Northern Health is proud to share that Dr. Natasha DeSousa, from Ksyen Regional Hospital, has successfully completed a prestigious Emergency Department Leadership Fellowship with Mass General Brigham in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a two-year program designed to help emergency physicians become strong leaders and experts in their field.
The fellowship gives physicians a chance to take a deeper dive into the inner workings of emergency departments, how hospitals make decisions, and how health care systems are managed. Participants learn about budgeting, safety, and quality in patient care, collaborate with other departments, and learn how health policies affect emergency medicine.
After working in emergency medicine for many years, including leading the emergency department in Terrace for seven years, Dr. DeSousa pursued the program to further hone her skills and improve how emergency care is delivered to patients. She chose emergency medicine because she enjoys helping patients of all ages and dealing with a wide variety of health problems.
“I like working in acute care and the team environment, as well as the procedural aspects of the discipline,” she explained.
Her fellowship experience wasn’t just about learning – it was about connecting with fellow professionals who share her passion for emergency medicine.
“It was inspiring to see how people are finding solutions in difficult situations,” said Dr. DeSousa. “Places like Terrace, Prince Rupert, and Dawson Creek each face unique challenges and I want to find solutions that really work for these communities.”
Now, Dr. DeSousa is using what she learned in the fellowship to advocate for better care across BC. Her capstone project (the final application-based assignment at the end of the program) focused on making rural emergency departments stronger and more resilient with improvements she plans to implement in her own practice. She also wants to encourage others to adopt similar improvements through her ongoing work with the Rural Coordination Centre of BC and Emergency Care BC.
For Dr. DeSousa the most rewarding part of her career is still the same - helping patients. Now, she’s doing that by shaping the future of emergency care in Northern BC, one innovative idea at a time.
“Health care is a tough system, and no one person can fix it alone,” she shared. “For future leaders, ask for resources early and set boundaries.”
Northern Health congratulates Dr. DeSousa on her achievement and thanks her for her dedication to improving emergency care in our Northern communities.
Read more about Dr. DeSousa here: Dr. Natasha DeSousa joins prestigious emergency leadership program | Stories
For more information about the Emergency Department Leadership Fellowship, visit the University of British Columbia website.
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