Introducing AAN’s Inaugural Executive Director

Welcome to Kathy Howe, MHS, BN, RN

The Alberta Association of Nurses is pleased to announce the appointment of Kathy Howe as Executive Director, effective Feb. 1, 2022. A Registered Nurse with more than 20 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience, Howe’s passion and energy for all nurses, the nursing profession and the critical role nurses play in the healthcare system will be instrumental in growing the new association.

Howe was attracted to the AAN because of what the organization can make possible. “The first thing that grabbed my attention was that the AAN is an association for all nurses, including LPNs, RNs, RPNs and NPs,” she says. “These are challenging times for nurses, and we need to pull together to address some of the issues hindering the profession. I am very excited about the official launch of the AAN on May 9, 2022, and moving forward together to restore pride in nursing and to fully realize our potential within the Alberta healthcare system.”

”Kathy’s energy and excitement about nursing and the Association is contagious,” says Alycia Lobay, AAN President. “Her experience and leadership will launch the AAN and help it evolve into an effective professional nursing association for all Alberta nurses. She is excited to get out, meet with people and bring the AAN to frontline nursing teams.”

Howe holds a Nursing diploma (Mount Royal College), Bachelor of Nursing (Athabasca University) and Master of Health Studies, with a focus on servant leadership (AU). She has also completed an Organizational Leadership Certificate (University of Central Missouri State) and Post-Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Diversity (Centennial College).

Building on two decades of leadership experience, Howe was most recently the Executive Director for Surgical Services, Women’s Health, NICU and Pediatrics at the Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary. Prior to that, she was an Area Director in the Central Zone, responsible for Acute Care, Long Term Care and Home Care services across a large geographical area.

Visit the AAN website at www.albertanursing.ca or contact [email protected] for more information. Membership is complimentary until May 2022.