PAGES OF HISTORY:

In Honour of
Marybeth Booker

Mary Elizabeth Sherbino was born in Alliston, Ontario, and from the age of three was raised in the small community of Osgoode, just south of Ottawa.

She attended Osgoode Township High School from Grades 9 to 12, completing her final year of secondary education at Nepean High School in Ottawa, where she graduated from Grade 13.

Pursuing her passion for healthcare, Marybeth enrolled at the Civic Hospital School of Nursing in Ottawa, where she earned her nursing diploma. Upon graduation, she began her career on a surgical ward at the Civic Hospital. During this time, she married her high school sweetheart, David Booker.

Driven by a desire to specialize, Marybeth pursued further training in Operating Room Nursing through the Civic Hospital’s specialized program. After gaining valuable experience in two Ontario hospitals, she and her husband relocated to Dallas, Texas. There, Canadian nurses were warmly welcomed, and Marybeth secured a position at Baylor University Medical Center in the Operating Room. It was a time of tremendous personal and professional growth, as she honed her skills in orthopedic surgery, advanced into leadership roles, and eventually was promoted to Head Nurse of Orthopedics and later to Administrative Supervisor of 33 Operating Rooms. In this demanding role, she oversaw patient care, collaborated with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and clinical staff, and managed the daily challenges of a high-volume operating environment, a responsibility she embraced with both skill and enthusiasm.

In the 1980s, Marybeth and her husband returned to Canada, where she took time away from nursing to raise two daughters. During this period, she broadened her expertise by completing courses in Occupational Health and Safety and working in that field.

In 2000, the family relocated to Vancouver, where Marybeth discovered the growing field of private surgical care, which was a service not available in Ontario at the time. She joined Cambie Surgery Centre, where she was delighted to return to the Operating Room setting that she loved. Her time at Cambie also included involvement in two Chronic Pain Research Projects, which expanded her understanding and appreciation for this specialized area of patient care.

Marybeth retired from Cambie Surgery Centre in March 2025. She leaves behind a legacy of dedication, leadership, and compassion. She is deeply grateful to God for the opportunities she’s had throughout her career, and for the privilege of working alongside exceptional colleagues and contributing to the delivery of quality healthcare.