Mission

Driven by the belief that care and outcomes can be better, Strive Health strives to improve the quality of healthcare via the application of evidence-based principles and processes of a continuous quality improvement model in health systems management. ​Strive believes that by uncovering, understanding and addressing root causes of care gaps collaboratively with healthcare partners, health outcomes can be improved.

Meet the Team

JNW

Joanna Nemis-White, BSc, PMP (she/her)
Principal & Founder

Joanna has worked collaboratively in the healthcare industry across Canada since 1990. Over the past 27 years, she has spearheaded and supported continuous quality improvement partnership projects aimed at enhancing patient care and outcomes. Her experience spans work with public, non-profit, and private sector partners.

Since 2010, Strive Health has been collaborating with organizations such as Nova Scotia Health and the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, as well as non-profit and private-sector clients. Recent initiatives include project management and evaluation support, environmental and jurisdictional scans, literature reviews, meeting facilitation, and comprehensive report writing.

Joanna holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI)® and brings 34 years of healthcare experience, combining theoretical knowledge with practical, real-world expertise. She is certified in change management in accordance with Prosci® methodologies and tools and has extensive practical experience in guiding partners through change processes. Recently Joanna completed the Practical Utilization of Artificial Intelligence for Project Management, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to life-long learning and leadership in the field. Some additional courses include Group Facilitation Methods (Technology of Participation, ToP methods and tools), Gender-based Analysis Plus, Understanding Stigma, Mental Health First Aid, and HITS (Health Informatics Training System) Education Courses.

Joanna is an active member of the Nova Scotia PMI Chapter (2024 Volunteer of the Year) and the Canadian Evaluation Society-Nova Scotia Chapter, where she has served as a past CES-NS treasurer, C2019 volunteer, and board member-at-large.

View Joanna's CV

Joanna's publications can be viewed here. Please visit the Services Section of our website for details on past projects and services offered.

Strive Health Collaborators

Collaborators include Nancy Carter Consulting (Nancy Carter, PhD, CE), 21FSP Advisory Partners (Ron L’Esperance and Thomas McGuire), Custom Analytica (Patty Montague, MSc (Epid.) Principal), Move Live Learn LLC (Amanda Stanec, PhD) and a wide range of subject matter experts.

Terry Montague

Terrence Montague, CM, CD, MD (he/him)
CareNet Health Management Consulting

Formerly Professor of Medicine at the Universities of Alberta and Montreal and Vice-President of Merck Frosst Canada, Terry founded the Clinical Quality Improvement Network, the partnership / measurement template for subsequent benchmark disease management projects like ICONS (Improving Cardiovascular Outcomes in Nova Scotia) and TEAM (Towards Excellence in Asthma Management).

Terry is the author of “Patients First: Closing the Health Care Gap in Canada” and “Patient Health Management for Dummies”.  He provides consulting and educational services (strategic and tactical planning, knowledge translation, writing, publishing, networking and communication) in the fields of disease management, team-based care and patient safety, with a vision to achieving the best health for the most people at the best cost. Terry has collaborated with Strive Health since inception and has been a colleague and mentor to Joanna for the past 27 years.

In 2016, Dr. Montague was appointed into the Order of Canada for his contributions to the management of cardiovascular disease and to the advancement of patient health management.

Ellen headshot

Dr. Ellen Crumley, MLIS, PhD (she/her)
Consultant

Dr. Ellen T. Crumley holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Strategic Management and Organization from the University of Alberta and the Master of Library and Information Studies from Dalhousie University. She has over two decades of multi-disciplinary healthcare experience as a researcher, consultant, professor, librarian, and volunteer. Ellen has worked in academia, health authorities, non-profits and medical communications companies in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec and Nova Scotia. She specializes in interviews, focus groups and ethnography (participant observations) to explore the lived experiences of professionals, families, and patients in international, national and local contexts. In addition to grant- and report-writing, Ellen has extensive experience in expert searching, environmental scans, literature & systematic reviews, as well as family and patient guides.

Dr. Crumley is Affiliate Scientist with Nova Scotia Health, an Associate Scientist with the Maritime Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research SUPPORT Unit and a Scientist with Lab2Market Health. With Nova Scotia Health, she is a researcher on the Medical Assistance in Dying Advisory Committee and an engaged citizen on: NS Health Fast Feedback Team, and Surgery Strategic Network. Dr. Crumley is also a Board member and communications lead for the Twin Oaks/Birches Health Care Charitable Foundation.

View Ellen's CV

Qualitative Research
Qualitative descriptive study published in CMAJ Open
Qualitative process model flowchart study published in BMJ Open
Ethnography published in Acupuncture in Medicine
Qualitative theory study published in Organization Studies
Qualitative study of job roles published in Journal of the Medical Library Association
Systematic review of qualitative studies published in BMC Medical Research Methodology
Qualitative content analysis published in Journal of Information Science
Infographics 
East Ship Harbour Community Engagement Meeting Infographic
Eastern Shore Memorial Hospital Engagement Infographic
 
Reports* 
*Ellen is happy to provide confidential copies of other reports she has designed for clients on request and pending permission of the client.