About EXTRA

Testimonials and Articles

"My EXTRA experience is improving my future; it is enabling me in my career. [I am able] to influence long-term decisions by working with evidence plus building and enhancing leadership skills. I am acquiring knowledge that will in the long term transcribe into my work."

Karen MacRurry-Sweet
Health Services Director, Heart Health and Emergency, Capital District Health Authority, Nova Scotia
EXTRA Fellow, 2005

"Another real benefit of the EXTRA program comes from delving into the research directed toward a very specific project. Inevitably, through this focused process, you find different ways of looking at things. By focusing time and energy on the literature, we can open up new opportunities to pursue... I have used this new skill for my intervention project but also I have done half a dozen research searches specifically for issues that I am wrestling with at work."

Kristen Krull-Naraj
Vice-President, Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, Royal Victoria Hospital
EXTRA Fellow, 2004

"(A highlight so far is) the opportunity to network. The EXTRA program brings together people from widely diverse backgrounds who have an impressive array of skills and insights. Much of our work during the residency phase of the project involves sharing these insights."

Dr. Owen Heisler
General Surgeon and Medical Director, Department of Medical Affairs, Red Deer Regional Hospital, David Thompson Health Region
EXTRA Fellow, 2005

"I think another great benefit of EXTRA has been the peer learning. Despite the diversity of our intervention projects, and the very different roles and work environments in which we work, there is a striking similarity of experiences and challenges we face... There has been considerable informal sharing of knowledge and expertise both during the residency sessions and when we are all back in our home territories (e-mail is great here). For instance, we exchange information on how we have solved certain problems and what the results have been, as well as sharing articles and resources."

Patty O'Connor
Associate Director of Nursing, Neuroscience Mission, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal
EXTRA Fellow, 2005

"I thought I needed to focus on how to promote quality and excellence in patient care and was looking for specific tools to do this. I did look at health administration programs, MBAs, and so on but found that EXTRA was much more closely aligned with what I really need to know to do my job well. Based upon the first two EXTRA modules, I'd say it has been extremely useful. Because I come from an academic background and have lectured on the implementation of best practices, I thought I already knew a lot about the information that would be delivered in these modules, but I have discovered that I really have only scratched the surface. Suffice to say, the first session I attended was intense."

Dr. Gaétan Tardif
Vice-President and Physician in Chief, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
EXTRA Fellow, 2005

"(EXTRA offers) an opportunity for people within the healthcare environment to re-energize what they believe in terms of changing and improving how services can be delivered to meet the needs of patients, clients, or citizens."

Debra Vanance
Community Area Director - River East and Transcona, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Government of Manitoba, Family Services and Housing
EXTRA Fellow, 2005

"I can see the EXTRA program leading to the development of a Canadian network of healthcare professionals to improve the Canadian healthcare system, but also promote it as a leading example of an effective and innovative system."

Dr. Carl Taillon
Directeur, Direction des services professionnels, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec/Hôpital Saint-François d'Assise
EXTRA Fellow, 2005

Making Research Work