PCMCH Spotlight: Alanna Landry

A Lifelong Commitment to Supporting Children with Diabetes

Milestones Newsletter | Issue 8, Fall 2024

Photo of Alanna LandryAlanna Landry believes that when it comes to paediatric diabetes, all children should have equitable access to standardized care.

As a registered nurse, Landry has committed her professional life to the paediatric diabetes field. She was a founding team member at the Markham Stouffville Hospital Paediatric Clinic where, for more than 27 years, she has served as a Diabetes Nurse Educator, providing support and education to children and youth with diabetes and their families. She also contributes to research, is actively involved with international diabetes charitable organizations, and recently co-authored a chapter in the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) 2022 Guidelines.

“I was attracted to working in paediatric diabetes care as it allows me the unique experience to develop relationships with children, youth and caregivers from the time of diagnosis to the time of their transition to adult care,” said Landry. “Technology is changing the face of how diabetes is managed, and it is such an exciting time to be working in this field and sharing these advancements with our patients and families.”

Involvement with PCMCH and the Paediatric Diabetes Network

In April 2024, Landry was appointed Co-Chair of the Paediatric Diabetes Network (PDN) Leadership Table. Comprised of 35 specialized paediatric diabetes education programs (PDEPs), the PDN is a PCMCH network that fosters province-wide collaboration to ensure the best possible health outcomes for children and youth with diabetes in Ontario.

Landry’s involvement with the PDN goes all the way back to its formation in 2013. During this time, she has participated in multiple PDN initiatives, including transition to adult care, developing quality indicators and establishing clinic outreach task forces. She also previously co-chaired the PDN Quality and Clinical Standards Committee at PCMCH.

“At the PDN, we’re always asking how we, as healthcare providers, can standardize care across the province and advocate for better access to technology for our patients and families,” she says. “We support each other to ensure our practice is current across the province’s PDEPs.”

Working collaboratively to improve health outcomes

Through the PDN, Landry and her colleagues work to address gaps and emerging issues in paediatric diabetes, which include finding ways to help families access 24-hour urgent and emergent care and new technologies. A major priority for Landry and the PDN is the development of a paediatric diabetes registry in partnership with BORN Ontario, which will help capture data about the characteristics and health of children and youth with diabetes receiving care from the province’s PDEPs.

Landry enjoys the collaborative aspect of her work with PCMCH and the PDN, saying it allows her to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations who share her passion for improving health outcomes for youth and their families.

“I’m incredibly proud of our collaborative work, including with BORN Ontario on the registry,” she begins. “I’m also happy that PCMCH is inviting patients, families and those with lived experience to the table to help us build the registry, committees and task forces. These individuals are essential to what we do.”

PCMCH would like to thank Alanna Landry for granting us this interview and sharing her experiences. Learn more about the Paediatric Diabetes Network.

This article was published in Milestones - PCMCH's official quarterly newsletter. Subscribe to Milestones.