Our Executive Team
Annette Stanwick, BScN
Vice President, Medical Affairs
As Vice President, Medical Affairs, Annette Stanwick manages the medical administrative aspects of the Gimbel Eye Centre.
Annette joined Gimbel in 1992 as Vice President, Quality and Organizational Development. “I had known Dr. Gimbel and his wife Judy for many years prior to joining the organization,” she says, “and I always had tremendous respect for them, both personally and professionally.”
Following a nearly fatal car accident in Ontario, Annette found herself without vision for 3.5 weeks. Being a very visual person, that experience helped her to fully understand and appreciate how precious our eyesight is and to identify completely with the joy the patients experience when their vision is restored.
With a degree in nursing, Annette had an extensive background as a health care executive prior to joining the Gimbel organization, having worked at a senior level in several public hospitals with responsibilities for patient care, staffing, equipping, and policy and program development. With her background and understanding of health care administration and working with physicians closely, her current role in Medical Affairs brings a depth of understanding that aids in relationships with the various regional health authorities and regulating bodies.
Part of Annette’s responsibilities is to ensure that Gimbel Eye Centre medical activities meet the standards of all relevant regulatory bodies. In her early years with Gimbel, she was instrumental in developing an extensive policy manual that documents all aspects of the organization’s operations. This manual helps ensure consistency and quality and also provides an excellent referral source if questions arise about a specific practice in the organization.
One of the most satisfying aspects of her work is working closely with the doctors and in individual and group facilitation with doctors and staff to enhance personal and professional relationships and to assist in planning and problem solving. “Relationships are so important in any organization,” she says. “They are at the core of everything we do.”
Annette was born in Idaho and met her husband, Clayton, a native Albertan, while they were both at Walla Walla College. They moved to Alberta when he finished university. Together they have two daughters, and now have two grandchildren.
When she is not off cruising on her big beautiful motorcycle, Annette is in demand as an inspirational and motivational speaker. She has spoken to groups all over Canada and the US. She especially enjoys helping her audience find ways to rise above the difficult situations in their lives, to live life to the fullest, and to find their own true value and worth.
She is also an avid writer and has been part of a women’s writing group for many years. She is currently writing a book to help people understand the significance forgiveness can have in their lives.
