Niagara Health was in the spotlight Tuesday morning as Newstalk CKTB’s Round Table Road Trip aired live from the Marotta Family Hospital.
Hosted by radio personality Steph Vivier, the live broadcast featured a series of compelling interviews that showcased the many ways Niagara Health and the Niagara Health Foundation are working to improve healthcare across the region. Topics ranged from cutting-edge cardiac and cancer care to emergency department improvements, mental health support and the importance of community fundraising.
Check out the interviews:
Partnerships in cardiac care
Dr. Adnan Hameed, Head of Service for Cardiology and previous patient Renate Hodges opened the morning with a powerful discussion about cardiac care in Niagara. Hodges shared her personal journey toward heart health and the life-changing care she received at Niagara Health. Dr. Hameed highlighted the critical role of partnerships with Hamilton Health Sciences and Brock University in bringing advanced cardiac care closer to home.
Listen to the segment.
Be The Reason Campaign: Niagara Health Foundation’s Impact
The morning continued with the Niagara Health Foundation’s President and CEO Andrea Scott and Vice-President, Communications and Community Engagement Chris Green discussing the Foundation’s Be The Reason campaign. The pair explored the many ways the community can support healthcare through donations, sponsorships and events.
Supporting mental health and addictions
Chief of Mental Health and Addictions Dr. Victor Uwaifo and RAAM (Rapid Access Addiction Medicine) Peer Support Worker Terra Chambers spoke about Niagara Health’s mental health and addictions programs. Chambers shared her impactful story of transformation — beginning as a client and now helping others find recovery.
Dr. Uwaifo outlined programs like HELPS Niagara and stressed the importance of strong community partnerships in delivering mental health and addictions care.
Teaching the next generation of physicians
Niagara Health’s role as a teaching hospital took centre stage next. Dr. Amanda Bell, Regional Assistant Dean, Niagara Regional Campus Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, joined Grant Sweeny, second-year medical student and Simon Akinsulie, Executive Vice-President, Practice, Clinical Support and Chief Nursing Executive at Niagara Health, to discuss the supportive learning environment at Niagara Health and opportunities for future physicians to gain hands-on experience in a community-focused hospital.
Listen to the segment.
Transforming the Emergency Department experience
During a round table discussion, Tara Coffin-Simpson, Director of Emergency Services, along with Holly Transmundi, Personal Support Worker and Emergency Department (ED) Ambassador, and Dr. Rafi Setrak, Chief of Emergency Medicine discussed improvements underway to improve the patient experience in Niagara Health’s ED’s.
New roles such as ED techs, PSWs and trained volunteers are enhancing communication and patient comfort. Transmundi shared her experience helping patients navigate their visit, manage expectations about wait times and provide education on the healthcare options available in the community.
Leaving a legacy: Planned giving at Niagara Health
Franca Palummineri, Planned Giving Development Officer and Chris Green returned to discuss how legacy giving helps secure the future of healthcare in Niagara. Palummineri walks listeners through the process of leaving a gift in a will and explained how these gifts sustain long-term improvements in patient care.
Cancer care closer to home
During the final segment, Chris Kavanagh, a former patient at the Walker Family Cancer Centre (WFCC) and Tracy Fazzari, Director, Oncology and Palliative Care shared how being able to receive cancer treatment in Niagara helps patients avoid costly travel and focus on recovery.
Fazzari outlines the innovations happening inside the WFCC and coordinated efforts involved in delivering comprehensive cancer care throughout the region.
