Mario McKenna

Job Title
Research Facilitator

Department/Location
VCH Research Institute

How long have you worked at VCH?
9 years.

Tell us what you do at VCH in one or two sentences:
I’m a research facilitator for Richmond Hospital and Vancouver Community which means I coach front line staff in the skills to answer questions that come-up in their daily work.

What’s your favourite thing about your work?
I enjoy not only helping people answer their questions, but giving them the tools to answer future ones.

How does your work contribute to the VCH True North goals?
I think knowing how to frame and answer a research or quality improvement problem ultimately helps in better patient care and outcomes.

One thing we might be surprised to learn about you:
You think with a name like ‘Mario McKenna’ that I’m Irish-Italian- Canadian, but I was born in Ireland and named after an Italian opera singer.

Three things you always have in your fridge:
Almond milk, fruit, and peanut butter.

Who or what inspires you?
People who ‘flow’. What I mean by that is that they’re effortless at doing their jobs and fully present when they interact with people.

Most healthy habit:
Its a bit boring, but I walk to work almost every day – unless its pouring rain. Its a great time to clear your head, listen to a podcast and get a little exercise.

Favourite vacation spot:
A tiny sub-tropical island in Japan called Yoron. Warm weather, sunny skies, delicious food, nice people.