A hospital patient’s experience extends far beyond tests and treatment. It’s shaped by safety, education, policies and systems working to support patient outcomes behind the scenes. For Anjani Nithiraajah, discovering this broader view of patient care sparked her passion for quality improvement and inspired her to pursue a practicum placement. 

As part of York University’s HLST 4990 Health Policy & Management Practicum, Anjani gained hands-on experience working in a hospital’s quality improvement team to analyze patient care metrics and work on enhancing safety. During her 250-hour placement with the Quality and Patient Relations department at Scarborough Health Network, she demonstrated professionalism, initiative, and a strong collaborative spirit - qualities that earned her recognition from her program.

Anjani’s interest in health policy began in high school. “I knew I wanted to do something in healthcare,” she recalls. “While I wanted to impact patient experience in my work, I wasn’t keen on patient facing roles.” Her research led her to York University’s Specialized Honours BHS in Health Policy, Management, and Digital Health, where she chose the Health Management stream for its blend of non clinical healthcare and business. 

The opportunity to complete a fourth year practicum was a deciding factor for her: “I saw that a practicum was offered, and though it wasn’t a requirement for my program, I was excited for the practical experience and connections it would give me.”

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"Through practicum I built my confidence, organizational skills, and ability to meet timelines. I’m grateful to use those skills every day in my current role."

When she began work as a Quality Improvement Practicum Student at Scarborough Health Network Anjani worked closely with a Quality Improvement Facilitator and played a key role in co-leading a Fall Prevention pilot project aimed at reducing in-patient falls among moderate to high-risk patients in the medicine unit. The initiative involved partnering with volunteers, conducting one on one patient consultations and helping to develop scenarios for fall prevention education videos.

“The pilot was a really interesting and interdisciplinary experience,” she says. “I coordinated with the charge nurse, the unit manager, the nurse educator, volunteers and patients.” 

Anjani highlights the impact and guidance of her supervisor, a Quality Improvement Facilitator she shadowed throughout the practicum. “She helped support me with the project and coached me on how to approach and execute each task,” she shares. With her supervisor’s encouragement, Anjani gradually took on more responsibility, eventually leading weekly core team meetings and building presentations with confidence. This mentorship not only strengthened her project management abilities but also helped her feel supported in a fast paced hospital environment. Eventually Anjani had the chance to prepare two literature reviews and confidently present her findings to the Fall Prevention Committee.

Carrying these experiences and confidence forward, Anjani’s practicum experience supported her transition into employment after graduating her program. She now works full-time at Southlake Health as a Patient Relations Associate, where she uses the skills developed in her placement.

“Through my practicum I built my confidence, organizational skills, and ability to meet timelines. I’m grateful to use those skills every day in my current role.”

 Most impactfully, Anjani’s practicum reminded her that behind every positive patient experience is a complex network of quality and safety practices, supported by health policy and quality improvement.