Career
She was President and Chief Executive Officer of Dignitas International, as well as a founding member and General Director of the Canadian section of Médecins Sans Frontières (Union for Manufacturing, Science and Finance) / Doctors Without Borders, the world"s leading independent medical humanitarian organization. With a Master"s degree in Applied Sciences in Nursing (1984–1987) from McGill University in Montréal, McHarg spent nine years in Africa from 1991 until 2000 working for Union for Manufacturing, Science and Finance as a field nurse in Uganda, a training consultant and a medical coordinator in Sudan, and a medical coordinator as well as Head of Mission in South Sudan and Liberia. Following nine years in the field identifying humanitarian needs, translating medical policy into project activities, supervising financial management and logistical support, and implementing project activities ranging from health education and basic health services to water and sanitation services, relief distributions, and famine response, McHarg was based in Europe as Operational Director for Union for Manufacturing, Science and Finance in Holland and later as Director of Operations with Union for Manufacturing, Science and Finance in Geneva from 2000 until 2006 with responsibility for missions in 20 countries.
Prior to her work with Union for Manufacturing, Science and Finance, McHarg was a registered nurse at Women"s College Hospital and Sunnybrook Medical Centre in Toronto and a research assistant and laboratory technologist at Saint Joseph"s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario and research assistant at Queen"s University in Kingston, Ontario.
In addition to her Master"s degree, McHarg graduated with a Bachelor of Science: Life Sciences and Psychology from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario (1978 – 1983) and holds certificates in tropical medicine, critical care, quality assurance and nursing audits. In 1996 she obtained a pilot’s license.
In acknowledgement of her humanitarian work, she was awarded the Golden Jubilee in 2002.