Celebrating Women’s Contributions in Healthcare

Could you please introduce yourself and share the work you do at Halton Healthcare?

I’m Heather Stevenson, and I joined Halton Healthcare in May of 2023. I’m the Manager of ICT Operations, Infrastructure and Cyber Security. I lead the teams that do all of the amazing work that makes the IT side “work” for everyone at Halton Healthcare, such as the Service Desk team who answer staff tech phone calls and tickets, our SysAdmins who manage and oversee all of our servers and data storage and the incredible cybersecurity team that works diligently to keep us safe in an increasingly risky world. I’ve always worked in technology and find the work fascinating and interesting. I love problem solving and making things just a little easier for people as technology supports them in their jobs.

What accomplishment are you particularly proud of in your role here at Halton Healthcare?

Since joining Halton Healthcare I’ve been focusing on streamlining processes and re-focusing on providing excellent customer service to all sites across the organization. I’m delighted that we launched the Customer Service Council in late 2023, which provides an on-going feedback process loop, allowing us to continually improve how we are supporting employees.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, what message or advice would you share with aspiring women in healthcare /ICT based on your experiences?”

This is the best job! Supporting those who make such a difference in the lives of so many is an honour. My message would be that women bring a unique point of view to the work that we do. It is important that we encourage and support a place for all voices at the table, and that can only be done when we raise each other up and support each other; we are better together. I’d encourage all women to explore the jobs that interest them, no matter if you’re the first woman to pursue it or the thousandth, go for it and leave a path for the person who wants to come next.

What accomplishment are you particularly proud of in your role here at Halton Healthcare?

I led multiple quality improvement projects in the laboratory, which contributed to enhancing laboratory efficiency and producing reliable results. In addition, I led the Lab through Accreditation Canada-Diagnostics (AC-D) assessment and guided the team to address potential risks to ensure quality and laboratory operations excellence.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, what message or advice would you share with aspiring women in healthcare /ICT based on your experiences?”

Women in science and healthcare have contributed tremendously to shaping the current healthcare landscape. For example, in 1950, Rosalind Franklin participated in the research that led to the description of the DNA structure as we know it today. This discovery advanced the scientific understanding of genetics, which currently enables personalized medicine and disease diagnosis. Women continue to lead the scientific field in laboratory medicine and work behind the scenes to answer medical questions when it’s needed most.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, what message or advice would you share with aspiring women in healthcare /ICT based on your experiences?”

Be confident in your abilities and your power to effect change. Don’t ever feel like you that you can’t do something because you’re a woman, or have family commitments/priorities, or because of your role or lack of experience. Some of the most influential and inspirational people in my life were and are frontline workers who are amazing at their jobs, and awesome moms, partners and human beings. Know that what you do and how you do it has significant impacts and a ripple effect that you can’t even begin to imagine.

Don’t be afraid to take on challenges, experience or opportunities that come your way; especially the ones that are thrust upon you and not the path you sought for yourself. Trust your own talents, and what others see in you.  Just say ‘yes’ to new and perhaps anxiety-provoking opportunities you consider outside of your abilities. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, work hard and enjoy the journey. You will learn so much more about yourself, and new domains and teams you never considered before.

Although I’m a soldier not a sailor, the quote: “Smooth seas never made a good sailor” resonates with me. Your skills and personal resilience can only grow or be tested in challenging times. You develop both through experiencing successes and failures. Real wisdom and valuable learnings are borne from the failures.  I encourage people to ‘soldier on’ even longer than they think they can in challenging environments; seek out mentors, advocates,opportunities to help make change for the better, rather than leaving a role or an organization too quickly.  You may be cheating yourself out of your greatest opportunities for personal and professional growth, and a whole new understanding of what you are truly capable of.