In this special mini-episode, Karen chats with members of the Multi-Organ Transplant Team to discuss Living Donation Week.

This week, September 7 through 15, is Living Donation Week in Canada, and living kidney and liver donations are a gift of life with a shorter pathway to back to wellness for those waiting for a transplant.

Learn more about becoming the Lving Kidney Donor Program in Nova Scotia.

Links:

• Living Donation Week
• Multi-Organ Transplant Program of Atlantic Canada

Note - Right now in Nova Scotia, there is only a living kidney donor program.

In this episode, Karen sits down with her colleague Candace Thomas, Nova Scotia Health's first Vice President of Legal, as well as our General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.

Born and raised in East Preston, Nova Scotia - one of the province's 52 historic African Nova Scotian communities - Candace is used to being the first: Nova Scotia's first African Nova Scotian Deputy Attorney General, first woman and first person of colour to be chair of the Board of Governors of Dalhousie University, and first Vice President of African Nova Scotian descent at Nova Scotia Health.

Candace discusses with Karen her journey to becoming a lawyer and the essential role the legal and policy team plays in providing safe, continuous healthcare for Nova Scotians.

Note - This episode was recorded in April 2025. Candace celebrated her first anniversary with Nova Scotia Health on July 8.

Links:

1. Nova Scotia Health Announces New Vice President | Nova Scotia Health
2. Candace Thomas connects community, justice, education and opportunity | Nova Scotia Health
3. The Africadian Empowerment Academy
4. Woman of the Year 2019: Candace Thomas

Tariffs, Trade, and Triage: Keeping Healthcare Supplied in Unpredictable Times

In this episode, Karen speaks with Christine Donaldson, President and CEO of HealthPro Canada, and Derek Spinney, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Corporate Services at Nova Scotia Health, about the delicate balancing act of healthcare procurement.

From navigating on-again, off-again tariffs - or tariff threats - to managing Canada’s reliance on American-made medical supplies, Christine and Derek reveal the behind-the-scenes decisions that protect patient care, and explore how HealthPro Canada is working to build a more resilient, transparent supply chain—and what provincial health systems, like Nova Scotia Health, are doing to stay one step ahead.