My name is Julie Pabillar, and I lead the Sexual Health and Clinical Information program in the North Bay Parry Sound District. I am currently enrolled in the Masters of Health Studies program at Athabasca University.
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This ePortfolio is designed to introduce my digital identity as a nursing professional, highlight my career, demonstrate my educational development through this program, and share valuable resources I have curated.
​I invite you to explore my ePortfolio and interact with me through my blog and the "contact me" section.
Positionality Statement
I come from a single-parent lower middle-class family in a supportive home environment. I identify as a non-visible Indigenous, Canadian cisgender and heterosexual woman. At a very young age, I was taught the importance of hard work and education; being employed since the age of 15, I was fortunate that I was able to cover the expense of post-secondary education through income and scholarships while I had secure access to all physiological needs. I recognize that many of these personal aspects of identity, including “white-seeming” privilege, have contributed to unearned advantages in my life.
I was born and raised in a small town in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Moving to Ontario in my early 20s, I acknowledge, respect and am grateful that I live and learn on the lands of the Anishinaabe people, the traditional territory of the Nipissing First Nation, and land covered by the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850. I began my nursing career in critical care before finding my true passion in sexual health and harm reduction, serving the most vulnerable equity-seeking populations. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with people and now lead a team that works with those who are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, such as those incarcerated, the medically underserved, people who use substances, high-risk youth, men who have sex with men, and those who work within the sex trade. We offer clinical health services to a unique population as we care for individuals at a time in their lives when they often feel that they least deserve to be cared for.
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My position within the healthcare system will continue to evolve throughout my career, and I strive to improve my knowledge and understanding of social injustices. I plan to continue to lead with empathy, using my skills and experience to strongly advocate for reducing inequalities marginalized populations face within my community and extending beyond.