Sunday, March 8, 2026 is International Women’s Day. We celebrate the accomplishments, resilience and leadership of the remarkable women across Baycrest. Their work strengthens our commitment to equity and opportunity at every level, every day.
To mark the occasion, we spoke with several women whose contributions help shape the care we deliver and the culture we build. Through their leadership, expertise and compassion, they strengthen our teams and support the older adults and families who rely on Baycrest. They shared reflections on their work and what this day means to them.
Abby Bezant RN, BScN, MN
Director, Inpatient Services, Baycrest Hospital
What do you wish workplaces better understood about women’s leadership?
I’ve often seen collaboration, inclusivity, and emotional intelligence described as “soft skills,” but in my experience, they’re deeply strategic and often central to women’s leadership. Some of the most meaningful progress I’ve led has come from bringing the right voices together and building alignment through advocacy and transparency.
When organizations value not just the results but also how those results are achieved, they create cultures that are stronger, more sustainable and more human.
Cheryl Hanson, CFRE
Chief Campaign Officer
Baycrest Foundation
How do you hope your work will make a difference in the future?
I hope the campaign we are building will meaningfully change the trajectory of brain health and dementia, for families today and for future generations.
If we can accelerate prevention, improve care and fuel discovery in ways that shorten the journey for even one family, that matters. More broadly, I hope to help show what is possible when philanthropy is aligned around bold ideas.
Kiza Kozak, HBSc, MBA, PMP, CHE, CHIM
VP, Corporate Digital Transformation, Baycrest Corporate Center for Geriatric Care
What keeps you motivated on challenging days?
Together, all of the professional collaborations and experiences I’ve been part of at Baycrest fuels my passion for leveraging digital solutions that strengthen patient and resident care, support clinical teams, and streamline business operations.
That important and meaningful work means that healthcare providers and staff across the organization can focus on delivering compassionate, excellent, high-quality care and that is incredibly motivating, especially on challenging days.
Jean Lazarus, M.H.Sc., M.Sc., B.Sc
Vice President, Administration and Operations, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education
What advice would you give to someone starting out today?
Every work experience is an opportunity to gain knowledge, develop a new skill, or discover what work experience may open a path that shifts your career in an entirely new direction.
This is what happened when I worked at The Baycrest Foundation. I discovered that I enjoy operations and supporting those focused on the function of a particular area.
Roxana Nagra, RN, MN, GNC(C)
Clinical Manager, Ambulatory Services The Baycrest Day Care Centre
What skill or mindset has helped you succeed?
Understanding my core values as a person, nurse, and leader has been both a compass and an anchor in my decision-making. When my choices are grounded in those values, they are decisions I can stand behind with confidence.
It also aligns with Baycrest’s ICARE values of Inclusion, Collaboration, Ambition, Respect, and Excellence, reinforcing the importance of values-based leadership in everything we do.
Melissa Turzanski, RN, MHSc, BScN
Executive Director, Residential Living Apotex, Jewish Home for the Aged
What moment in your career at Baycrest has shaped you most?
About a year and a half ago, I started travelling to Thailand every 2 weeks to fill a leadership gap as part of the work of Baycrest Global Solutions and the operations of The Aspen Tree. This was a daunting task as it meant leaving my family for weeks at a time, managing the operations of a property across the world, getting to know a new team and the general cultural differences, but despite the underlying anxieties, there was excitement in the opportunity and one that gave me some of the best learnings in my career.
This opportunity taught me that growth doesn’t come from certainty, but comes from courage and stepping forward even when the path isn’t fully clear.