In this interactive session, participants will have the opportunity to meet nursing professionals in many different roles and sectors. Each nurse will share how their career pathway evolved and what keeps them interested and engaged in their work today.

Nurses from different sectors and roles will share their career paths.

During the session, participants will:

• gain a better understanding of the different pathways that nursing has to offer
• share their experiences in nursing and ask questions
• reflect on their nursing journeys  and identify potential opportunities
• develop professional connections

Speakers:

Bahar Karimi, RN, MN, MHSc, CHE

Bahar Karimi is the Administrator of Idlewyld Manor, a LTC home in Hamilton part of Thrive Group and an entrepreneur. She has held positions as a PSW, RPN and RN and has been a Nursing Instructor, an Associate Director of Care and a Director of Resident Services as well as Executive Director of a Complex Continuing Care facility. Bahar has a Masters degree in Nursing as well as a Masters degree in Health Administration from University of Toronto and is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. She is currently completing her PhD in Nursing, Leadership in Health Services Delivery at University of Western Ontario.

Katrina Graham, RN, BScN

Katrina Graham is Mahiikan clan with Cree, Scottish and Irish ancestry. Katrina grew up in the Kitchener-Waterloo region and now resides in Centre Wellington. Katrina graduated from the McMaster University BScN program in 2012 and has focused her nursing career on palliative care and Indigenous health and wellness. Katrina has experience as an Indigenous seniors case manager, home visiting nurse, long term care nurse, hospice staff nurse and clinical resource nurse. Indigenous cultural and spiritual practices have been integrated into her nursing practice by incorporating traditional healing modalities, advocating for indigenous health, wellness and by supporting and connecting her patients to local elders as they journey into the spirit world. Katrina has studied energy therapies in Reiki, Crystal Reiki, Healing Touch and Holistic Life Coaching. She is actively involved in her community and serves on palliative care and spiritual care advisory groups in the Waterloo-Wellington region. Her passions include spending time with her family and community, drumming, singing, being on the land as well as practicing and learning about wholistic modalities. Katrina currently works with the Waterloo-Wellington Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre as the Aboriginal Patient Navigator and is a Osh-Ka-Be-Wis (helper).

Lhamo Dolkar, BScN, MN, PHC-NP

Lhamo Dolkar is a primary care nurse practitioner. She currently works in a community health center in Durham region. Lhamo started her nursing career as a registered nurse on the cardiovascular surgery unit at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto. In her nursing career, she worked for the Durham Region Public Health Department on a full time basis. In addition, she has worked on a casual basis at a nursing home in Toronto as well. Lhamo is well aware of the global and local sociopolitical issues as well as the social determinants that impact health and understands the importance of upstream strategies required to Improve Health for All. Her passion for community development as well as advocacy has motivated her to always remain engaged and current.

David McNeil, RN, PhD

David McNeil is currently the President CEO of Brant Community Healthcare System. During his over 34 years in healthcare, David has held a variety of clinical, academic and administrative positions. He spent 21 years as part of the executive team at Health Sciences North where he was the Chief Nursing Executive and Senior Vice President, Patient Services and Digital Transformation. Early in his career David worked as a staff nurse including the remote Indigenous community of Attawapiskat, Ontario. David is a Registered Nurse graduating from Laurentian University in Sudbury in 1988. He has a graduate degree in Health Administration from the University of Ottawa, is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian Council of Health Leaders and earned his PhD. in Rural and Northern Health and completed the Faculty Scholars Program with the Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences. David has served on several Boards including the Chair and President of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, the Canadian Nurses Association, the Board of Health Sciences North and Cambrian College Board where he was Chair. David and his wife Louise of 35 years have three sons and granddaughter.