Sandra Holdsworth’s bio
For 30 years Sandra held various positions in the Banking industry. She received a liver transplant in 1997 after several years of going undiagnosed with a rare liver disease and Crohn’s disease. After years of treatment for Crohns she required a permanent Ostomy in 2012. She has dealt with skin cancer melanoma & currently has chronic kidney disease. One year post transplant Sandra was diagnosed with PTSD and takes medications to treat the anxiety and depression that goes with this mental illness.
Sandra is a Patient Partner co lead with the Canadian Donation Transplant Research Program (CDTRP) on the Long-term outcomes Theme. She helps to determine research questions, and co-design studies, recruit study participants and assist with knowledge translation. Her focus has been on Exercise, Nutrition & Mental Health and Wellness as these are the areas of research that Patients & Caregivers are interested in seeing done. Sandra was a Steering Committee member of CanRestore from 2014-2018.
Using her lived experience as a transplant patient & as a benefactor of organ donation she has been a passionate advocate for organ & tissue donation & has mentored others afflicted with diseases requiring a transplant on their healthcare journey.