This past year, Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) continued to respond head on to the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic while simultaneously preparing for the largest clinical transformation in HHS’ history – implementing Epic.
On June 21st, the Medical Staff Association (MSA) held its 2022 Annual Dinner and Awards at the Art Gallery of Hamilton to celebrate the recipients of the Margaret Charters Bursary Award, the President’s Award, the Humanitarian Award, the Dr. Steven Garnett Award and the Outstanding Residents Awards.
Join us in extending a special thanks and congratulations to the recipients of this year’s awards!
Margaret Charters Bursary Award
The Margaret R. Charters Bursary recognizes a nurse (RN or RPN) currently employed by HHS for their demonstrated leadership potential, academic potential and commitment to excellence in nursing practice.
This year’s recipient is Jessica Sylvester, a Registered Nurse who has worked at HHS for the past 15 years.
Sylvester began her nursing career on the 5 South - Cardiac Surgery ward at the Hamilton General Hospital and later became charge nurse on the unit. Sylvester enjoys supporting staff with skills development through mentoring level 4 nursing students and orientating several charge nurses. She has been involved with accreditation committees and embraces leadership challenges. Recently, Sylvester was appointed the interim clinical manager at the Satellite Health Facility where she supports the day-to-day operations of the soon-to-be 120 bed facility.
Sylvester enthusiastically took on responsibilities during the Epic implementation, namely in providing staff education, facilitating cut-over completion and supporting Super Users.
Sylvester graduated from McMaster University in 2007 with a baccalaureate degree in nursing. She is currently enrolled in a Master’s of Healthcare Administration at the University of New England. Those who know Sylvester appreciate her leadership, her commitment to lifelong learning, and her passion for providing the best care possible for our patients and community.
Sharon Pierson had the occasion to work with Margaret Charters early on in her career and shared at the MSA Dinner and Awards that she “knows she [Charters] would be so impressed by Sylvester’s accomplishments and her desire to advance her education and contribute to nursing in different ways.”
Congratulations, Jessica Sylvester!
President’s Award Recipient
The President’s Award is presented to a physician involved in distinguished clinical activities. In addition to being a role model for learners, they demonstrate distinction in aspects of administration, contribute to MSA activities and are an ambassador for HHS.
This year’s recipient is Dr. Olufemi Rolland Ayeni.
Dr. Ayeni was nominated by MSA President Dr. Deepak Dath. Dr. Ayeni is the Chief of Adult Surgery at McMaster University Medical Centre; Professor and Academic Division Head of Orthopaedic Surgery at McMaster University; Adjunct Professor in the Department of Health Research Methodology, Evidence and Impact; Director of the McMaster Arthroscopy Collective Sports Medicine (MACSports) fellowship; and Medical Director for the Hamilton Tiger Cats (Canadian Football League) and Forge FC (Canadian Premier League). Dr. Ayeni is a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Joint preservation surgery and has recently been named a University scholar at McMaster University.
Dr. Ayeni has more than 350 academic publications, including textbooks and focuses on sports medicine and research. More widely, Dr. Ayeni holds the Deputy Chair for the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Scientific Committee (2019), and is the first non-European appointed to the European Society for Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy Hip Arthroscopy Committee (2020), as well as being the Research and Academy Chair of the International Society for Hip Arthroscopy (2021). Dr Ayeni is a leading authority on orthopaedic sports injuries, in particular, hip injuries in the young adult, as this is a substantial portion of his clinical practice. Dr Ayeni has spoken widely across the globe on evidence-based approaches to evaluate and treat hip-related syndromes and conditions.
Congratulations, Dr. Ayeni!
Humanitarian Award Recipient
The Humanitarian Award is presented to a physician whose volunteer medical services extend beyond the hospital walls.
This year’s recipient is Dr. Brad Petrisor.
Dr. Petrisor was nominated by Dr. Bill Ristevski. Dr. Petrisor is an orthopedic surgeon and is currently a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at McMaster University. He is the past director of the International Surgery Desk and past program director of the Orthopaedic Training program at McMaster University, a position he held for eight years. Additionally, he has been on the Royal College Examination Board, Orthopaedic Surgery for 10 years. Dr. Petrisor is an Associate Chair, Education, in the Department of Surgery and is also member of numerous national and international orthopedic associations and societies.
Dr. Petrisor is instrumental in organizing teaching and training of orthopedic surgeons in many under serviced regions, both nationally and internationally. Dr. Petrisor is involved in humanitarian work for over 10 years. His humanitarian works spans from Canada’s far North to the Caribbean, Africa and India, having worked in Yellowknife, Inuvik, Haiti, Cuba, Uganda India and in Cayman Islands.
Dr. Petrisor forged large partnerships with the Rotary Club, Global Logistics International and local medical supply outfits to send great amounts of medical supplies and equipment to different areas of need. He travelled to Haiti after devastating earthquake to bring supplies and provide orthopaedic care. He organized a large shipment of supplies to Beirut after the harbour explosion in 2020. Currently, together with Drs. Pahuta and Moroz, he is organizing shipments of supplies and much needed medical equipment to the courageous people of Ukraine.
Dr. Petrisor is an outstanding clinician, educator, researcher and humanitarian. He makes very large contribution on local, national, and international levels.
Congratulations, Dr. Petrisor!
Dr. Stephen Garnett Award Recipient
The Dr. Stephen Garnett Award is presented to a physician who demonstrates excellence in clinical activities, who is a role model for learners, who shows distinction in aspects of administration, contributes to MSA activities, contributes to HHS’ mission and is an ambassador for the organization.
This year’s recipient is Dr. Serena Gundy.
Dr. Gundy was nominated by Dr. Amna Ahmed for many contributions to HHS, patients and colleagues around the world.
Dr. Gundy is an internist in the Department of Medicine, director of the Obstetric Medicine Program and an educator. She helped to develop the obstetric medicine curriculum for departments of medicine, obstetrics, more specifically GIM, MFM, endocrinology and nephrology. Dr. Grundy is a researcher and an executive board member of the North American Society of Obstetrical Medicine. She is also a member of the best evidence in obstetric medicine working group.
Dr. Gundy is also a member and participant in research within the postpartum clinical research network, Canadian Institute of Health Research, and Heart and Stroke foundation.
Over the last several years, Dr. Gundy greatly expanded the HHS clinical program of obstetrical medicine. She transformed the local program that saw about 300 patients a year into a regional program that serves over 1,800 patients a year.
She developed post-partum vascular clinic that follows women with various vascular risk factors such hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and the patients who developed preeclampsia or eclampsia. This clinic provides risk assessment, prevention, and follow-up for these patients.
Additionally, Dr. Gundy created Obstetrics Medicine outreach service which provides consultative guidance to physicians working within the regional hospital network. She collaborated with the Maternal Fetal Medicine program and together they developed combined OBM-MFM preconception counselling clinic.
Dr. Gundy is a tireless local and national educator in the field of obstetrical medicine. If all of the above is not enough, she also carries her clinical duties of general internist and of undergraduate and postgraduate educator.
Congratulations, Dr. Gundy!
Original Article published on HHS Hub - People of HHS and on here on July 6.2022