Niagara Health is marking International Women’s Day, March 8, by sharing profiles of women who are helping shape the organization. This is the third in a three-part series.
Natalie Doucet, Director of Women and Babies; NICU; Children’s Health, Niagara Health
What did your journey to Niagara Health look like?
My journey to Niagara Health has been a full circle personally, professionally and emotionally. I began my career as a staff nurse supporting women during childbirth, witnessing the strength, fear, exhaustion and overwhelming emotion that women move through in those moments. Every shift taught me something about resilience, compassion and humanity.
From there, I became a nurse educator, supporting teams as they grew in skill, confidence and connection. Later, I stepped into the clinical manager role, learning how to support the operational demands without losing sight of the people and stories at the heart of why we are here.
Now, as a Program Director for Women and Babies, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Children’s Health, I carry all those experiences with me. Leading in the same community where I live, where I see families in grocery stores, schools and parks, brings a depth of meaning I do not take for granted. My journey has been shaped by the privilege of walking alongside women, children and families through some of the most transformative moments of their lives.
What do you enjoy about working at Niagara Health as a woman?
What I enjoy most about working at Niagara Health as a woman is the way women support one another quietly, instinctively and powerfully. I have been incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by women who lifted me up, believed in me and opened doors at every stage of my journey. Their encouragement and trust gave me the confidence to grow, to take on new challenges and to step into roles I never imagined for myself. Being part of a workplace where women support women so naturally is something I deeply value and never take for granted
What progress would you like to see in the future as a women working in healthcare?
As a woman in healthcare, I am proud of how far we have already come in recognizing the load women carry, and I am hopeful for a future where women feel even more supported in every part of their lives. I imagine workplaces where compassion, balance and authenticity are seen as true strengths, and where women can grow and lead without compromising who they are. More than anything, I hope we continue building systems where women feel seen, valued and celebrated for the immense heart and resilience they bring to this work every single day.
What progress have you already seen that you’d like to highlight?
Over the years, I have seen so much meaningful progress. We are increasingly acknowledging the realities women carry every single day. There is now a greater awareness of the emotional load, the family responsibilities, the constant balancing act and the invisible weight that so many women manage while still showing up with strength and compassion.
I have watched teams become more supportive of one another, more open about their challenges and more willing to speak honestly about what it means to care for families while also caring for their own. I have seen more conversations about burnout, trauma and emotional impact – conversations that were not always encouraged in the past.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day makes me pause and truly acknowledge the weight women often carry. It reminds me of the emotional toll, the worry we take home and the way we try to be strong for our own families and for the families we care for.
It is a moment to honour the women who keep showing up, even on the days they feel stretched thin. It is a celebration of our resilience, our courage and our capacity to lift one another in quiet and remarkable ways.
For me, it is also a reminder to keep lifting other women as we go, to notice one another, to create space for each other and to support the women who will come after us.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Even after all these years, I am still deeply moved by the heart I witness every day in my programs. I see women comforting each other in hallways, celebrating new life, grieving unexpected outcomes, advocating for safety, and caring with a depth and intensity that is humbling, inspiring and beautiful.
One moment I will never forget is watching our team gather around a young mother who was afraid and alone. Without hesitation, they became her support system. They held her hand, offered strength and surrounded her with compassion. The room was filled with women lifting a woman. This is what our programs are; this is what our community is; and this is why this work matters so deeply to me.
