HÂþ»­

BN (1987) MN (1997)

Education experience
Paula’s academic background includes a BN and a MN from HÂþ»­ University. She has over 17 years’ experience in the field of emergency health services. She began her Emergency Health Services career as the Provincial Trauma Program Manager and co - led the development and implementation of the Nova Scotia Provincial Trauma Program.

Succession of leadership positions
Paula Poirier’s nursing career started as a staff nurse in general surgical & emergency nursing at Halifax Infirmary Hospital. She then took a succession of leadership positions as nurse manager of a general surgical floor; of a medical intensive care unit (Halifax Infirmary Hospital) and then a medical, surgical, neuro intensive care unit at the QEII Health Science Center. Paula has been the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Emergency Medical Care, since 2009 (EMC, the company that operates the EHS system for the province of Nova Scotia).

Partnership with government
As COO, Paula provides leadership in the development, day to day operations and strategic long term planning for the EHS system in partnership with the government’s Department of Health & Wellness (DHW). In addition, as Vice President of Medavie EMS, Paula is responsible for the EMS operations in Ontario which include the areas of Chatham Kent, Elgin County and Muskoka.

Demonstrated leadership
Paula served as Director of the EHS Provincial Programs at the Department of Health for eight years. In this role, she was responsible for four provincial programs: Nova Scotia Trauma Program, Simulation and Training Centre, Medical First Responders Program and EHS LifeFlight. Currently, Paula is the first non-physician President of the National Trauma Association of Canada (TAC), a Trauma Systems Accreditor, and Co-chair for the Trauma Association of Canada Accreditation Committee.