NP Lhamo Dolkar
As I round out my presidency this spring, I am filled with the overwhelming sensation that I’ve lived several lives (at times exhausting but always fulfilling) over the last two years. I am grateful for each and every experience that has impacted me personally and professionally. Knowing I can’t share them all here, my challenge is to select the moments that resonated most, and the experiences that have left the biggest mark.
I had the honour to visit Pikangikum First Nation in early March 2026. The trip to this northern Ontario fly-in community was organized by our CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun. It brought together RNAO's Indigenous Health Program leaders and ministry of health representatives (read more in Nursing Notes). This experience will stay with me for a long time. I grew as a person and it sharpened my understanding of what it means to lead with heart.
RNAO has built its legacy around evidence to support strong advocacy. This is at the centre of everything we do as an association. Aligned with this is the acknowledgement that our advocacy must stretch beyond health care to the social and environmental factors that impact health.
Seeing the resilience of the Pikangikum community, touring the health centre, school and new Elder complex; this was an absolute privilege and a highlight of my presidency. To say I was inspired by the fortitude and perseverance of this Indigenous Best Practice Spotlight Organizations® (BPSO®) would be an understatement. They have clamoured for decades to maintain their culture and continue to fight for basic needs. The community has not had clean running water for three decades.
No matter the hardship or how big it feels, if we don’t use our privilege as leaders to push for change, we are doing a disservice to humanity.
It would be impossible to see the challenges firsthand and not leave with a promise to the community to continue to advocate for resources that many Canadians take for granted. No matter the hardship or how big it feels, if we don’t use our privilege as leaders to push for change, we are doing a disservice to humanity.
Over the last two years, I have learned a lot. I will be forever grateful to the many knowledgeable nurse leaders and frontline providers who have imparted their wisdom to help me become the best president I can be. Many people have had faith in me that I sometimes didn’t have in myself. In fact, I have surprised myself sometimes at how much I’ve enjoyed taking on this challenge and harnessing the strength of others to support a common goal.
We have seen a lot of global unrest over the last two years. It was important to me that we not let hatred infiltrate our environment and distract us from the important work we’re doing. I am so proud of our health equity focus, and the release of our groundbreaking new BPG, Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Nursing (read more in our feature about the release). Despite the unrest that is happening around us, we have remained firm in our values, and we are influencing the next generation with innovative initiatives that demonstrate the value that each and every person brings to our work. RNAO will continue to move through the unrest and the noise of division, always striving for equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in everything we do.
Representation, and the value of EDI across the health system and society in general, has informed everything I’ve done as president. I am Tibetan and I know that young nurses who see themselves represented in leadership roles will feel inspired and heard. Many presidents before me have represented diversity at RNAO and I know that our future roster of diverse leaders will draw on that strength.
Many presidents before me have represented diversity at RNAO and I know that our future roster of diverse leaders will draw on that strength.
I also feel fortunate that my tenure as president allowed me to be a part of our association’s 100th anniversary. Leading the 100th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2025 will remain one of my fondest memories as president. I am proud of what RNAO has accomplished over a century, and to be a collaborator on what our next 100 will look like. As an association, we’ve given so much to the profession, the public and the health system. And we have so much more to offer.
Two years ago, I was asked what I considered to be priorities for the association. Enhancements to primary care made my list, and I feel we have taken strides and seen important advancements on this issue. We released Enhancing Community Care for Ontarians (ECCO) 4.0 report in May 2025. And with that we have adapted our asks, integrated different partners, and called for greater investments in primary care, social and environmental determinants of health, and EDI.
We know there is more to do. And rest assured that my insight as a nurse practitioner will continue to inform my passion as this work advances. Having worked with our CEO and President-Elect Sue LeBeau on consultations with Dr. Jane Philpott and Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team, I know this work will continue to be a priority.
It’s hard to believe the time has come and gone so quickly. I will always cherish the relationships I’ve built as president, whether with fellow board representatives, our assembly of leaders, general members, staff, BPSOs, or collaborators both inside and outside of nursing. I’m humbled by the hard work of so many people. And I will continue to be inspired by the dedication of our 57,250 members strong. You propel our efforts into communities across Ontario and beyond.
The 2026 AGM is right around the corner. I’m excited to see colleagues and collaborators to move the needle on these and so many other priorities at this year’s event.