The Niagara Health System is pleased to congratulate Dr. Philip McGarry on being selected as the Long Term Care Physician of the Year by the Ontario Long Term Care Physicians (OLTCP).
The award, which was presented to Dr. McGarry earlier this month at the OLTCP Annual Meeting in Toronto, recognizes his leadership, exemplary patient care in the long-term care setting and his interdisciplinary approach to care.
“I want to congratulate Dr. McGarry on this well-deserved achievement and thank him for his years of dedication and service to healthcare and to the residents of Niagara,” says Dr. Tom Stewart, NHS Chief of Staff and Executive Vice-President Medical. “The great work Dr. McGarry is doing reflects the immense passion he has for long-term care. He is an example of the incredible team of healthcare professionals working in our region.”
Dr. McGarry was an active doctor at the Niagara Health System’s Greater Niagara General Site from 1979-2011 before ending his family practice in Niagara Falls with his wife, Dr. Joanna Hill, to concentrate on long-term care.
He is now the Medical Director at three Conmed Health Care Group long-term care facilities in Niagara Falls - Millennium Trail Manor, Oakwood Park Lodge and Valley Park Lodge - and he practises once a week at the NHS Port Colborne Site caring for Complex Care patients.
“It means a lot to me to receive the award,” says Dr. McGarry. “It’s not just my award; it belongs to the people I work with. It’s all about teamwork. We couldn’t do the work we do without the fantastic staff at the Niagara Health System and long-term care homes. We have a very good reputation for the care of the elderly in Niagara.”
Dr. McGarry said he decided to concentrate on long-term care because, “I truly love that part of family medicine. I felt I was a natural fit with my personality and interest in geriatrics and care of the elderly. I find it very gratifying. The patients mean a lot to me because they need an advocate. They need to have a strong voice for their care and their needs.”
Millennium Trail Manor in Niagara Falls nominated Dr. McGarry for the award.
“He is passionate about medicine and this can be seen in his interdisciplinary approach to care, actively involving family, nurses, dietitians and other health professionals,” says Lori Auld, Director of Care at Millennium Trail Manor in Niagara Falls. “He volunteers his time on a regular basis to provide teaching to staff at the long-term care facilities. He is a good man and an excellent doctor.”
Media contact: Steven Gallagher, Communications Specialist, 905-378-4647, ext. 43879; steven.gallagher@niagarahealth.on.ca
