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When Sarah Colgan received the prestigious Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada (NPAC) Award of Excellence for Nova Scotia, it marked recognition of a career built on compassion, dedication, and innovation. Sarah, a Nurse Practitioner (NP) at Woodlawn Medical Clinic in Dartmouth, has focused on improving patient care, advocating for her profession, and addressing gaps in healthcare accessibility.
The NPAC Award honors NPs who show professionalism, leadership, and a strong commitment to patients and colleagues. Sarah embodies these qualities. “Your dedication and expertise are helping to strengthen the NP profession and improve the quality of care for communities across Canada,” wrote NPAC’s leadership in their congratulatory letter.
A Journey Shaped by Patient Needs
Sarah began her career in 2007 as a registered nurse, working in emergency departments in Fredericton and Halifax. She often saw patients turning to emergency care for issues that could have been prevented. This experience motivated her to become an NP, with the goal of focusing on preventative health and community-based care to provide patients with timely support.
By 2014, Sarah had completed her Master of Nursing and began working in temporary acute care roles while awaiting an opportunity in primary health care. In 2017, she established her practice at Woodlawn Medical, where her patient roster now spans all ages, from newborns to seniors. Known for her collaborative approach, Sarah partners with physicians, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to develop personalized care plans, ensuring each patient receives comprehensive support.
“Sarah’s patients hold her in the highest regard,” said Nurse Practitioner Jessica Billard, a former student and now colleague. “If she moved to another province tomorrow, her patients would likely follow her. They all say she’s worth her weight in gold.”
Innovating for Better Access
Sarah is a leader in healthcare innovation. She promotes initiatives like Virtual Hallway, a platform that connects primary care providers with specialists to reduce wait times. “Virtual Hallway is a great example of how frontline providers can create practical solutions for better patient care,” Sarah said.
She also led the working group for After Hours Clinics in Central Zone after their rollout, striving to develop solutions that balanced patient access with the needs of primary care providers. Her colleagues describe her as a collaborative leader who listens and builds consensus to address challenges effectively.
Preventative health is central to Sarah’s work, and her advocacy for breastfeeding support demonstrates this commitment. Observing a lack of community resources, Sarah pursued specialized training to help mothers with breastfeeding challenges. She collaborates with lactation consultants and works to establish community clinics to address this gap.
“Breastfeeding is vital for both maternal and child health, and it’s an area where we can make a real difference,” Sarah said. Her efforts focus on improving Nova Scotia’s below-average breastfeeding rates by ensuring mothers and babies have the support they need.
Balancing Practice and Policy
While managing a full-time practice, Sarah is pursuing a PhD at Queen’s University. Her research emphasizes integrating frontline clinical insights into healthcare policy. “Healthcare plans are most effective when they’re informed by the people who deliver care,” she said.
Despite her busy schedule, Sarah prioritizes her family. She coaches her children’s ringette teams and enjoys golfing with her husband, balancing her professional and personal life.
The NPAC Award of Excellence highlights Sarah’s significant contributions to healthcare and the NP profession. “I’m proud that she’s finally getting the recognition she deserves,” Jessica said. “Sarah’s mentorship, compassion, and leadership set the standard for what all nurse practitioners strive to be.”
For Sarah, the award affirms her efforts. “Knowing that one of my peers nominated me for this award is incredibly rewarding,” she said. “It reminds me why I do what I do.”
Sarah’s work in primary care shows how a dedicated professional can inspire meaningful change. She leads with compassion, advocates for improvement, and sets an example of excellence for others.