Christina Papa is a registered practical nurse (RPN) at Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital. Christina has been with Oak Valley Health for 11 years and has always enjoyed the sense of community she feels at the hospital.

“I walk in the front door and feel like I am home.”

Christina works in the operating room, performing perioperative duties that involve her supporting the surgical team before, during, and after patient procedures. She assists with setting up the operating room, ensures all the instrumentation is sterile and ready to go, and assists the surgeon with instruments during the surgery. She also works with the team to prioritize patient safety throughout the procedure, and performs a variety of other duties inside the surgical room.

For Christina, working closely with her colleagues is what makes her time at the hospital so enjoyable.

“I remember there was a time when I was singing along to the music working away in the OR and I actually hit a note in a song and sung it on pitch. I am not a good singer by any means so this was a big deal. Everyone just paused in disbelief. I tried to replicate it but my attempts were unsuccessful. We still joke about it to this day.”

When reflecting on the hospital’s core values, Christina believes that compassion should be part of every patient interaction. 

“When we demonstrate compassion for our patients we let them know that they are heard, that they are supported, and hopefully it gives them the confidence they need to help them in their recovery.”

Outside of work, Christina’s pastimes include spending time with family and friends, going on hikes with her dog, painting, and practicing yoga. Four years ago, she fell in love with how the practice develops inner awareness and recently decided to pursue yoga teacher certification. What she loves most about yoga is how it focuses your attention on your body’s abilities at the present moment, and how it helps develop breath and strength of mind and body. With yoga offering so many benefits to health and wellness, Christina wanted to extend this to her colleagues and offers classes for staff at the hospital.

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