Denise Thomas
In 2001, as a Nursing student at Kwantlen, Denise travelled with her class to Nepal on a five-week nursing practice that would change her life forever.
During the trip, she sought an independent placement at Mother Teresa’s Home for the Destitute and Dying – a placement that made working with marginalized populations her life and career goal.
After graduating, she was hired by St. Paul’s Hospital in the HIV/AIDS Acute Care ward and was shortly made the head nurse of the Immunodeficiency Clinic. She was the 2003 recipient of the Nursing Newcomer of the Year Award and has sat on a number of committees and boards.
When given an opportunity to volunteer with the Clinton Foundation to work with HIV/AIDS patients in Lesotho, Africa, Denise jumped at the chance. She was subsequently hired by the Foundation to coordinate two initiatives in Lesotho. The mentorship program involves the training of international medical professionals to mentor local doctors and nurses in the efficient functioning of clinics, patient care and drug administration. The expert patient program trains local HIV-positive people to work with the local medical professionals in a country with a severe shortage of qualified personnel. The enormous success of both programs has drawn considerable interest from other African Nations coping with the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS.
Denise was nominated for this award by three Kwantlen instructors, who describe her as ‘an angel.’ “She is an incredible human being. She is so kind and genuine, people are drawn to her. I am proud and honoured to know her,” said Connie Ordish, the Nursing instructor that travelled to Nepal with Denise in 2001.
Denise plans to continue her Nursing career, caring for marginalized populations in Canada and abroad.