Nurse Practitioners

Karen Sims, MN, NP(A)

• Joined the BC Adult Bleeding Disorders Program in 2017

Karen works in acute and ambulatory care with the adult bleeding disorder program at St. Paul’s Hospital. She completed a combined Masters/Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) program through the University of Toronto in 2006. She initially worked with an acute general surgery service with a transition to primary care in 2012. She has been nursing for over 20 years in both Ontario & in British Columbia since 1999. She was on the executive board for the BC nurse practitioner association from 2009-2017 and has been a preceptor for RN & NP students.

Her volunteer activities have included Blackcomb ski patrol for 15 years, Vancouver 2010 sliding center, Ironman Canada 2011, 2013, 2014 medical aid tent, and test of metal Squamish first responder. When not working Karen loves to be outdoors…yes even in the rain.

Michelle Bech, MN, NP(A)

• Joined the BC Adult Bleeding Disorders Program in 2018

Michelle Bech obtained her Masters of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner (NP) in 2005 from the University of Toronto, after graduating from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program with honours from the University of British Columbia.  Initially, she worked in the Orthopedic service at St Paul’s Hospital and during this time she was part of numerous hospital, regional and provincial initiatives involving improvements in orthopedic care.  As of December 2018, she has been working with the Adult Bleeding Disorders Program of BC at St Paul’s Hospital.  Before earning her NP, Michelle worked in a variety of areas including intensive care, emergency, cardiac surgery ICU, nursing education, and outpost nursing both in BC and the NWT.  She was involved in the development of the British Columbia Nurse Practitioner Association serving on various committees over several years.  She remains active with the British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals, initially on the NP Examination Committee, and now as a NP examination marker.  Michelle has contributed to several published papers and in 2016, she won the Canadian Physiotherapy Association Silver Quill Award.   Which recognized outstanding original articles related to the field of rehabilitation in the qualitative or quantitative research category.  In 2017, she received the Teena Werry Award which recognizes Nurse Practitioners excellence in clinical nursing practice.  Michelle lives in Squamish BC, loves the outdoors and can be found hiking, mountain biking, climbing or skiing around the Sea to Sky corridor, and in her spare time she volunteers with Squamish Search and Rescue.

Meet our Nurse Practitioners