Health-care transformation was part of the discussion during the National Nurses Week event<\/p>\n
Published May 14, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
![\"Nurses'](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0515-sf-nurses.sf_-e1778792380387.jpg\")
Elizabeth Callaghan, lead nurse practitioner for the Homeless Access to Care Program at the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance; Karima Velji, Ontario’s chief of nursing and assistant deputy minister of health; Lynanne Mason, the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance’s chief nursing executive and vice-president of partnerships and transformationl and Donnalene Tuer-Hodes, past chief nursing executive and director at the local hospital group, speak at Stratford General Hospital to mark National Nurses Week Thursday morning. (Bill Atwood\/Beacon Herald)Article content<\/p>\n
As a local part of National Nurses Week, four women who have made an impact on the profession were at Stratford General Hospital Thursday to share their experiences and thoughts on how to make this year\u2019s theme, \u201cThe Power of Nurses to Transform Health,\u201d into a reality.<\/p>\n
Advertisement 2<\/p>\n
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n
Article content<\/p>\n
The chat, which also focused on health system transformation and integrated care, featured a presentation from Karima Velji, the province\u2019s chief of nursing and professional practice and assistant deputy health minister. She was joined by Lynanne Mason, the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance\u2019s chief nursing executive and vice-president of partnerships and transformation, Elizabeth Callaghan, the lead nurse practitioner for the Homeless Access to Care Program at the alliance, and Donnalene Tuer-Hodes, the hospital group\u2019s past chief nursing executive and director.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Article content<\/p>\n
Recommended Videos<\/p>\n
Article content<\/p>\n
Speaking to a few dozen health-care workers, Velji, noted the week\u2019s overarching theme focused on health \u2013 not just health care<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s one of the most meaningful so-called slogans that we\u2019ve used for nursing week because I\u2019ve always believed it. We are the highest number of health-care professionals who touch patient care,\u201d Velji said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are 200,000-plus nurses now in Ontario. #e touch that care on a 24-7 basis in many sectors. We are in all sectors of care, including schools. We are everywhere. We are often the first point of contact for patients when they are interacting with the health-care system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Advertisement 3<\/p>\n
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n
Article content<\/p>\n
During a panel discussion, Velji was asked about the essential characteristics of health-care teams that are able to adapt successfully to change, compared to those that struggle with transformation. For Velji, she said the key is to recognize that care goes beyond the walls of a hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe four walls are not your responsibility only. The responsibility is the person you are serving, regardless of where they find themselves People who interact with the people they serve in that way, I think, are already living and breathing integrated care,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Callaghan, whose work focuses on addressing the social determinants of health for individuals of low socioeconomic status, echoed that sentiment, saying that underserved and marginalized populations often avoid hospitals or clinics, but instead look for help at \u201ca couch at the connection centre shelter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe greatest opportunity for nurse practitioners is to redesign our health care. . . . It should be where patients are already feeling safe, and so working with patients in shelters like I do, that\u2019s the biggest opportunity for innovation right there. You bring care to the patient instead of the other way around,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Advertisement 4<\/p>\n
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n
Article content<\/p>\n
Asked about how to build relationships across teams and agencies, Mason, whose career included a stop at Ottawa\u2019s Children\u2019s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, noted that \u201cnurses are never alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are always talking to others, supporting each other. We\u2019re the connecting thread. We are the advocates for all of our health-care team. We\u2019re always there. We\u2019re always with our patients.\u00a0 We\u2019re pulling in others when we need to,\u201d Mason said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re recognizing signs early, and we\u2019re really addressing and advocating all the needs that our patients need and our families need in the time that they\u2019re here. So you\u2019re critical, right? Every single one of you is critical in that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tuer-Hodes, whose career spanned more than four decades, mostly focused on acute care, also founded the agency\u2019s annual awards following her retirement. She said one of the main lessons she learned in her career was the importance of building a rapport with others.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to build a trusting relationship that is open and you have to listen to what people are saying to you, because it\u2019s important that you have input that everyone\u2019s heading in the same direction,\u201d Tuer-Hodes said.<\/p>\n