Becoming a Registered Nurse

The Future Face of Nursing Profiles

Taking Nursing to Heart

“Nursing is an excellent training ground and springboard to a world of opportunities both within and outside the health system to influence policy and the well-being of Canadians.”

– Sally Brown, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

Sally Brown, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, is an inspiration to many. She has successfully moved from front-line nursing, to political adviser, to leader of Canada’s largest research-based health charity.

Reflecting back on her nursing experience, Brown states, “Nursing provides a wealth of skills and experience applicable to many fields. It gave me self-confidence, strong communication skills, as well as the ability to problem-solve in emergency or urgent situations.”

Brown began what she calls her “interesting and rewarding but rather circuitous career” at the Toronto General Hospital, then moved to the Hospital for Sick Children, nursing in the burn unit, ICU and ER. While working part time, Brown completed a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then finished a Master of Health Science at the University of Toronto while nursing part time. Brown’s career path led her to administrative positions, including manager of the emergency department, director of ambulatory care and assistant vice-president of diagnostic services.

With her nursing skills in tow and an ongoing interest in policy and politics, Brown continued to grow professionally, accepting a two-year policy adviser position in the Prime Minister’s Office in Ottawa. From there, she was recruited to the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada as vice-president. Five years ago, Sally Brown took on the role of CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

In her role as CEO, Brown guides her team in its mission to “lead in the elimination of heart disease, stroke and their impact.” The foundation specializes in health research, providing over a billion dollars to fund health research and its application. The foundation also leads health promotion and advocacy. For example, Brown is currently leading the fight in Canada to eliminate processed trans fats in our food supply.

“I have been very fortunate in my career,” says Brown. “I love what I do.” Crediting finding a mentor as very important to her growth as a professional, Brown urges potential nurses and nurses alike to, “recognize nursing as a career, not a job. Try to find a mentor early in your career, someone you admire, can emulate and learn from to help you find your way.”

Knowing she had the capacity for nursing from her experiences of working as a nursing aid through school, Brown was attracted to the opportunities that nursing could afford her. “For a lower middle-class female back then, the options were more limited and the fact that hospital-based nursing was totally free – including meals, tuition, books, uniform and residence accommodation in the ‘big city’ away from home – made it irresistible,” recalls Brown. “I became only truly inspired after my training, while working on the burn unit at Sick Kids’ [the Hospital for Sick Children]. For me the greatest reward of being a nurse was doing good and connecting with people on a personal level.”

Brown brings to her day-to-day activity the teachings and experience of nursing, which she sums up as “a huge understanding and compassion for the human condition in all its dimensions.”

Brown’s philosophy? Always take the high road, and don’t be afraid to take a risk once in a while. No matter what happens, you will learn and grow. Make sure you seek out the job you want to do, not the job you want to have. Find a mentor. Be true to your own values, always.