Andrea Fortin

Patient Advisor on the CEO Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) since October 2021

I have always lived in Northern Ontario. I was raised in Val Caron, where I now reside with my partner, our two daughters, and our beloved bulldog, Bacon. I am a graduate from the Master of Health Sciences Program with specialization in epidemiology at Lakehead University and have a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Biology from Laurentian University. I currently serve on the board of directors and the fundraising committee for the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC).

I am particularly interested in addressing the healthcare needs of Francophone patients. I want to contribute to efforts that will benefit communication and visibility strategies and ensure that patient care is responsive to the cultural and linguistic needs of community members.

I have noticed a much-needed shift toward patient-centered approaches in healthcare. I believe a lot of work still needs to be done in this area. I am eager to work with the PFAs at HSN to foster collaboration and decision-making with patients and their families at the patient and system level. 

I became a Patient and Family Advisor because I am very passionate about health equity and the delivery of culturally-competent and patient-centered care. I want to ensure that everyone receiving care at HSN has the opportunity to reach their full health potential, and I look forward to collaborating with others to lift healthcare barriers. I am excited to contribute to efforts that will change the culture of healthcare in our community to better meet the needs of those it serves.