Convocation Spotlight: Marlo Salum
10 June 2025
Marlo Salum had been a nurse in Yellowknife, N.W.T since the pandemic began and often saw gaps in access to care. This inspired him to pursue a master of nursing at the 黑料不打烊 so he could become a nurse practitioner and make a bigger impact in northern health care. The U of A’s strong focus in primary care, research, leadership and advocacy made it the right place for him to grow.
We asked Salum about his proudest moments during his degree, how he stayed focused during challenging times and what comes next in his career.
What are you most proud of from your time in the program?
One of the moments I’m most proud of was completing the thesis stream, where I focused on the modified Delphi method — a consensus-building approach often used to develop clinical guidelines, pathways and research priorities. This experience helped me build confidence in academic writing, critical thinking and collaborating with other professionals from various fields.
How did you stay motivated during your studies?
Staying motivated wasn’t always easy, especially during the busiest times of the program. What kept me going was my goal of making a difference in northern health care, along with the incredible support I received. I’m deeply grateful for the encouragement from my supervisor, Dr. Kara Schick-Makaroff; my committee member, Dr. Rick Sawatzky; my coworkers; family; classmates; and friends — they all helped me keep going when things got tough.
What advice would you give to a student considering a PhD in nursing?
My advice to anyone considering the NP program — especially the thesis stream — is to be open to opportunities and feedback and trust the process. It’s a challenging journey, but also incredibly rewarding. Take initiative to ask for help — your supervisors, peers and workplace can be great sources of support. Stay organized, take care of your well-being and keep your purpose in mind. Continue to refine your foundation through hard work and creativity and you will discover more of your abilities.
What activities did you do outside of your studies?
I just started my role as the territorial nurse practitioner for the Renal Program in the Northwest Territories in April. It’s an exciting opportunity to apply my clinical training, research experience and leadership to support patients with chronic kidney disease across the territory. I’m hoping to improve access to care, promote person-centred practices and contribute to quality-improvement efforts that address the unique needs of northern and remote communities.