As Vice-President of Operations and an emergency nurse by background, Paul Alyward oversees all clinical operations in Canada including all major on-site projects. He is Horizon’s MedEvac Coordinator with over seven years’ experience as a Medical Flight Specialist through Eastern Health and their Air Medical Critical Care Transport Training Program. He was also part of the Newfoundland offshore MedEvac team for fifteen years. Paul is an OH & S award winning instructor at Memorial University of Newfoundland, as well as a member of Faculty of Medicine, Standardized Patient Program. With over 25 years in the medical industry, he has become an expert educator in his field. His dedication to patient care stems from his educational background, which began at St. Clare’s School of Nursing and continued to a degree from Memorial University. His experience incorporates a background in ICU and Emergency.
Q: What was your first job?
A: My first real job was when I was 14 mowing lawns in the St. John’s area. It was a great summer gig.
My first nursing job was in 1991, when I worked in critical care (ICU) in St. John’s, NL at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital. The work was challenging but it I enjoyed it because I was learning about the rewarding aspects of hard work when you’re helping people. Everyday challenges created career growth through increased responsibility, and in the end I learned more that I could have recognized at the time. Nursing, in sometimes difficult situations, was certainly gratifying and I feel lucky to have started my career alongside such amazing friends – both coworkers and patients.
Q: What made you decide to become a Registered Nurse?
A: To be honest, becoming a nurse wasn’t something I had ever planned on doing. I had aspirations of becoming a police office when I was young. However, I took on a summer job at a local hospital and observed what nurses were doing for patients and I thought it was amazing. I applied to one local school in NL, got accepted, and the rest is history!
Q: What is it about Occupational Health that you find interesting?
A: I’ve worked in the occupational health since 1996 when I first went to Voisey Bay to assist on a relief level for a local site. At the time, I had no idea how interesting and exciting the experience would be and to this day I find myself reminiscing about the experience with old friends and coworkers. I’ve always had a keen interest in both the site response and surveillance sides of occupational health. It’s interesting work developing health monitoring program for such vast array of workers and individuals!
Folks who work in occupational health often stick to it for life so I get the chance to develop lasting friendships with clients. I feel lucky to have helped clients monitor their health during engagements but also to have worked with them towards better health choices that would affect their futures.
Q: What keeps you inspired?
A: I am absolutely inspired by two main things, the great team approach at Medisys Health group and the exciting opportunity for us to grow.
Since I became a fulltime member of this great team in the fall of 2013, I have been amazed by how everyone works so well together as one team. Absolutely there are challenges; we would not grow without them! But still the MHG people continue to rally around challenges and assist each other as needed. This I think can be said for all levels of the business.
The growth and collaboration that I have seen in our clinics and in the business as a whole over the last few years is a true inspiration. Our teams work together to serve the client, all the while doing what we can to empower each other in the business. I have seen many, many ways where empowerment manifests at MHG. I don’t think that can be said for all companies, but this one is unique.
Q: What is your best piece of health advice?
A: Health is something that should never be taken for granted. We work in an industry that strives for best health for the clients and their teams. My advice is to take the necessary steps to embrace a healthy today, and to be glad we live in a county that allows us to live a healthy tomorrow. Never take it for granted.
