Category: Meet our Team
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.
Each month we shine our light on a different team member and this month we are so happy to be getting to know Leah better through our quick Winterberry Q+A interview!
Leah, what’s your role at Winterberry?
I am a Registered Practical Nurse and have been with Winterberry for over 3 years now. During this time I’ve had the privilege to work with weight management and palliative patients and also be part of our growing Research Team.
Where did you work before Winterberry?
I started my Nursing career in 2019 working at a Retirement Home before joining Winterberry Family Medical.
What made you want to be an RPN?
Nursing is an innovative, challenging, and rewarding career and being able to positively impact patients’ lives was very much of interest to me. Helping people through their health challenges while continually learning new skills and gaining knowledge appealed to me! And of course, nursing has so many great opportunities to be able to expand my scope of practice. I knew it was the path I wanted to take.
What made you want to be part of the Winterberry team compared to other clinics?
Winterberry is a very unique clinic that goes above and beyond an average clinic. At Winterberry we offer so many unique services additional to primary care such as weight management, gender affirming care, smoking cessation, research trials just to name a few. There is so much opportunity to grow as a nurse in a primary healthcare setting. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to be able to expand my scope to take on weight management and research patients!
What type of work do you do in your daily work with patients?
We do a lot of follow-up assessments with our trial subjects that include checking vitals, ECG, bloodwork, weight checks, questionnaires etc. There is a lot of documentation behind the scenes!
Is there an average day? If yes, what does it look like?
There’s never a dull day at Winterberry. You can find me helping patients or helping my team! I am thankful for a strong team that works together!
What is your favourite part of being an RPN?
One of the best things about being a nurse is knowing I am making a difference in people’s lives and helping them achieve their health and wellness goals!
When you’re not improving patient lives at Winterberry what will we find you doing?
I love spending quality time with my family and friends. You can catch me relaxing in front of a bonfire, working in the garden, and making memories with my daughter.
Each month I have the honour of catching up to one of our team members here at Winterberry to find out more about them and celebrate them for all that they do for our patients and community.
This month, I’m shining the light on Shanna. Please read on to find out about this important member of our team!
Shanna, what’s your job title?
Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
What is your background?
I began nursing 10 years ago. I spent 5 years as a RN in orthopedics and in the general surgery/GI/hepatology department. I upgraded my training and have been an Nurse Practitioner (NP) for close to 5 years now. As a new NP I worked in the orthopedics department and then moved to Winterberry 4 years ago.
What made you want to go into this aspect of healthcare?
I wanted to go into primary health care because I enjoy seeing people over the continuum of their life. I am passionate about preventing illness and optimization of chronic diseases.
What type of work do you do in your role?
I see patients of all ages and stages in their life. I assess patients, order tests, diagnose, prescribe, and provide treatment. A few years ago, I obtained certification for Gender Affirming Care through Rainbow Health and have been providing gender affirming care since. I manage hormone levels, provide medications, and complete referrals for surgery. I also aid in management of minor surgical complications.
What is the importance of this work within the clinic?
It is important that patients, regardless of gender identification, have care that allows them to feel safe and comfortable. Having a trusting open dialect with patients creates an important therapeutic alliance which creates ideal patient outcomes.
I understand you also work with community members who are not part of our clinic. Can you tell me more about this?
We started accepting referrals for Gender Affirming Care from outside clinics and community members a couple of years ago. I had met with the Hamilton Trans Coalition that indicated this was a need from the community. We have been able to help out many community members which we are very excited about!
What’s the best part of your average day at Winterberry?
The best part of my day is when I can help make someone’s bad day a little bit better.
When you’re not improving patient and community lives, what will we find you doing?
I enjoy spending quality time with family and friends. You can find me reading in my spare time, trying out new recipes, hiking, and chasing around my toddler!
Each month we focus on one of our hardworking and caring professionals. Many are healthcare providers but almost as many work behind the scenes to ensure that our clinic runs smoothly and efficiently.
One of the professionals behind the scenes is Lindsay. Recently she has been promoted to be our Administration and Billing Manager.
To congratulate her and introduce her to our patients we’re shining our light on her with a Team Showcase this month. Read below to find out more about our awesome Lindsay!
Lindsay, congratulations on becoming our new Administration and Billing Manager! Can you tell us quickly what your background is?
I come from many, many years of customer service and administration experience. I have always had an interest in Medical office administration, so in 2018, I decided to start my career over and went back to school. It was the best decision I have ever made. In my 5 years at Winterberry, I have learned the ins, outs, ups and downs of the administration position. Once I was with the team long enough, I was asked to become part of the billing team and I happily made the move.
What made you want to be part of the Winterberry team?
I was fresh out of school and needed a fulltime job and happily, after my first interview at Winterberry, I realized that this clinic was quickly growing in size and there would be potential to expand my skills and advance.
What type of work will you be doing in your new role?
I manage a team of eleven people and oversee all things related to Administration and Billing.
Wow, that’s impressive! What do you think is the importance of this work within the clinic?
The importance of this work is to be a knowledgeable resource for the Administration and Billing department to ensure that the operations of the office remain smooth. It’s also being an effective leader to the team and creating an excellent work environment.
Will patients benefit from your work in this role?
I have a plan to implement some new operations in the office and have already executed some of them. We now offer payment for forms and notes over the phone, which is much more convenient for patients to do virtual appointments. More positive changes to come!
What is your favourite part of your new role?
I enjoy being back in the office and back in the action! I enjoy creating a healthy work environment and working closely with the team to build on their strengths and share some laughs.
When you’re not improving patient and team lives at Winterberry what will we find you doing?
Spending time with friends, family, camping, kayaking or enjoying a Caesar and a ball game on my patio.
Each month we get together with one of our Winterberry team members for a quick Q+A so our patients and community can get to know us all a little better! This month we caught up with Rachel, Human Resources (HR) Manager as she has recently been promoted to a new role in the clinic.
Congratulations on your new role Rachel! Can you share with us your new job title?
My new job title is Human Resources Manager.
What is your background?
I originally completed my degree in Business Management, then went to work for a large childcare organization after school, where I slowly moved from an accounting role into an HR role. While I worked there, I completed my Human Resources diploma online and once I completed that, I fully moved into HR and payroll role there.
What made you want to be part of the Winterberry team?
What appealed to me most was that I was going to be Winterberry’s first HR team member. Being able to create HR processes and implement them has been a very rewarding experience. Since joining the team, I’ve never looked back. The people I work with are amazing and so supportive.
What type of work will you be doing in your new role?
Part of moving into a managerial role, I’ll be more actively engaged with our team members to ensure our culture is aligned with our mission and vision, and values.
What is the importance of this work within the clinic?
Winterberry is one of the most recognized clinics in the area and we want to maintain our reputation of excellence. Ensuring we have the best members on our team, will help uphold that reputation.
Will patients benefit from your work in this role? If yes, please let us know how.
Our patients will indirectly benefit from the work done in my new role. Ensuring our team members are confident and supported in what they do, will show during their appointments with patients. It’s part of my job to ensure our team members are able to provide the best possible care to our patients.
What is your favourite part of being the HR Manager?
Knowing that people feel comfortable coming to me with any concerns or goals they may have and being able to work through them together.
When you’re not improving patient and team lives at Winterberry what will we find you doing?
I will either be out walking my 2 fur babies (Bernedoodle – Ella and Rottweiler – Lola), checking out new coffee shops or wineries, or going to the Hamilton Farmer’s Market on the weekend!