One of the stand-out moments from Thames Valley Family Health Team’s November All-Staff Meeting is the standing ovation for our 2025 Living our Values award winner: Heather Kelly. Heather is the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner leading the Health & Homelessness team.
Heather had no idea that she had been nominated for the award nor that she would win. It was touching to see her raw reaction as she stood to receive her trophy.
Here are a few of the many reasons why Heather was nominated and selected as this year’s winner:
Heather demonstrates unconditional respect for every individual she encounters — regardless of their history, circumstances, or the challenges they face. She creates a safe space where patients trust her with their most vulnerable moments, and that trust has been earned through her consistency, reliability, and genuine connection. Her colleagues experience that same sense of trust: Heather values every discipline’s expertise, supports new team members, and models respectful communication even in the most complex situations.
Heather embodies accountability in its truest form. She takes full ownership of the care she provides — following up relentlessly, coordinating complex plans, and adapting as needs change. She not only expects excellence from herself; she cultivates it across the team. Her leadership has prevented crises, overdoses, hospital admissions, and significant health deterioration. Her work has not only saved lives — it has reduced system strain and allowed resources to be reinvested to support even more people in our community.
Unbeknownst to Heather, the team she leads, Health & Homelessness, went on to win the 2025 Team Impact award.
The dynamic Health & Homelessness team has a simple but powerful approach: meet people where they are — physically, emotionally, and without judgment. By providing care both at the HUB and in shelters across the city, they are removing barriers, building trust, and bringing primary care to those who are often excluded from traditional health systems. They are not just providing care — they are creating a model of outreach-based primary health that restores connection, promotes equity, and supports people on their journey toward stability and wellness.
Their crisis response efforts have been life-saving — intervening in overdoses, seizures, serious wounds, and other urgent situations. Their presence at the Salvation Army Centre of Hope has reduced EMS calls by 50% and has contributed to improved stability within that community.
Health & Homelessness Team Members:
- Katelyn Thompson, RN – TVFHT
- Graeme Vaananen, RN – TVFHT
- Heather Kelly, NP – TVFHT
- Ally Kok, MTA – TVFHT
- Maureen McNeish, FCRN – TVFHT
- Marsha Milliken, Outreach Worker – LIHC
- Jessica McAuslan, Outreach Worker – LIHC
- Rachel Jacobs, System Navigator – LIHC
Please join us in congratulating Heather, our 2025 Living Our Values Award recipient, and the Health & Homelessness Team, the Team Impact Award recipients!
Learn more about the impact being created by this team in our Annual Report article, “Providing a healthier future to vulnerable members of our community.”