Staff Spotlight
From Qatar to Vancouver, growing as a respiratory therapist
Fidha Fathima, Respiratory Therapist at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), shares what it’s like living and working in Vancouver after relocating from Qatar.
Fidha chose a career in respiratory therapy as she wanted to be part of critical and emergency care and therapeutic and diagnostic services. After completing her education in 2019, she worked at the Hamad General Hospital in Qatar for several years before joining Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) in 2023 as a Respiratory Therapist at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH).
At VGH, respiratory therapists like Fidha may cover multiple sites, ranging from the intensive care unit (ICU) to wards and emergency rooms, offering varied tasks. Fidha enjoys this wider scope of practice. She shares, “VCH is large site, and it deals with the most complex cases making sure you get a very good exposure with the patient population giving you educational opportunities”. She believes “VCH is always encouraging you to build yourself with opportunities, so the staff creates such an environment each day.”
Fidha describes her colleagues and leadership as kind, positive, reliable, and supportive individuals. “One can look forward to working with the team here as they are very helpful and make sure that you feel included and supported, giving you a voice to collaborate and learn”. She also feels supported by the leadership team. “The Respiratory Therapy leadership thrive on bringing a cheerleader culture, always motivating and encouraging us to climb the ladder to various positions within the department and giving us the necessary resources and stimulation to master our skills”. One example is the educational lectures that the leadership in respiratory therapy and the ICU host to ensure staff are up to date with the latest practice advancements.
Relocating to Vancouver
During her relocation, Fidha received valuable support from VCH. “For a person moving to a new country with no family or friends, this was a great help,” she shared. Fidha received financial relocation assistance and was connected with a VCH relocation specialist. The relocation specialist supported with “apartment hunting, educating me about the health care systems, public emergency systems, transits, communication systems, and utilities. She was actively involved in making sure that I settled down in Vancouver she helped me find the current apartment I reside in and helped me with the references to secure it,” says Fidha.
Life in Vancouver
Fidha finds Vancouver a very beautiful place and believes the work-life balance at VCH is great. Having lived in Qatar with two primary seasons of summer and winter, Fidha has enjoyed experiencing the different seasons and landscapes in Vancouver. She especially enjoys watching the cherry blossoms bloom, highlighting their positive impact on her mental health and wellbeing. “It's such a unique sight, and I feel only Vancouver can offer it,” she shares.
Reflecting on her journey to VCH, Fidha expresses gratitude for the support and opportunities she has encountered. “It has been equally rewarding and encouraging to explore more opportunities for success moving forward and I would like to thank VCH for giving me a new perspective and for showing me how it feels to work with a great team.”
Join our team
Explore our exciting opportunities for respiratory therapists across Vancouver Coastal Health. New financial incentives are here! Connect with a new career at VCH for a signing bonus of up to $20,000 for eligible hires. Conditions apply.