Verena Rizg, MN, NP, is an award winning Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years of clinical experience in acute care, rural community health, and working with marginalized populations. She pioneered the Nurse Practitioner role in federal prisons across Nova Scotia and she founded the first BIPOC clinic in the Canadian Armed Forces, offering inclusive and culturally competent care.
An Indigenous (Coptic) Sudanese-Egyptian Canadian, she has spent 14 years working in male-dominated spaces like the Canadian Armed Forces and federal prisons, advocating for marginalized communities. In 2024, she established the first-ever BIPOC clinic in the Canadian Armed Forces, addressing systemic gaps in healthcare. Beyond medicine, Verena is a mother, spoken word poet and storyteller who uses her voice to challenge inequities and inspire change. She has received the Excellence in Defence Award from the Deputy Minister and Chief of Defence Staff, the highest honour in National Defence, for her leadership and impact.
Beyond healthcare, Verena is a seasoned spoken word poet and public speaker, performing for over 17 years on stages across Canada. She uses her art to foster connection and bridge communities through vulnerability, addressing topics often left unspoken—grief, motherhood, racial disparities in healthcare, and mental health effects of migration.
Verena’s intersections and lived experience as a Coptic, first-generation immigrant allow her to speak with authenticity, helping others feel seen and understood. She addresses a wide range of topics, including emotional literacy, relational health, spiritual wellness, and boundary setting. She transforms complex subjects into meaningful, human-centered conversations.
Her work expands beyond traditional healthcare, empowering individuals to cultivate emotional resilience and compassionate relationships. Through vulnerability, culturally informed care, and emotional literacy, Verena is transforming how we approach mental health, one person at a time.
