Improving the lives of patients – it's why we get into health care. And as we celebrate International Women's Day, we hear from Amber Bourgeois who is doing just that.
Smart and dedicated women are making a tangible difference in the lives of others, and in doing so, inspire us all.
“Here's to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them." – Unknown
As a nurse practitioner with BC Cancer – Victoria, Amber Bourgeois is continually inspired by the patients and caregivers who demonstrate amazing strength in the face of a cancer diagnosis.
Amber is working to optimize the care pathway for patients who may fall through the cracks of the health-care system. As a Health System Impact Doctoral Fellow, Amber's research is focused at examining systematic differences in cancer outcomes among populations who experience socioeconomic disadvantage, and the contextual factors that limits an individual's ability to access the cancer-care sector.
"While much of the work in this field has focused on barriers to cancer screening, there is very limited research on barriers to cancer treatment once a diagnosis has been made," says Amber. "My hope is that this foundational work will serve as a stepping stone to inform cancer service innovation in real-world settings."
Amber feels lucky to be mentored by strong women in academia. She mentions her fellowship co-supervisors Dr. Leah Lambert (executive director and senior scientist, Nursing and Allied Health and Knowledge Translation, BC Cancer – Vancouver) and Dr. Kelli Stajduhar (professor and Canada Research Chair, Tier 1, in Palliative Approaches to Care in Aging and Community Health, School of Nursing and Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health, University of Victoria), whose programs of research are advancing equity-oriented approaches to cancer and palliative care.
"Not only have they been gracious in supporting me professionally, but they have also demonstrated how to balance work with family life. I hope to be able to extend this kindness forward."