Primary Care Alberta has made history by appointing Dr. Kim Hogarth as the province's first chief nursing officer—a role that's among the first of its kind in Canada. It's a big deal for Alberta's healthcare system, especially since nurses make up nearly half of PCA's workforce and are often the first point of contact for patients.

"Primary care works best when every member of the team contributes their expertise, including at the leadership table," says PCA CEO Kim Simmonds. Dr. Hogarth will team up with Dr. Ernst Greyvenstein, PCA's chief medical officer, creating a leadership duo that brings both nursing and medical voices to the table when making decisions about primary care.

Dr. Hogarth isn't new to healthcare leadership. She's worked as everything from a registered nurse to a nurse practitioner, with hands-on experience in rural emergency rooms, labour and delivery, and acute care. She'll juggle her new chief nursing officer duties while continuing as PCA's executive director. As a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, she's also passionate about building stronger partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province.