When Lifin Parakkal Thomas first walked through the doors of Niagara Health in 2013 as a volunteer, he never imagined he’d one day be receiving an award for excellence. But more than a decade later, this internationally-educated nurse practitioner is now a vital member of the internal medicine team — and the recipient of the 2025 Rising Star Award.
At McMaster’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine Niagara Regional Campus, medical students don’t just learn anatomy and diagnostics - they learn what it means to be part of a community. For the past eight years, Dr. Amanda Bell has led the campus with a key goal: to shape doctors who are not only clinically excellent, but also grounded, compassionate and deeply connected to the people they serve.
Niagara Health is proud to celebrate this year’s Doctors' Day on Thursday, May 1, recognizing the dedication, expertise and compassion of the physicians who make a profound impact on the health and well-being of our community.
As Chief of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Dr. Satish Chawla doesn’t work with patients at the bedside. But he’s often the first to know what’s causing their health issues.
Delirium is a sudden change in a person’s ability to think, focus or behave normally. It’s not dementia — though the two can look similar — and it’s not just “confusion.” Delirium is a medical emergency, and one that is often missed.
Grant Sweeny is a few months into rotations, a pivotal time in his journey to becoming a physician, and getting a clearer sense of the kind of doctor he wants to be.
In medicine, we’re constantly learning and improving. Over the past decade, advances in diagnosis and treatment have helped people live longer, even as they face more complex health conditions. As doctors, we are committed to providing the best care possible, which often means using the latest tools and treatments. But does more always mean better? Not necessarily.
Dr. Jennifer Tsang was elected to a four-year term representing Ontario.
Dr. Whitney Huggins combines her passion for variety and community care in family medicine. From hospitalist work to dermatology and palliative care, her dynamic career reflects her dedication to patients and commitment to Niagara’s health and wellness.
Since joining the Niagara Health Knowledge Institute last September, Dr. Heather O’Grady has been focused on how to engage patients in guiding research at Niagara Health.
