In 2009, after experiencing six pregnancy losses, Karen Kerr, Board Chair of BC Women’s Health Foundation, became a patient at the Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Clinic at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre. It’s one of many programs supported through funding by BC Women’s Health Foundation.
Karen describes her multiple pregnancy losses as intensely isolating experiences that carried not only grief, but silence. Like so many other women who have walked a similar path, she knows how heavy the loneliness can feel, and how deeply it can affect emotional and mental well-being.
“It’s not just a physical experience,” she reflects, “but an emotional and mental health journey. You’re navigating uncertainty, hope, fear and loss—all at once.”
Today, Karen speaks openly about the importance of recognizing the mental health component of women’s health experiences, and the critical role compassionate care plays in helping patients feel supported through some of life’s most difficult moments.
Since joining the Foundation’s Board in 2021—and with nearly two decades of experience in leadership and mentorship at RBC Wealth Management—Karen has seen how powerful community and connection can transform care. But it was her own patient experience at BC Women’s that left the deepest impression.
“It felt like I had my own private team walking alongside me.”
At the Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Clinic, Karen recalls how her care went far beyond clinical treatment. She describes the extraordinary compassion, expertise and humanity she received at a time when she felt especially vulnerable. And that sense of being seen and supported made a lasting impact. Karen continues to carry the clinic’s business card in her wallet with the care team’s phone numbers written on the back. It’s a powerful reminder that she was not alone during that time.
Through the testing, treatment and ongoing support she received, Karen and her husband are now parents to three children: Kate, Ben and Alex.
And Karen’s experience is at the heart of why she is so committed to the work of BC Women’s Health Foundation. She believes women’s mental health journeys are often invisible, carried quietly and quite lonely. “Opportunities that bring people together can help break that silence and serve as a reminder that their experiences are shared, valid and deserving of care,” says Karen.
At BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre, specialized mental health care for women plays a critical role in supporting patients through complex and often life-changing experiences.
Karen often notes that many people in the community have their own personal connection to BC Women’s Health Foundation. Through her leadership and lived experience, Karen continues to champion compassionate, specialized care for women and families across British Columbia.
“When we share our stories,” says Karen, “we remind each other that no one is alone. Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to build understanding and find connection.”
HELP CREATE BRIGHT BEGINNINGS FOR MOMS, NEWBORNS AND FAMILIES IN BC
When you donate to BC Women’s Health Foundation, you’re supporting women’s and newborn health at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre, as well as groundbreaking research at the Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI).
Your support helps fund:
- Pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum care for moms
- Life-changing care and transport for BC’s most fragile newborns
- Expert care and support for high-risk pregnancies and babies who arrive too soon
- Specialized perinatal mental health care for families in need
- World-leading research at WHRI that is shaping the future of women’s health