Here at Canopy, we’ve assembled an amazingly talented and mission-driven team united to end the language barrier in healthcare. The Team Member Spotlight series will feature the Canopy teammates one by one to give you a behind-the-scenes look at who we are, and how each one of us contributes in our own special way to the Canopy mission. Enjoy!
Anna Spivey RSN
Job title:
Senior Account Executive,
Solutions Architect
Lives in:
Boulder, Colorado
Education / Professional Experience:
I received my BSN from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where I served as the primary investigator for a research study on pursuit of graduate education in nursing and presented findings at the International Nursing Research Congress. During the pandemic, I worked as an RN at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. At Canopy, I develop and foster key relationships, and I assist in cultivating effective language access training and materials for healthcare professionals.
Favorite Book:
"Into The Wild" or "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"
Hobbies:
I love to hike with my husband and our two big dogs, skiing, going to Rockies and Broncos games, long road trips in our RV, and attending music festivals out west!
Interesting fact about you:
I come from a family of healthcare professionals, specifically nurses! My mom is a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse, and my sister is a Neuro-Surgical Intensive Care Unit nurse! They both work in Nashville, TN (where I was born and raised) and are very passionate about what they do.
What brought you to Canopy?
My goal throughout college was to become a nurse researcher. After I entered practice, I became more acutely aware of the systemic issues in healthcare. Personally, what resonated the most was the daily struggle to provide quality care for my limited English proficient patients. Now, I enjoy a combination of my passions: utilizing the research to create and share effective solutions that impact healthcare professionals across the country.
What’s the best part about working with healthcare professionals?
The best part about working with healthcare professionals is their ability to continuously place others’ needs before their own. As many people are now aware, the healthcare industry is facing major challenges which directly impact providers. Despite this, students and providers STILL seek ways to better serve their patients, even if it requires additional time and effort outside of their traditional role.
Since joining Canopy, what have you learned about the language access problem that you didn’t know before? Challenges? Opportunities?
Because of my background, I’ve always known there were gaps in language access. However, I had no idea of the extent nor the scope of impact on patients. Language-concordant care is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. On the bright side, many organizations and institutions now recognize this and are taking direct action.
What other volunteer work or causes do you participate in?
We are currently training our 10 month old golden retriever, Blue, to become a therapy dog for our local children’s hospital in Colorado! The impact that animals can have on our recovery is truly amazing, and we would love to bring a bit of joy to those struggling.
Want to learn more about the rest of the team? Click here to learn about the Canopy mission and see the rest of our all-star lineup.
