Jacqueline Baptiste-Savoie

You start off with one toe, then a forefoot, and then a below-the-knee amputation. If I see a woman my age not taking care of herself, I’ll tell her to get it together.

I’m a wound care nurse at SHN, specializing in wounds, ostomy care, and continence. I was born on a small island called Grenada and came to Scarborough when I was six. Scarborough has been my home ever since — I shop here, my kids grew up here, my church is here. I know the streets, the markets, and the people, and I’m proud to care for this community.

I’ve had two beautiful children at SHN. Samantha is 34 now, and Adam is 27 — he works at the hospital now too.

Every day, I work with patients facing surgical, diabetic, and cancer-related wounds. My role is to assess each situation and find the treatment that either leads to healing or helps patients live as comfortably as possible. Patient-centered care isn’t about what I want or what the family wants — it’s about what the patient wants, even if that means living with a chronic wound.

Scarborough has a huge population living with diabetes, and it affects nearly every organ in the body if it isn’t managed properly.

I speak from personal experience: I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a young age, and I rely on local endocrinologists, eye doctors, family physicians, and pharmacists to keep it under control. I share my story with patients to show them the resources available, from diabetic education centers to specialists in Scarborough. I want them to know they’re not alone and that they can take control of their health. Funding for clinics, staff, and equipment is critical. Many patients I care for don’t have insurance, are refugees, or lack the resources they need to achieve good outcomes. Having the right resources in our hospitals can literally save lives.

The moments that stay with me are the victories, big and small. A young woman came in with a tiny wound on her toe. I connected her to the right specialists and helped her manage her blood sugar. Four weeks later, her wound was healing beautifully. That’s why I do this work.

I also mentor nursing and medical students across all three SHN sites. There’s so much compassion and dedication here, and I want the next generation of caregivers to experience that — and to stay to serve Scarborough.

I give back to Scarborough because it has given me everything — my home, my career, my family. Every patient I help, every student I mentor, and every donation supporting our hospitals makes a real difference for the people in this community.