A health educator and physiotherapist for Central Okanagan Association for Cardiac Health (C.O.A.C.H.) in Kelowna, BC, Anne began her studies with the Graduate Certificate in Rehabilitation, facilitating renewal of her study skills after nearly 25 years before starting the MRSc. “It seemed like a perfect fit for me,” she says.
Learning with other health professionals was one of the best parts of the MRSc for Anne: “Directly applying the structured educational activities to their diverse clinical settings provided a rich learning environment that was meaningful and practical. The dialogue, collaboration and sharing stimulated by the course learning activities was unexpected and appreciated. Additionally, the major project planning and implementation was a highlight for me.”
Coursework together with supervisor and workplace sponsor support facilitated Anne’s MRSc research project, Managing cardiovascular risk factors after acute coronary syndrome: Rural perspectives. “The project taught me to be a better listener of client needs and have a deeper understanding of their perspectives. It changed how I look at program planning, development and evaluation of cardiac rehabilitation. As a health educator, I have a deeper understanding of the importance of the needs and perspectives of the audience that I am trying to reach and influence.”
Applying course learning and assignments to practice during her studies benefited Anne’s health education work and included publishing a writing course assignment and receiving two grants for the C.O.A.C.H. program — one for equipment and one for an enhanced program: “Skills developed in the MRSc such as defining practice problems, assessing needs of clients and building a strong rationale led to the successful funding of my (RHSC 507) program proposal, Enhanced Self-Management Program for Better Cardiovascular Health’ which has been running for over two years. It supports clients who are having difficulty self-managing complex chronic health conditions by providing extra 1:1 counseling with a dietician, pharmacist and social worker.” A third equipment grant received after graduation began pilot testing in June 2016 of a live Rural Outreach Videoconferencing Education Program which Anne designed in RHSC 509 to improve cardiac rehabilitation access. She says, “The grant success has been satisfying –it has much to do with writing and reasoning improvements from MRSc courses.”
Reflecting on her MRSc experience Anne states: “I learned that as an individual clinician it is possible to create change, advocate for clients and improve practice by taking systematic steps to plan, propose and collaborate.”
By Sue Stanton with Anne Pistawka