Celebrating the women driving healthcare collaboration
As a part of International Women’s Day, find out more about the roles these talented women driving healthcare collaboration within TELUS Health play, and what International Women’s Day means to them.
Kelly Sommer, National EMR Forms Project Manager, Collaborative Health (EMR)
What is your role and what does it entail?
I’m responsible for the work of our TELUS’ EMR National Forms team, and committed to enabling a streamline workflow for healthcare providers through the delivery of quality electronic forms that enable better patient care.
What do you love about your role?
I love providing an excellent customer experience, as well as working energetically within our organization to empower others to realize their potential and achieve their goals.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to applaud women world-wide. It’s a time to come together and celebrate both the many things that we share in common, as well as the things that make us unique or set us apart.
Who is a female role model you look up to?
I am greatly inspired by the “Fearless Girl” statue, unveiled on Wall Street in anticipation of International Women's Day in 2017. The statue depicts a girl four feet high who is facing the bronze charging bull with boldness and confidence – she is ready to jump in and contribute. The underpinning message is not just political; Fearless Girl makes a statement about performance. And I’m equally inspired to work for an organization with an infantry of strong women who perform extraordinarily.
Lynsey Turchet, Manager, National Clinical Content, Collaborative Health (EMR)
What is your role and what does it entail?
I manage the National Clinical Content Team, which is made up of an amazing group of content developers and trainers that are responsible for the development and maintenance of clinical tools across our TELUS Health English EMR products. Our team also supports our customers in maximizing the use of their EMR to improve patient outcomes and streamline clinic operations.
With my background as a Registered Nurse and Master of Health Informatics, I also provide advisory support to other priority projects within the collaborative health business unit, including leading the development of a national solution to support primary care providers document and manage the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine in their clinics.
What do you love about your role?
I love that I am able to work with clinicians every day to help them optimize the way in which they document and manage patient care in our EMR products, and in this small way, contribute to strengthening the overall health care system in Canada.
What does IWD mean to you?
To me it means taking a final stand against the questions that are always swirling in my mind of 'do I belong here?', 'am I qualified for this role?', 'what value do I really provide?' and turning them into statements.
I belong here.
I am fully qualified.
I provide value.
I am able to do this because of all the amazing women who have come before me and have fought so hard to challenge these same questions, and for all the women and men that I have the privilege to work with on a daily basis who continue to question the status quo and fight for overall equality in the workplace.
Who is a female role model you look up to? I know its cheesy, but definitely my mom. My mom worked as a Registered Nurse for many years before shifting to stay at home in order to raise three young children. When I was in elementary school she decided to go back to school to get her Bachelor of Computer Science degree. I remember coming home from school for lunch and seeing these gigantic textbooks scattered all over the kitchen table. She ended up graduating top of her class and moved on to become one of the first Clinical Informatics professionals in our local health region. Not only did she instill in me the attitude that anything is possible when you put your mind to it and take the time to adequately prepare, but she also really opened my eyes to the vast role that nurses play in shaping our healthcare system. I don't think I would have pursued the career path I am in now without her - so thanks mom.
Sheri Ross, Director, West Atlantic Region, Collaborative Health
What is your role and what does it entail?
My role is a Director for the West Atlantic region within TELUS Health. Our business unit is part of the Collaborative Health (EMR) portfolio.
I lead a number of awesome teams who bring value to our EMR clients on a daily basis, including providing them with learning services, workflow optimization consulting services, and tools to support them in clinical practice and effective utilization of the electronic medical record solution they use.
I am a Registered Nurse and have worked for many years in clinical informatics and enjoy applying my knowledge and experience to help customers achieve their clinical and business outcomes using our EMR tools.
What do you love about your role?
I very much enjoy working with customers and my team of very talented individuals to identify and implement solutions that allow the clinician to focus on the patient.
I am passionate about being a strong advocate and resource for my teams, providing opportunity to bring visibility to the great work they do every day and removing roadblocks that stand between them and success.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a day to consciously and publicly acknowledge the impact of women in our lives and our world. The impact is profound and far reaching; it is human, it is personal and it spans lifetimes.
Who is a female role model you look up to?
My grandmother was an inspiring woman. She was never satisfied with the status quo and in spite of many, many challenges in her life she was unwavering in pursuing her passions. She raised her family and worked many, many jobs – many of them she created herself through her ingenuity and industriousness. She believed in having goals and working towards them and inspired others to achieve theirs.
Lysiane Proulx, Senior Strategy Manager, TELUS Enterprise Québec (TES)
What is your role and what does it entail?
As a Senior Strategy Manager in the TELUS Enterprise Québec division, I support the sales team responsible for large public sector accounts, including public health authorities. I am responsible for identifying and helping our team pursue new, innovative market opportunities, and I also get to work on a number of account-based marketing initiatives.
What do you love about your role and working with the TELUS Enterprise Québec Team?
Since I joined TELUS Health in 2010, I have had the opportunity to work on a number of mandates in marketing, product management, and strategy teams. What I love the most about my new role is the creativity required to succeed, and the variety of the projects. I can be preparing for a large client presentation and a brainstorming session on market trends one day, and contributing to go-to-market initiatives the next; the variety of the role is both stimulating and challenging.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
To me International Women’s Day is an important day to celebrate the achievements of women and remembering the progress that has been made for gender equality. It's also a day to reflect on the struggles of the women who paved the way for my generation, and to remember to fight for the cause of the millions of women around the world who struggle to have their rights respected and their voices heard.
Who is a female role model you look up to?
In 2015, I had the opportunity to participate in a 100-day mentorship program with Isabelle Hudon (who is now the Canadian ambassador to France), and was profoundly touched by Isabelle's determination to lift up the women that cross her path. In spite of her busy schedule, Isabelle has always been devoted to the cause of corporate diversity and founded the non-profit L'effet A to help women achieve their professional ambitions. Interacting with Isabelle inspired me to reach new heights, and the impact of her initiatives is a great reminder that we all rise by lifting each other as women.
Susie Randhawa, Account Executive, Collaborative Health
What is your role and what does it entail?
I am an Account Manager - I am in charge of new business, renewals, relationship management, referrals, and ensuring I meet company and business unit targets.
What do you love about your role?
I love the excitement of on-boarding new clients. I also love what we do as a company, and what our business unit is doing for healthcare - it is so much more fun to sell when you truly stand behind and believe what you are promoting.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
It means the importance of recognizing women who do it all, and I don’t just mean working women. Having a career, having a family, having a social life, having hobbies - whether you are doing one, or all, it can be a challenge. Most of the women I know are working with families, and it can be quite challenging at times.
Who is a female role model you look up to?
I have a few, but I will mention here a name that is familiar to TELUS – Andrea Collins. Andrea has shown that you can have a family, manage a team and still have a life. I especially appreciate her ability to speak under pressure and bring humor into some difficult conversations.