A Supplement to the Free Press
CELEBRATING ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 2026 | A SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026
Celebrating Allied Health Professionals 2026
Inside ■ PHYSIOTHERAPIST
HELPING PEOPLE GET BACK TO DOING THE THINGS THEY LOVE
■ MUSICAL
THERAPIST PLAYS INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN HEALING ■ PHARMACY OFFERS A PERSONAL TOUCH ■ DIETITIAN HELPING PATIENTS TAKE ON STRUGGLES HEAD-ON ■ SOCIAL WORKER SUPPORTS CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES
Photos supplied
View online at winnipegfreepress.com/fp-features
You give a lot. Now take a little. Take a breath. Take a break. Take care of you. Find wellness resources at wellness.mb.bluecross.ca . To Manitoba’s allied health professionals, thank you for everything you do for others.
2 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026
PHYSIOTHERAPIST It’s not work; it’s a passion PHYSIOTHERAPIST LOVES HELPING PEOPLE GET BACK TO DOING THE THINGS THEY LOVE
Scott LeMaistre says one of the things he enjoys most about being a physiotherapist is being able to work with patients from start to finish of their healing journey. Supplied
By Jennifer McFee I n his role as a physiotherapist, Scott LeMaistre takes pride in helping people move better, feel stronger and get back to do- ing the things they enjoy. Along with his business partner Kevin Friesen, LeMaistre co-owns Henderson Physiotherapy (955 Henderson Highway) with a mission to provide active, attentive and hands-on physio- therapy treatments. “In a clinic like ours at Henderson Physio, we treat pretty much anybody who walks in the door. We see a wide range of injuries from head to toe, from age 10 to seniors,” he says. “There’s a broad amount of things to see, but it’s primarily musculoskeletal issues — muscle, bone and joint injuries.” As a profession, physiotherapy involves treating and preventing physical injuries and movement problems. Physiotherapists use education and preventative measures, including exercise, to help patients gain and maintain their best level of physical function. From an early age, LeMaistre knew he wanted to embark on a career that involves helping others. “It was always on my radar to try to find a profession where I could make a difference — and, particularly, a difference to individuals. I always felt like I wanted to help people. I was also athletic, especially when I was in my teenage years and early university, so I wanted to stick within a sports realm,” he says. “I started to learn about physiotherapy as a profes- sion and I really felt like that was a good fit for me. I had the opportunity to use my interest in the human body as well as my interest in being able to help people get better — and to get back to activities that maybe they haven’t been able to do for a while because of their injuries.”
“I feel that every new patient is like a new puzzle to try to solve. Even though people might come in with the same diagnosis, there might be a new angle to it. We have to try to figure out why this in - jury is going on for that person under their individual circumstanc- es,” he says. “One of the main things I like is that we tend to see patients from start to finish. When they come in for an assessment, we diagnose what their issue is and we work with them on a treat- ment plan. As they get better, typically there’s a resolution at the end where they’ve improved. That’s quite rewarding, especially if people haven’t been having success with what they’ve been trying at home.” For those who aren’t sure if physiotherapy is the right path for them, LeMaistre recommends finding a physiotherapist to job shadow. “It’s actually something that I did in my early undergrad. I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to do, but I followed my interest. I didn’t know what it would be like to live a day in the life of a physio, so I phoned up a clinic near my house. I went and worked in that clin- ic as a volunteer for a short period of time, and that really drove home for me that this is something I want to do,” he says. “My advice is to always follow your interest because if you do something that you’re interested in, it makes your job a lot easier. Because I chose something that I like to do, it doesn’t really feel like work most days. That’s definitely a good thing.” Reflecting on his career, LeMaistre feels satisfied knowing he’s making a difference in the day-to-day lives of individuals. “People tell me that they haven’t been able to do an activity or sport because of their injury. They feel frustrated that they’re not going to be able to do that activity anymore. We can get them to a point where they can get back to their activities, and I’m never more happy than that,” he says. “It’s not just pain relief. Pain relief is nice, but it’s always better when people can get back to doing the things they love to do. I really like to help them take their recovery to another level where they actually start to see results.” ■
LeMaistre has been a physiotherapist for 13 years and has lost none of his enthusiasm for the profession.
We see a wide range of injuries from head to toe, from age 10 to seniors. There’s a broad amount of things to see, but it’s primarily musculoskeletal issues — muscle, bone and joint injuries.
— Scott LeMaistre, physiotherapist
Krakenimages / Adobe Stock
3 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026
PHYSIOTHERAPIST
It’s not just pain relief. Pain relief is nice, but it’s always better when people can get back to doing the things they love to do. I really like to help them take their recovery to another level where they actually start to see results.
— Scott LeMaistre, physiotherapist
Scott LeMaistre has been practicing physiotherapy for 13 years and has lost none of his enthusiasm for the work. Supplied
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Service sends doctor to your home
DOCTORS-TO-YOU
432 HEALTH GROUP’S DOCTORS-TO-YOU PROVING TO BE A HUGE SUCCESS
A DOCTOR HOUSE CALL SERVICE
By Jim Bender
Doctor house calls are making a comeback. The 432 Health Group’s Doctors-To-You service was first established two years ago and has proven to be a huge success. “Doctors-To-You is a house-call service that we provide around the city,” says Arlene Garcia, general manager of 432 Health Group. “We’ve expanded around the city and we’re open seven days a week, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. “It isn’t new, but we have had expanded hours and care settings. Previously, we were just doing a lot of in-person visits in certain areas. But now, we are able to expand in-person visits in more selected areas. But, for phone-call and virtual visits, that’s expanded across the city and slightly beyond the perimeter.” Yes, Doctors-To-You actually sends doctors to private homes for non-emer - gency care, on the same day as requested in selected areas of Winnipeg. “We conduct house calls and the physician is also able to do a phone call or a secured video consultation,” Garcia says. “These appointments are covered under Manitoba Health.” There are obvious advantages to requesting the service. “You can skip the waiting room and be seen by physicians where you are most comfortable,” 432 Health Group says on its website. They can also be cared for virtually, Garcia adds. “I don’t think a lot of people realize that they can still get a house-call service within Winnipeg,” she says. “I mean, ages ago, that was a thing, but now, people just think they need to go in person to see a doctor when they can be seen in the comfort of their home.” To request the Doctors-To-You service, individuals can call 204-586-6655 or book directly at www.doctorstoyou.ca. “We are always growing over here,” Garcia says. “We have multiple dedicated doctors that are doing in-person care (house calls), phone call or virtual ap - pointments. Doctors-To-You employs several physicians ready to help patients, Gar - cia says. It also has a number of employees taking calls and dispatching doctors. Expanding the program is another way of providing more access to healthcare. “All people deserve equal access to health care services – and just as impor - tantly, timely and convenient access,” founder Kris Allen says on 432 Health Group’s website. ■
Blue portion of map indicates Doctors-To-You in person house call area.
4 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026
MUSIC THERAPIST
Cecilia Bellingham says music therapy can be tailored to the individual needs of a child to help ease their pain and stress. Supplied Instrumental healing MUSIC THERAPIST LIFTS THE SPIRITS OF YOUNG PATIENTS
By Sherry Kaniuga S eeing a child’s whole face light up when she enters their hospital room will never get old for Cecilia Bellingham. As a music therapist in the Child Life department at HSC Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg, Bellingham provides babies, children and teens with a welcome musical break from the noisy hospital environment. Meeting with them one-on-one or in group settings, she uses her guitar, her voice and a collection of rhythm instruments to engage young patients, lift their spirits and help them feel at ease. “Music is such a natural, peaceful, magical way to connect with a child. It’s different from just listening to music on the radio or on their phone because it’s about the relationship as well,” explains Bellingham, who founded the music therapy program at HSC – the first of its kind in an acute hospital – in 1998. “With live music, it’s the connection and the fact we can tailor the music and what we’re doing for maximum benefits for that child, in that moment, to ease their pain and their stress.” Knowing young patients may feel alone, apprehensive or afraid, and may have gone through traumatic experiences, Bellingham will start off slowly at first, playing and singing a familiar tune to assess how the child responds to music. “Do they look at me? Do they start to dance? Maybe they try an instrument? It's just about seeing what they’re familiar with to try to gain their trust and develop a rapport with them in a short amount of time,” she says. Bellingham loves when a patient will join in on singing, strum the guitar along with her or try out one of the other instruments she brings to her sessions, like tambourines, drums or shakers. She has taught children to play the fiddle, ukelele or guitar and even given voice lessons. She has also learned hundreds of songs that appeal to kids of all ages, from Baby Shark to Linkin Park. A binder of her repertoire
includes songs by artists popular among older kids in the hospi- tal’s mental health units. “When Hotline Bling by Drake was really popular, I had it on my list and every week someone would ask me to play it just to see if I could really do it. I kind of surprised them when they found out I could pull it off,” she laughs. Beyond the benefits of human interaction, the music therapy visits also contribute to developmental skills, such as reaching, grasping and holding something, sitting up or head control. Music therapists sometimes work alongside a physiotherapist or occu- pational therapist, providing a welcome distraction or encourag- ing movements the child might not have been as keen to do with- out the music. A violinist who played in the Winnipeg Youth Orchestra as a teenager, Bellingham stumbled upon a few books about music therapy on a serendipitous library visit during her first year at the University of Manitoba’s School of Music. It clicked: here was something that would marry her passion for music and her inter- est in pursuing medicine. “It just felt like a calling,” she recalls. She added some psychology courses, completed her Bachelor of Music and spent some time teaching Suzuki violin before head- ing west to pursue her Music Therapy degree in British Colum- bia. Returning to Manitoba, she landed a six-month, 1,000-hour required clinical internship at HSC Children’s Hospital, which had no music therapy program at the time. Thanks to her research and training, Bellingham was able to demonstrate how the service she could provide complemented the hospital’s existing programs. Nearly three decades after being hired and establishing the music therapy program, she’s humble when discussing her own talents. Still, she knows what she does makes a difference. “I feel strongly about what music can do and what I can offer, along with the colleagues I work with,” she says. “I love what I do. It’s so rewarding.” ■
Music is such a natural, peaceful, magical way to connect with a child. It’s different from just listening to music on the radio or on their phone
– Cecilia Bellingham, music therapist in the Child Life department at HSC Children’s Hospital
5 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026
MUSIC THERAPIST
Cecilia Bellingham earned a Bachelor of Music before deciding to pursue a career as a music therapist at HSC Children's Hospital. Supplied
Cecilia Bellingham will often start off playing or singing a tune that is familiar to a patient just to see how they'll respond. Supplied
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Expanding to meet growing patient needs
KEYSTONE MEDICAL CLINIC ADDS OPIOID ADDICTION, HIV TREATMENT PROGRAM
By Jim Bender
mains highly underutilized here as a prevention strategy,” says Jocelyn Bevacqua, a nurse practitioner at Keystone Medical Clinic. Bevacqua says helping people get prevention ser- vices is just as important as improving treatment and support for those living with HIV. For some patients, addiction and HIV risk are con- nected. Offering care for both through one program can make it easier to get help. “Many of the individuals who could benefit from these services are navigating complex challenges in accessing care, so flexibility and an integrated approach to offering these services just makes sense,” Bevacqua says. Patients can choose an online or in-person appoint- ment. In-person visits are available for people who do not have the technology for virtual care, prefer to meet their provider face-to-face or need more detailed sexual health care. Patients call one central phone number to access the program. They can choose from participating locations, including North End Medical Clinic, Munroe Medical Clin- ic and Balmoral Clinic. “The way we’ve set it up is hopefully, people will have the ability to choose where they would like to access their care,” Bevacqua says. “We can be responsive so that it’s more convenient for people.” The program has three nurse practitioners and a ded- icated staff member who answers calls and questions. Keystone also hopes to reach more people outside Winnipeg, including in northern Manitoba. That expan- sion is still being planned, but some virtual care is al- ready available. “We do have a virtual component right now and we’re trying to increase access particularly to the North, which hasn’t been set up yet,” Bevacqua says. “But there is an ability to do some virtual care.” The clinic says most, but not all, treatment is covered by Manitoba Health. Patients should ask which services and medications are covered and whether they will need to pay any costs. To learn more about opioid addiction treat- ment or HIV prevention services, contact Key- stone Medical Clinic at 204-410-2800 or info@keystonemedicalclinic.ca. ■
432 Health Group is expanding services through Key- stone Medical Clinic to help more people get treatment for opioid addiction and medication to prevent HIV. The program offers in-person and virtual appoint- ments at several partnering Winnipeg clinics. It brings addiction treatment, HIV prevention and sexual health- care together so patients can get help without having to visit separate providers. “We are continually growing and adapting to always meet our growing patient needs,” 432 Health Group says on its website. “Recognizing gaps in the health care sys- tem, we are committed to bridging them through innova- tion, creativity and resourcefulness.” Arlene Garcia, general manager of 432 Health Group, says the program gives patients more options for care. “We want people to know that we offer opioid agonist treatment and that we have several satellite locations, with nurse practitioners available to accommodate ap- pointments for individuals seeking treatment options,” Garcia says. “We are also expanding access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, in response to the in- creasing number of HIV infections in Manitoba.” Opioid Agonist Treatment, often called OAT, uses medication to help people with opioid addiction. It reduc- es cravings and withdrawal symptoms and lowers the risk of overdose. PrEP is medication for people who do not have HIV. When taken as prescribed, it greatly reduces their risk of getting the virus. The expanded services come as Manitoba faces a sharp rise in HIV diagnoses. According to provincial data, the province recorded 328 new diagnoses in 2025, up from 90 in 2019. Manitoba has the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses in Canada. In 2024, its rate was more than three-and- a-half times the national rate. The province declared a public health emergency on May 7, 2026, in response to rising cases. Injection drug use and heterosexual sex are the most common reported ways HIV is spread in Manitoba. Despite the availability of medication to prevent HIV, the clinic says many people who could benefit from PrEP are not using it. “Manitoba is facing a significant challenge. We have some of the highest HIV rates in the country, yet PrEP re-
With live music, it’s the connection and the fact we can tailor the music and what we’re doing for maximum benefits for that child, in that moment, to ease their pain and their stress.
– Cecilia Bellingham, music therapisttherapist
6 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026
PHARMACIST
It’s all about the people. We truly love meeting and helping them; it’s so rewarding being able to help them out every day.
– Christine Hayden, resident pharmacist and co-owner of Brathwaite’s Pharmacy
Geoff and Christine Hayden are the co-owners of Brathwaite's Pharmacy in St. James. Supplied
Offering a personal touch BRAITHWAITE’S PHARMACY CO-OWNERS LOVE CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY
By Todd Lewys I n a day and age where big-box stores dominate the retail landscape, there’s the occasional store that bucks the trend of bigger being better. Brathwaite’s Pharmacy at 1772 Ness Ave. in St. James is one of those stores, standing as a delightful throwback to a time when personal service was the norm, rather than a novelty. With a history that stretches back to 1903 and the original fam- ily-run store on Main Street, resident pharmacist and co-owner Christine Hayden says her affiliation (and love affair) with the store started more than 40 years ago. “I started here in 1985 when I was in university looking for a job – I worked part-time to begin with, then full-time,” she recalls, adding that the pharmacy has called 1772 Ness home since 1959. “I was fascinated by biology but realized I couldn’t ever be a doctor or nurse because I was squeamish. So, I went into pharmacy.” During her studies, Christine took her pharmacy internship at Brathwaite’s. Eventually, she returned to Brathwaite’s to become a full-time pharmacist after graduating in 1987. Meanwhile, she had also married her sweetheart Geoff, who stayed home to raise their kids while Christine dispensed prescrip- tions and friendly advice. As time is wont to do, it flew by. Then, in 2012, Brathwaite’s came up for sale, and the Haydens jumped at the chance to buy the store. “The opportunity presented itself, and we took it. We bought it from Craig McCallum, the son of former owner Earl McCallum, who’d passed by then,” she says. “When we purchased it, it need- ed a bit of a facelift.” That facelift entailed not only cosmetic and technological up- dates, but something far more intangible. “As much as we wanted the pharmacy to be a place to get in- formation and pick up prescriptions, we wanted it to turn it into a community hub,” says Christine. “We wanted to carry on the name, which was so well-known. But more than anything, we wanted to
offer the personal touch that’s missing so often today.” Enter Geoff, who became the pharmacy’s official merchandiser, goodwill ambassador and dispenser of good cheer. “I’m a chatter, so it comes naturally to me,” he says. Not surprisingly, that commitment to the personal touch paid off. “As time went on, the store became like the bar on the show Cheers,” she says. “People were greeted by name when they came in and still are. We know them, and they know us.”
Now, as Christine looks back on her journey at Brathwaite’s – she will celebrate her 40th anniversary working there as a pharma- cist in 2027 – she says much has changed over the years. “Things have changed quite a bit since the mid-80s when I start - ed working here part-time. We didn’t computerize until the mid- 90s, and as time has gone on, technology has become a more important factor in our work.” Moreover, the role of the pharmacist has changed perceptibly. “Today, a pharmacist is part of a medical team, whereas when I started as a licensed pharmacist in 1987, we basically just dis - pensed prescriptions,” notes Christine. “Now, we are the eyes for doctors, making sure medication is appropriate for the patient, and that it’s delivered to them in the appropriate manner, with the right directions.” That’s just the start of a what a pharmacist does, she adds. “We can now prescribe antibiotics, smoking cessation meds, and administer vaccines for COVID and the flu. We can also pre - scribe for minor ailments like rhinitis and eczema, as well.” That is where personal relationships with patients pay off. “Because we have a smaller community and know most pa- tients quite well, we can monitor medications, and, if they have some sort of issue where they can’t get to a doctor for some rea- son, they can come in and see us. We can then give them proper direction, and reassurance.” To pay homage to Braithwaite’s previous locations, the Haydens have an in-store display that showcases memorabilia collected from all the different stores spanning a timeline of some 124 years. It serves as a reminder of how integral it’s been to the fabric of the city, no matter where it was located. “It’s all about the people. We truly love meeting and helping them; it’s so rewarding being able to help them out every day. We have a wonderful staff, who have all been hand-picked by us, so our plan is to continue the business with them. We plan to keep going for as long as we can,” she adds. ■
We wanted to carry on the name, which was so well-known. But more than anything, we wanted to offer the personal touch that’s missing so often today
– Christine Hayden, resident pharmacist and co-owner of Brathwaite’s Pharmacy
7 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026
DIETICIAN
Food for thought DIETITIAN LOVES HELPING PATIENTS TAKE ON STRUGGLES HEAD-ON
I’ve really evolved over the decades to be more interested in chronic disease and people who are really struggling to eat healthy through a variety of challenges – mental health, poverty, what-have-you.
– Jay Adam, registered dietitian in the Interlake healthcare region
Jay Adam has worked as a dietition for the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority for nearly 30 years. S upplied
By Jim Bender A registered dietitian does much more than simply draw up a special diet for a client diagnosed as obese. “Very rarely do you draw up plans these days,” says dietitian Jay Adam, who serves the Interlake health- care region. “They’re generally not that effective long term. We can do that and I’ve done it, but I don’t recommend it.” A registered dietitian is educated to address much more than obesity and is defined as a “regulated healthcare professional who provides science-based, personalized nutrition and medi- cal therapy.” “Typically, I meet with people one-to-one and listen to their challenges, and I help them incorporate nutrition information and how to adapt how they eat for different medical condi- tions,” says Adam, who has been working for the Interlake-East- ern Regional Health Authority for 26 years. “Very rarely do we draw up a plan. It’s more a listening pro- cess (to determine) where they’re struggling the most and how to adapt how they can eat a little bit healthier, given their other challenges in life, whether that be economic, family, emotion- al, psychological distress, things of that nature, which are far more common.” Dietitians deal with a variety of different issues. Those is- sues can include: chronic disease management like diabetes or high blood pressure; digestive food and health such as irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, food allergies and
“A person sits and listens and realizes that it’s a habit or an emotional or family or social cue that they’re responding to in order to fit into a social environment,” he says. “It’s all about un - derstanding emotional cues.” What is Adam’s biggest challenge when trying to help clients? “Often, there is mistrust of a healthcare provider,” says Adam, who sees about 20 clients a week. “So really, all of us want to fo- cus on our listening to really hear what’s important to that person to build a trusting relationship. It’s important because that person really needs your help. It is harder if they don’t trust us, but it’s what it is. I’m not offended if someone doesn’t trust me. Why should they trust me? They don’t know me. It’s their body, not mine. “Listening is key. There are techniques, motivational interview- ing, doing what you say and saying what you mean. I often speak to them as … I (would) speak to a neighbour or family member, as opposed to a so-called patient. That’s how you build trust – sin- cerity and listening.” Getting through to those people is the most satisfying part of his job. “Those are the most rewarding because, if someone is really struggling, either physically or mentally, it is more work, but that’s what it’s all about. The more difficult it is, the more rewarding it is,” says Adam. ■
sensitivities; and life stages and specialized goals to address menopause nutrition, prenatal/pregnancy nutrition, pediatric feeding, weight management and intuitive eating. Adam, 53, graduated from Human Nutritional Sciences, a four-year program that was followed by a year of internship. “My original reasons were more so fitness-motivated for working with athletes and that sort of thing,” he says. “But I’ve really evolved over the decades to be more interested in chronic disease and people who are really struggling to eat healthy through a variety of challenges – mental health, pov- erty, what-have-you. “I’m more on the diabetes spectrum now.” Adam, who lives in Winnipeg Beach, gets the most satisfac- tion from helping his clients relax enough to act on his advice. “They come in very stressed and confused and they typ- ically leave happier and less stressed out,” he says. “A lot of times, a person comes in and they’re trying to eat health - ier, but their energies are always focused on degrees of perfectionism. Food and diet is very nuanced. So, I help them remove their self-imposed guilt and shame that they haven’t learned how to do and find something meaningful and effective to focus their energies on and really identify why they’re struggling.” As part of those efforts, Adam helps people discover why they are eating certain foods that don’t help them.
Food and diet is very nuanced. So, I help them remove their self-imposed guilt and
Chinnapong / Adobe Stock
shame that they haven’t learned how to do and find something meaningful and effective to focus their energies on and really identify why they’re struggling.
– Jay Adam
8 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026
SOCIAL WORKER
Heart and healthcare HOW SOCIAL WORKERS SUPPORT CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES
By Kristin Marand A lannah Tomchuk always knew she wanted to work with people. In her first job in the social sector, she worked with at-risk youth at a treatment centre and went on to work with families in child protection. She also worked as a child abuse inves- tigator. So, it was a natural extension of her empathy and compassion that she would eventually study social work. “I feel like social work was literally in my bones, like it was always going to be my path. I don't know what I would have done otherwise,” Tomchuk says. “I’ve always had an inherent curiosity for people and the social world around me. I've always been a listener and an observer, and I've always asked a lot of questions,” she continues. “I'm an advocate at heart. I would often find myself speaking up in situations where something didn't add up or seem right to me, or when another person didn't feel they could do it themselves. So it really [is] built into my personality.” Tomchuk began her studies at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Social Work at the start of the COVID pandemic. “I started my studies during a time that was very turbulent for everybody. At the same time, you start- ed to see this need for social workers rapidly in- creasing because you had folks retiring and leaving the field, [many] because they had already been con - sidering it and the pandemic was their final nudge,” she says. “Simultaneously, you were seeing folks really struggling with what was going on at the time. So you're studying, and you're seeing this need increas- ing. I was very eager to get out and start practicing and working with people.” Tomchuk works with inpatients in acute care at HSC Children’s Hospital. This includes children who have experienced trauma injuries, motor vehi- cle collisions, burns and post-surgery patients. Her
daily routine includes allied health rounds, visiting patients alongside occupational and physiothera- pists, dietitians, and child life specialists, all working collaboratively with patients, their caregivers and extended families. “I end up working with people during what can be a highly traumatic and challenging time in their lives. I'm here to walk alongside them and support them however is needed, helping them navigate the path forward after whatever has happened, wheth- er that means connecting people to the resources they need or even just providing emotional support. That's all within social work's role,” Tomchuk says. Social work, as part of the allied health continuum, takes a humanistic, holistic and collaborative ap- proach, aspiring for the best possible patient health outcomes by addressing the social determinants of health, Tomchuk explains. Initial patient assess- ment begins with bio-psycho-social evaluations to identify areas of need and strengths. One aim of Tomchuk’s work is to help build capac- ity and bolster support networks. “Children are incredibly strong, and they're so re- silient, and I see them heal so well and be so strong and so brave and that's really rewarding,” she says. “In my role as a social worker, not only do I get to see the care and the support that children and their families receive, but I also get to be an active part of it, so I feel very lucky to get to be a part of the patient's journey, recovering and healing.” Tomchuk shares that she feels honoured have an opportunity to show someone what a trusting, safe, kind, and compassionate interaction is. She encour- ages others whose values are rooted in compassion to explore social work. “My mantra as a social worker is ‘Go where you're needed’. That's how I practice. I show up first, and then I figure it out. I see how I can help. Go where you're needed, and see what you can do,” she says. ■
One of Alannah Tomchuk's aims as a social worker is to help young people build capacity and bolster their support networks. Supplied
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