May 1 is always a special day at Niagara Health, when we take the time to honour our more than 600 physicians and those practising in the community on Doctors’ Day.
And it’s even more meaningful this year as we salute and recognize the physicians across Niagara providing care on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the pandemic, we have seen leadership come from individuals that has gone above and beyond the normal. Hospital and community physicians have reached out to support each other and the community,” says Dr. Johan Viljoen, Niagara Health Chief of Staff and Executive Vice-President Medical. “I have been humbled and filled with pride to call each of these women and men my colleagues. Please join me in expressing my sincere gratitude and admiration to all our physicians and the families who support them.”
“We are incredibly grateful to the dedicated team of physicians at Niagara Health and in the community for the high standard of care they provide patients every day,” says Niagara Health President Lynn Guerriero. “It has been inspiring to see how they, working with other members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, continue to meet the immense challenge and deliver exceptional care during this difficult time. We are indebted to each of them for their service and unwavering commitment to caring for the Niagara community.”
Doctors’ Day also provides an opportunity to welcome our new physicians at Niagara Health, and to recognize doctors who retired in the last year and thank them for the incredible impact they have had on our patients and their families.
All physicians receiving a Specialist and Family Practitioner Award
This year, the Medical Staff Association (MSA) of Niagara Health and the Academies of Medicine of Lincoln, Niagara South and Greater Niagara are awarding the Specialist and Family Practitioner Awards to all doctors in Niagara.
“The MSA and the academies express our gratitude for the work being done by all of the physicians in Niagara,” says Dr. Maynard Luterman, President of the NH Medical Staff Association. “Both the doctors inside the hospital and the doctors in the community have contributed to the success of providing medical care under these difficult circumstances. We are one community. We wanted to make sure that everyone was acknowledged.”
About Doctors’ Day
Doctors’ Day is celebrated across the province each May 1 to recognize Ontario’s 28,000 doctors and their commitment to improving the health of all patients. May 1 was chosen to mark the birthday of Dr. Emily Stowe - Canada’s first female physician and founder of the woman’s movement in this country.