Dr. Karen Lischka’s Journey from Student to Supporter
In the late 1980s Karen Lischka sat in a lecture hall at the University of Manitoba, dealing with more than the already challenging dental school.
“Becoming a dentist was something I always aspired to,” she recalls. “I was fortunate to pass all the tests and exams and was so excited to get in and pursue my path, then the wheels got pulled out from under me when I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis”
Her diagnosis of the chronic autoimmune disease had come just months into her first year in dental school. Her symptoms were severe—causing intense pain, swelling and stiffness in the small bones in her hands and feet. Her education became far tougher than she’d imagined.
“At that time there weren’t many options in terms of management,” she remembers. “There were nights I’d get home from school and would need help from my parents to just change or even get up the stairs.”
The University of Manitoba’s student accessibility services worked with Karen to provide accommodations for her courses, like additional time on exams, which required extensive handwriting. That’s also where she found out about funding available from Manitoba Possible—then known as Society for Manitobans with Disabilities—to help students with disabilities with the cost of tuition, course materials, books and travel expenses.
“Dental school was very challenging. It was painful. There were times I had to leave class and go to bathroom and shed a tear or two. It was a difficult road, and it took a lot of my energy just to finish,” she says. “The funding I received took a lot of stress off trying to pay for my education. That’s how I managed to get through."
Dr. Lischka graduated, established her practice, and has dedicated the past 34 years to serving her community as a dentist. With advancements in medication, she has been in remission for the past 15 years.
“As I go through life I realize how fortunate I am to do what I do. Part of that is due to Manitoba Possible, so this is my opportunity to give back.”
In honour of the support she once received, she is now donating $50,000 to Manitoba Possible’s Dr. Karen Lischka Vocational Support Grant, helping students with disabilities achieve their goals just as she did.
“We are immensely grateful to Dr. Lischka for her incredible generosity, supporting post-secondary students in our vocational rehabilitation program,” says Alyssa Wiebe, Manager of Rural Services and Adult Vocational Rehabilitation. “Her gift will remove barriers to education and provide opportunities for more students to pursue their career aspirations.”
Dr. Lischka, who plans to continue working for years to come, is deeply committed to creating more equitable access to education for all Manitobans. Her contribution reflects her belief in the transformative power of education for growth and opportunity.
“Education is important because it allows individuals to gain independence. You have all levels of disability but there's always ability,” she says. “I think when you're faced with a disability you may think ‘This is a roadblock, and I have to stop.’ But you can keep going.”