When Tanya Psaras first arrived on Canada’s East Coast in 2014, she never imagined she’d find herself managing operations at Saint John Airport.
Yet her journey from surgeon in Ukraine to Manager of Operations and Regulatory Affairs at YSJ perfectly illustrates how diverse experiences can create unexpected opportunities.
“Medicine and aviation have a lot in common,” explains Tanya, who discovered that both fields rely heavily on crew resource management principles, detailed checklists, and precise communication protocols.
“Aviation contributes much of its success to these training methods, and health care has actually adopted similar principles for emergency rooms and operating theatres.”
After arriving in Canada, Tanya faced the common challenge many internationally trained professionals encounter – having her medical credentials assessed but navigating complex regulatory frameworks to practice.
Rather than see this as a setback, she explored new avenues, eventually finding her way into aviation through various roles in public safety and health care.
For most of her decade in Canada, Tanya has called the East Coast home, settling first on Grand Manan Island.
“The East Coast is the first place I saw in Canada, and I’ve never thought of moving beyond this coast,” she says. “I love the spirit and friendly nature of the communities here.”
What drew Tanya to YSJ was the team’s shared passion and commitment.
“When I met everyone, it was clear that everyone has the same goal – they all care deeply for YSJ and are passionate about their work here,” she reflects. “It’s always nice to be part of a team that collaborates toward the same goal of contributing to our local community and increasing travel options.”
Since joining the airport last January as Manager of Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Tanya serves as the main point of contact for airport security and general terminal operations.
Like East Coast weather, she notes with a smile, “there’s never a typical day in aviation.”
Tanya’s journey demonstrates how global experience and diverse professional backgrounds can strengthen our local aviation community, bringing fresh perspectives to the important work of connecting New Brunswick to the world.