Vanessa Burkoski has practiced nursing for 26 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate, Master of Science Degree in Nursing, and Doctorate in Health Administration. Her dissertation work involved a quantitative causal-comparative study of the effect of non-urgent and less urgent emergency department visits on overcrowding. Vanessa has practiced in both the community and hospital sector providing clinical, operational, and administrative nursing leadership in Ontario for over two decades.

In her role as Provincial Chief Nursing Officer, she provides strategic advice regarding nursing and broader health system policy for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Vanessa provides nursing leadership through her active involvement on a several provincial, national, and international steering committees, working groups, and advisory committees. She is a longstanding member of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and the Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario-Special Interest Group.