia, tell us about your work at Winterberry. What’s your role?

I am currently working as Registered Nurse with Winterberry Family Medicine. My job includes providing both in-person and virtual care to patients at our clinic.

What is your educational and work background?

I began my educational journey by completing the Advanced Pre-Health Sciences Program at Mohawk College to obtain entry into the Practical Nursing Program. I became a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) in 2020 which inspired me to continue advancing my nursing career to obtaining my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) through McMaster University. I have had the opportunity to explore many different sectors of healthcare including Labour and Delivery, Public Health, Complex Care and Acute Medicine. I have successfully completed the BScN program in 2023 and have transitioned into my role as a Registered Nurse (RN) with Winterberry Family Medicine.

What made you want to be an RN?

Working as an RN has fulfilled my dream of having a rewarding career that can positively impact and support individuals in our community. It is an honour to be a part of a profession that has the power to improve people’s lives daily.

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

Winterberry’s team-based approach to care separates itself from most healthcare clinics. Our clinic is compiled of physicians, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, administration, dietitians, and mental health counsellors. Each team member is equally valued in their work as we must all collaborate to provide the best quality patient care.

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

Nurses at Winterberry have the autonomy to complete a variety of patient appointments such as:

Preventative Health Exams: including arranging routine screening tests (i.e., colon/breast/prostate/cervical cancer screening). Women’s Health: including prenatal follow ups, pap tests, STI screening, reviewing birth control options including IUD insertions/removals. Children’s Health: such as routine Well-Baby/Child check ups and immunizations. Administering a variety of different injections i.e., TB tests, allergy injections, etc. Closely monitoring our high-risk population to ensure all medications are reviewed, arranging follow up testing and appointments as necessary. As well as blood pressure checks, ear flushes, cryotherapy and smoking cessation

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

Each day offers something different. Two days of the week I work virtually to complete preventative health appointments and follow up on our high risk/vulnerable patient population. The other three days of the week I work in office to complete physical appointments (i.e., pap tests, immunizations, etc.). Additionally, while in office, I work as the “Phone/Float” nurse who triages patient calls and manages urgent matters within the same day.

What is your favourite part of being an RN?

My favourite part about being an RN is having the opportunity to connect with individuals that I likely would not have crossed paths with otherwise. As much as nurses educate their patients, we also gain a lot of knowledge and perspective from them as well. It is a privilege to be able to provide comfort and support to an individual throughout their health journey.

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

You will likely find me with me outside with my dog Misha, who loves to come into the office once a week. I also enjoy exploring new cafes, and going for bike rides and hikes on my days off.

At Winterberry we celebrate our team everyday and once a month we shine our spotlight on an individual so our community and patients can get to know them better. This month our Team Showcase features Emily, an RN who is pursuing additional training to become a Nurse Practitioner.

Emily, we’re so glad to be featuring you! Tell us about your role at Winterberry.

I am a Registered Nurse (RN) and an on-boarding trainer.

What type of work do you do in your current daily work?

As an RN, my days look very similar to the rest of the nursing team! We complete preventative screens, blood pressure, vaccinations, discuss or arrange bloodwork/ imaging results, Well baby check, prenatal cares, Pap smears, ear flushes, wart treatments, and so much more! In addition, I also have skills in IUD insertions and removals, Fibroscans, and MoCa screenings.

As an on-boarding trainer my role is to train new nurses coming to join our team here at Winterberry. I help ensure our new staff feels comfortable and are well equipped with all the information they need to manage patient appointments at the end of their training.

We understand that you are now entering into the Nurse Practitioner (NP) program. This is fantastic news! What made you make this decision?

At Winterberry, we function under a team base model. This means that Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Doctors and Physician Assistants are collaboratively working together to provide high quality patient centered care while also bringing accessibility to care. This type of model allows me to work collaboratively with nurse practitioners daily.

My motivation to go into the nurse practitioner program came from my witnessing of the significant impact they have had in our healthcare system. At Winterberry our nurse practitioners have helped alleviate stress on the healthcare system through improving accessibility of care with the focus of primary and preventative care. I personally wanted to join in and also make an impact !

What will the additional NP training look like? Will you be in class full time?

The Nurse Practitioner program is a two-year program which I will be taking full-time. It’s a graduate level study so the first year will focus on completing a masters in nursing while the second year focuses on learning assessment/ therapeutic skills with hands-on clinical practice.

What made you interested in nursing in the first place?

I wanted to become a nurse for several reasons. It was important for me to choose a career that would allow me to serve and care for others but also educate and empower people at the same time. Being a nurse allows for all of that. As a nurse, I have the privilege to care for people in a meaningful way. In addition, I also get to partner with patients in their health journey, whether that’s through educating, encouraging, empowering, being an ally or just listening .

These are my favourite parts of being in healthcare!

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

What made me want to be part of the Winterberry team is the team base model of care. With this nurses are recognized as a valuable part of the team.

Other family doctors tend to work with a different model of care. You may traditionally see the nurses just do blood pressures, collect a set of vitals and help prep the doctor for the appointment. At Winterberry nurses are able to do more!

At Winterberry, nurses practice at their full scope and are given advanced directives that allow them to work with some autonomy while still closely working and reporting to the nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and doctors. This means I can independently do appointments within my scope of practice and set of skills and report appropriately to the providers as needed.

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

There is an average week, but not an average day! Every day looks different as there’s varying responsibilities for the nurses in Winterberry.

Each nurse has a different weekly schedule. For example a nurses schedule could like this:

Monday: in office appointment

Tuesday: Virtual preventative health exams

Wednesday: Phone nurse

Thursday: Procedures appointment (IGT)

Friday: In office appointment

But another nurse’s schedule would have the same responsibilities but arranged differently throughout the week.

When you’re not at Winterberry what will we find you doing?

When I’m not in Winterberry, I like to spend time with my friends and family! Whether that’s just hanging out at home or going away for the weekend. I also enjoy staying active, primarily through sports such as soccer or basketball.

This month we caught up with Monica, one of our Administrative team members. Monica is an invaluable member of our team and helps the Clinic run smoothly from behind the scenes! Let’s get to know Monica better:

Monica, tell us about your work at Winterberry. What’s your role?

Here, at Winterberry, I am a medical administrative assistant. I answer a large number of phone calls a day while also being part of the front lines to ensure that patient’s concerns are addressed in a timely and professional manner. Most days I am greeting patients and helping them to navigate any concerns they may have. A large part of administrative duties are done behind the scenes and play an essential role in keeping the clinic running smoothly.

What is your background?

I’ve been interested in administrative work since I worked in administration in Long-Term Care. I formed a bond with the residents there and it made me want to stay in the administrative field in a healthcare setting. I have a degree in Health and Gerontology and decided that administrative work was where I fit in best.

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

I wanted to be a part of the Winterberry team because I enjoy the work environment and team relations. There is such a wide variety of specialties here, and it is interesting to get work on the front lines of a family practice with patients of many ages. This is my first experience in a team-based approach to healthcare.

What type of work do you do at Winterberry?

We do anything and everything related to administrative tasks: Answering a large volume of phone calls, managing patient concerns, checking patients in, scanning reports and test results into patient charts, documenting and reviewing patient charts to ensure accuracy, and conversing with patients, specialist’s and other offices. Attention to detail is a very important part of this job.

Is there an average day? What does it look like?

Honestly, every day here is different. There is no average day. There is always an interesting call to manage and problem solving that needs to be done. Administration is the first point of contact for patients, so we have to gather as much information as possible to best assist our patients and get them the proper help they need in a timely manner. Each patient needs something different.

When you’re not at Winterberry what will we find you doing?

When I’m not at work, I’m usually spending time with my loved ones, especially my niece. I also enjoy watching movies, reading, and spending time outdoors when the weather is nice.

Each month we have the privilege to catch up to one of our busy team members in order that our patients can get to know them better through our Team Showcase Q+A. This month we chatted with Dawn about her role at Winterberry and what inspired her to go into nursing.

Dawn, tell us about your work at Winterberry. What’s your role?

I am a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN).

What is your educational and work background?

I have been an RPN for 21+ years. I have been lucky enough to spend the bulk of my nursing career working in Primary Care but I have also worked in a variety of settings such as Oncology, Acute care, Long Term Care and community based nursing.

What made you want to be an RPN?

For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to work in the healthcare field. As I explored my options Nursing really stood out as being the right choice. Becoming a nurse has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in my life! There is never a dull moment as a nurse, you’re constantly learning and growing and it has allowed me to meet some pretty incredible people along the way!

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

When I was looking into becoming a part of the Winterberry team, I was very impressed by the full range of specialized medical services they offered including research trials. As healthcare professionals we strive to ensure patients are receiving quality healthcare that is tailored to what is most important and that’s the patients of course! I felt the Winterberry team really embraced that.

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

My daily work can consist of doing anything from well child visits, immunizations, reviewing results, blood pressure check ups, routine Diabetic management or preventative care. When I am not busy with direct patient care you can usually find me assisting my colleagues with anything they need.

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

I wouldn’t say there is an average day and that is why I love working in primary care. Primary care allows you to care for a wide variety of patient populations from the very young to the elderly and everybody else in between.

What is your favourite part of being an RPN?

My favourite part of being an RPN is interacting with patients and connecting them with the healthcare services and support they need. At the end of the day I just want to make a “not so good” day a better day for a patient if I can.

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

You will probably find me playing guitar, camping or spending time with my family, furbabies and friends.