Biography – Marjorie Ratel
Marjorie Ratel, RN BSN, President KBNF / KBF, Project Chair; Chair Volunteer and Promotions
A neuroscience staff nurse at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) since 1978, Marjorie Ratel is a strong advocate for access to quality health care in developing countries and is spearheading a project to help improve health care in West Africa. She possesses a tenacious drive to improve the lives of others and a natural aptitude for inspiring key figures and organizations to support her vision.
Ms. Ratel founded the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Project in 2000. By the following year, she and nursing colleagues, along with members of the Ghanaian community, began organizing the shipment of good-quality used medical equipment together with new medical supplies to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). Over the past decade, 14 containers of medical supplies, worth close to $5 million, have been shipped to Ghana. Ms. Ratel is currently leading an international volunteer team of devoted experts and consultants as they support infrastructure developments at the regional teaching hospital, KBTH, and the University of Ghana’s College of Health Sciences in Accra, Ghana. The primary goal is to establish the regional Centre of Excellence in Neurosurgery and Clinical Neurosciences that will provide North American standard neuroscience health care, education and training, and research for West Africa. The first phase of the planned 16-acre Emergency and Clinical Specialties Centre at KBTH includes emergency, radiology and neurosciences.
In Vancouver, she and her team established the non-profit Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation (KBNF) in 2003, followed by two accompanying Canadian fundraising charities in 2004 and 2005. A sister board in Ghana was also launched in 2002 inspired by her leadership. Since then, she has led innovative team expansion and partnerships across Canada and the U.S., to promote the project’s vision, encourage members to join and fundraise. She has inspired key North American university faculty to become involved in the work of KBNF and provide their expertise. Ms. Ratel has been a driving force in turning these aspirations into sustainable results while developing the core foundation family. She also avidly supports the Ghana Prison Ministry and Shiashie Faith Presbyterian Church & School projects in East Legon, Ghana. In 2006, Ms. Ratel was presented with the Ghanaian-Canadian Achievement Award for her efforts in improving health care delivery to Ghanaians and is a permanent honourary member of the Ghana Canada Association of B.C.
A graduate of Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia nursing schools, much of Ms. Ratel’s career has been spent providing clinical expertise and education, while devising and upgrading nursing policy, standards of care, and clinical pathway development. She is respected as an expert nurse in geriatric care as well as neuroscience, is a compassionate caregiver, and a highly capable administrator. In addition, she thoroughly enjoys leading a morning church service monthly for a local senior’s facility. Ms. Ratel is the 2009 recipient of the Norma Canlas Diamond Award for her dedication and excellence in life, leadership and core values. A coach for the UBC Global Student Speaker’s Bureau, Ms. Ratel mentored international students for several years. In 2007, UBC Alumni honoured Ms. Ratel with the Global Citizenship Award.
She is a mother to Bradley and Melissa, who support their mom through thick and thin and have accompanied her on foundation trips. Ms. Ratel gives honour to her family and her devoted mother, tenderly known as “grandma” to all the Ghanaian community.
