Growing up with chronic pain and illness, Katelyn Watson often felt lost and hopeless. A lack of support from the healthcare system meant she had to learn to cope with her health challenges on her own.
Determined to support and empower patients going through similar experiences, she enrolled in the Associate of Arts in Psychology program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).
“I felt that KPU’s psychology program, combined with my lived experience of serious illness, would help equip me with the skills I need to provide that social and emotional support to adolescents with chronic illness and disability, and empower them to feel hope for a better future,” she says.
Both a tireless health advocate and an outstanding student, Watson is now being recognized with a President’s Outstanding Graduate Award at KPU’s convocation ceremonies on Feb. 24.
Throughout her studies at KPU, Watson has been involved in a number of extracurricular activities — all while maintaining a 4.29 CGPA.
Serving on the KPU Accessibility Committee, Watson contributed significantly to the development of KPU’s first Accessibility Plan. She also worked as a research assistant on a project led by KPU instructors Dr. Jennifer Hardwick and Dr. Fiona Whittington-Walsh assessing the accessibility of admissions policies and procedures among postsecondary institutions in BC. This research was published in a report, which was co-authored by Watson.
“Katelyn’s lived experience helps inform her critical knowledge and has created her foundation for social justice,” says Dr. Whittington-Walsh, Lead Advisor on Disability, Accessibility and Inclusion at KPU. “She was a critical voice on the KPU Accessibility Committee, where she provided concrete examples of barriers that many students with disabilities face in their academic journeys.”
Beyond KPU, Watson has been an active volunteer with the BC Children’s Hospital since 2019, contributing to programs and committees related to pain management, patient safety, youth-friendly care and more.
Watson plans to continue pursuing research and advocacy on health and disability, and is now working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health at the University of Victoria. She’s also working as one of the first research assistants at the SFU School of Medicine, studying the relational and structural conditions within our healthcare system that shape whether care feels validating, safe and compassionate for young people with chronic health conditions.
“There’s a massive gap in the healthcare system when it comes to social and emotional support for patients, especially young people facing chronic, life-altering health conditions.
“When I was younger, I always wished I had a healthcare provider who could genuinely say, ‘I’ve been exactly where you are. It won’t always be this hard.’ Now I want to be that healthcare provider for others.”
President’s Outstanding Graduate Awards are presented annually and are meant to encourage KPU students in all fields of study to excel in their program choice and participate in university, student and community activities that benefit others.