From interior designers to registered nurses and project managers on the construction team, women at Niagara Health are playing a major role in the planning and implementation of the South Niagara Hospital Project. While the entire Redevelopment Team consists of around 30 people, two thirds of them are women and they are bringing a broad range of experiences to the table. Their diversity, knowledge and unique skillsets are valuable assets to the team working to build a new hospital in Niagara.
Women on the South Niagara Hospital Team. Back row from left: Antonietta Culic, Miriam Singh, Reem Khatab, Cassandra Samaroo, Carmen Cernusca, Carolyn Gibbs, Nathalie Stewart, Jessica Welychka, Jessica Mottola. Front: Tammy Chaput, Anastasia Adriyanta, Karen Adams. Missing: Yaprak Berktin, Nicole Bindoo, Vidya Castelino, Izabela Cawricz, Stevie Christopher, Barb Evans, Gillian Gregory, Alexandra Hutchison, and Andrea Nguyen.
Karen Adams, Project Assistant and Izabela Cawricz, Director of Interiors and Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment were some of the first people hired to the project in 2016. It wasn’t the first time they worked together, having both been part of the West 5th Campus redevelopment project at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.
“I find hospital redevelopment work very fulfilling because you’re helping to bring patients a much-needed new healthcare facility. With our work on the West 5th Campus, we could see the positive changes that the bright, new and modern facility brought to patients. I look forward to when the South Niagara Hospital opens and people in our community can experience the benefits of a new hospital here as well,” says Adams. “Our team is full of kind, caring and smart women. I really enjoy working with a group of like-minded people who are all working towards a common goal of building a new hospital.”
As an Interior Designer and WELL Accredited professional, Cawricz has led the way with the South Niagara Hospital Project’s application to become a WELL Certified building. The WELL Certification program is an internationally recognized building standard that encourages design features to support the health and wellbeing of the people who are using the building. Last fall, Niagara Health announced that the South Niagara Hospital Project had achieved WELL Precertification, a major milestone for the project that put it on track to be the first WELL Certified hospital in Canada
“Redevelopment work can be stressful and it comes with many challenges, but I love how supportive the women on our team are of each other. Every day we work together to overcome challenges, advance the project and find success as a team. It is very rewarding,” says Cawricz.
Jessica Mottola has been at Niagara Health since 2012, putting her engineering degree to use for projects of many kinds across all sites. Her background and experience combined with her knowledge of P3 Projects (Public, Private Partnerships) made her an excellent fit for the Project Team, overseeing the portfolios for facilities management, retail and third-party contracts, move and transition, as well as the early planning for the Welland Redevelopment Project.
“I really enjoy the complexity of the work that we do and the issues that we have to address. We have such a diverse team, and we often have to work together to overcome challenges and find positive solutions,” says Mottola, a Director on the project. “I have always been inspired by other successful women and consider myself very lucky to have had strong, smart women to look up to throughout my career. I continue to look towards others for inspiration, and I hope that I can be that inspiration for others as well.”
“Redevelopment work can be stressful and it comes with many challenges, but I love how supportive the women on our team are of each other. Every day we work together to overcome challenges, advance the project and find success as a team. It is very rewarding.”
“I have always been inspired by other successful women and consider myself very lucky to have had strong, smart women to look up to throughout my career. I continue to look towards others for inspiration, and I hope that I can be that inspiration for others as well.”
Nathalie Stewart has been with Niagara Health for more than 35 years, working in operating rooms performing various roles from staff nurse to charge nurse. She was also an operating room perioperative nurse educator for close to 10 years. Along with many of her colleagues on the Operational Readiness Team who have hands-on experience from working in hospitals and clinical settings, she brings a unique perspective to the project.
“I find my work on the Redevelopment Team to be really motivating. It’s exciting to be able to apply my knowledge and past healthcare experiences to this project to create a better space for the future,” says Stewart. “I’m always in awe of how knowledgeable the people are on our team. We have really strong role models and leaders, and it’s inspiring to work with such a diverse group of strong professionals who bring a lot of different experiences to the table.”
Andrea Nguyen is the Director of Operational Readiness for the South Niagara Hospital Team. As a registered respiratory therapist, she brings clinical knowledge to the team combined with years of experience in project planning and management.
“I love the intersection between design and clinical practice. I get to bring my clinical knowledge and apply it to design work in a way that is going to advance care for our patients,” says Nguyen.
“The women on our team are among some of the smartest women I know, and many of them have had to advance their careers in a somewhat male-dominated industry. I admire their tenacity for their career goals, and really value the opportunity to work with other women who can relate to the challenges that come with juggling families, careers and personal growth.”
The South Niagara Hospital will be located at the corner of Montrose and Biggar roads in Niagara Falls. The 1.3-million-square-foot hospital is currently under construction, with opening planned for 2028. More information about the South Niagara Hospital is available here.
