Celebrating Pat MacDiarmid — A Champion of Whole-Person Care in CF

Cystic Fibrosis Canada is proud to recognize Pat MacDiarmid, recipient of the 2025 Multidisciplinary Healthcare Award: Social Worker, for her exceptional commitment to supporting adults living with cystic fibrosis (CF). This award celebrates healthcare professionals whose work strengthens CF care through collaboration, compassion, and a deep understanding of the whole person. 

For nearly two decades, Pat has been a cornerstone of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Clinic at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. Her work extends far beyond appointments and paperwork, focusing on the emotional, social, and practical realities of living with CF. Pat supports individuals through some of the most challenging moments of their lives—helping them navigate mental health concerns, financial and disability supports, complex systems of care, and the everyday stressors that accompany a lifelong illness. 

At the heart of Pat’s approach is a belief that CF care must address more than lung function alone. She works closely with patients and the broader care team to ensure that mental and emotional well-being are treated as essential components of health. By creating space for open conversations about anxiety, depression, grief, and uncertainty, Pat has helped foster a clinic culture where people feel seen, heard, and supported. 

Beyond her clinical role, Pat has made a national impact as Lead of the Canadian CF Social Worker Group, where she has helped strengthen collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and best practices among social workers supporting people with CF across the country. Her leadership has played an important role in advancing the integration of psychosocial care within multidisciplinary CF teams nationwide. 

Pat has also been a strong advocate for mental health innovation within the CF community. She has co-facilitated an eight-week virtual Cognitive Behavioural Therapy group designed specifically for people living with CF—an innovative pilot program that reflects her commitment to accessible, CF-informed mental health support. The program has offered participants practical tools, connection, and reassurance that they are not alone in their experiences. 

One of the most meaningful aspects of Pat’s work is the long-term relationships she builds with those she supports. She has walked alongside patients through their transition from pediatric to adult care, celebrated milestones, and provided steady support through setbacks and loss. As CF outcomes continue to improve, Pat has witnessed many individuals once seen as teenagers now thriving well into adulthood—a powerful reflection of both medical advances and the impact of strong multidisciplinary care. 

As Pat prepares to retire this year, her contributions to the CF community will continue to resonate for years to come. Through decades of service, leadership, and unwavering compassion, she has helped redefine what comprehensive CF care looks like—centred on dignity, connection, and whole-person wellbeing. Cystic Fibrosis Canada extends its deepest gratitude to Pat MacDiarmid for her long-standing dedication and is honoured to celebrate her lasting impact with the 2025 Multidisciplinary Healthcare Award.