“It’s the small wins”: Why Robby shows up for patients living with Parkinson’s
Before he became a nurse, Robinder “Robby” wasn’t working in health care at all. He was in retail, trying to figure out what came next.
“I knew I wanted to do something more meaningful,” he says. “Something where I could grow but also make a difference in people’s lives.”
After studying kinesiology at Simon Fraser University, and with encouragement from his wife, who is also a nurse, he decided to apply to nursing school.
It didn’t take long to realize he had found the right path.
“You’re caring for people at a vulnerable time,” he says. “They’re putting a lot of trust in you. Even if you can make a small impact in someone’s day, you can see that it matters to them.”
He began in acute care before moving into critical care, oncology, and palliative care.
“I learned a lot,” he says. “But you’re often focused on the moment, treating someone, stabilizing them, and then they’re discharged.”
“I realized I wanted more connection. I wanted to be there for people beyond just one point in time.”
That belief eventually led him to the Movement Disorder Clinic at Surrey’s Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre, where he found his place.
Walking alongside patients
Since 2019, Robby has worked as a nurse clinician supporting people living with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders, often from the point of diagnosis through the progression of their disease.
“Parkinson’s is a journey,” he explains. “It changes over time, and every person experiences it differently.”
His role is to help patients navigate that journey, not just medically, but personally.
“I’m often one of the first touchpoints,” he says. “I do assessments, help answer questions, and work closely with the neurologists and the rest of the team to make sure care is tailored to each individual.”
That team includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, dietitians, pharmacists, and social workers, all working together under one roof.
But for Robby, the most important part of the job isn’t the coordination, it’s the continuity.
“We follow patients over time,” he says. “We see them at different stages. We get to know them and their families.”
Because Parkinson’s doesn’t just affect the individual.
“Our care isn’t only centred on the patient,” he says. “It’s also about supporting caregivers and the people around them.”
The impact of small wins
In a progressive condition like Parkinson’s, there are no quick fixes. But there are moments that matter.
“Even small improvements can make a huge difference,” Robby says. “Whether it’s helping someone move a little more easily, sleep a little better, or feel more confident with their day to day. Those are big wins.”
A big part of his work involves helping patients access and adjust advanced therapies, including newer treatments that support symptom management when medications alone are no longer enough.
It’s detailed, ongoing work with education, monitoring, adjusting and supporting patients as their needs evolve.
And it’s exactly the kind of care he was looking for.
“You’re building relationships,” he says. “You’re part of their journey.”
Looking ahead
As the number of people living with Parkinson’s continues to grow, so too does the need for specialized, coordinated care. At the Movement Disorder Clinic, that future is already taking shape.
“We’re seeing more patients, more complexity, and more need for support,” Robby says. “And we have to keep growing to meet that.”
Part of that vision includes working toward bringing Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) to Surrey, an advanced surgical therapy that would further expand treatment options and help make the clinic a fully integrated centre for movement disorder care.
“It’s about making sure patients can access all the care they need in one place,” he says.
Showing up, every day
For Robby, the work comes back to something simple.
People place an incredible amount of trust in their care teams, often during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
“Even if you can make a small impact in someone’s day,” he says, “that matters.”
And it’s that belief that continues to guide him, not just in the big moments, but in the quiet, everyday ones that define what care really looks like.
Supporting care that grows with patients
For people living with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders, care doesn’t stop at diagnosis. It evolves, requiring long-term support, coordination, and access to specialized expertise.
Through Surrey Hospitals Foundation’s Chronic Disease & Therapy pillar, donor support is helping expand programs like the Movement Disorder Clinic, ensuring patients and families across the South Fraser region can access the care they need, close to home.
Because in a lifelong journey, having the right care team beside you can make all the difference. Your support helps ensure patients across our region can access that care, today and into the future.”
