About Me
Hi, I’m Janna Andre.
My journey into health advocacy began as a child translating at healthcare appointments, grew as a teen mother navigating the health system and was cemented in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) following the premature birth of my son. Like many families, I was overwhelmed by the fast pace of decisions and the feeling that my role as a parent sometimes faded into the background of medical care. That experience taught me the importance of speaking up, asking questions, and ensuring families have a voice in their child’s care.
Leaving the NICU was just the beginning. For years afterward, I continued what I had first learned inside the unit, how to be a partner in my son’s care. I navigated countless specialist visits and therapy appointments, determined to give him every opportunity for a healthy future. That journey eventually led me to Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, where I supported a range of family and child health programs and contributed to systems that strengthened service delivery and expanded equitable access. From there, I joined a health-product start-up and later transitioned into tech, helping public health units, hospitals, and municipalities ensure that their digital tools meet the real-world needs of the people they serve. I also had the privilege of working as a college professor, guiding newcomer students pursuing postgraduate studies in leadership.
Throughout all of this, I stayed connected to the NICU community, first through Pedal4Preemies and later as a NICU Parent Buddy at Mount Sinai Hospital, supporting families facing the challenges of NICU life. Wanting to broaden my impact, I returned to school as a mature student to pursue a Health Sciences degree at Queen’s University, where I conducted research on artificial intelligence in healthcare, focusing on how to mitigate technological risks, safeguard patients, and advance equitable care. That commitment to equity also guided my work at Mount Sinai, where I joined the NICU Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) to collaborate with staff and families on advancing family-centered care.
I was deeply honoured to be the recipient of the 2025 Barbara Paul Prize, a prestigious prize that recognizes a graduating female identifying student at Queen’s University for commitment to academic excellence and contribution to their community while balancing caregiving commitments. I was also recognized for innovation as a runner up at MedSprint 2025, Canada’s largest biomedical hackathon.
Today, I continue to contribute to patient and family-centered initiatives, quality improvement projects, and NICU fundraising efforts, while staying closely connected to the incredible community of parents and families who inspire this work every day. I’m passionate about sharing the parent and academic perspective through keynote speaking, workshops, and panel discussions that bring together families, clinicians, and leaders to reimagine what equitable and compassionate healthcare can look like.
Let’s Do Good Together
If you’re part of an organization, hospital, or research team working to strengthen patient safety, family engagement, or quality of care, I’d love to collaborate on meaningful initiatives or speak at your next event!