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We hope everyone had a wonderful Family Day weekend! We’re continuing the Family Day spirit and featuring another couple who work at VCH! - Regina (Regie) and Japheth (Jap), are husband-and-wife OR nurses who have worked at Lions Gate Hospital since 2008. They came here together after working in the United Kingdom and Jap recalls being at a job fair in London and saying to the VCH recruiter, “We’re a package deal. If you hire me, you should hire my wife.” And they did. - Both speak fondly of their time at LGH with Regie describing the close-knit OR team as, “a small family. Jap says his favourite part of the job is when you see a patient a week or two after surgery, doing well and returned to health. “It’s fulfilling – that’s my personal reward”. Regie says she likes that, “I'm learning every day since we participate in different surgeries – never a dull moment in the OR.” - Regie and Jap met in 2001 while working in the Philippines and married in 2004. The couple has two children – their 13-year-old daughter was born in the Philippines and their seven-year-old son was born at Lions Gate Hospital. Jap had just come off night shift when he got word that Regie was in labour and was able to head upstairs for the delivery. - The couple doesn’t talk much about work at home, but say it’s a comfort that, “we understand each other” because of their shared profession. Working together, “we feel at home,” says Regie. Jap adds that they don’t often work in the same operating room, but, “when I work with my wife, we rock!” - #ORNurses #RegisteredNurse #RN #LGH #NorthVancouver
Happy Family Day – to celebrate we're taking the opportunity to focus on the family trees rooted here at VCH! - Meet Emily and Sam – they first met at St. Paul's Hospital (SPH) when working in the same department. Emily made the move to VCH about seven years ago and Sam followed her to VGH last year. “A job opportunity came up at VCH-Vancouver and I thought it would be a great chance to do something different," says Emily, who is an administrative assistant and the co-credentialing coordinator for Vancouver Acute Medical Affairs. Sam, who is a regional practice lead for MRI, was in a consolidated role and was a VCH employee even while he worked at SPH. “I was really happy to move over to VGH. It was a promotion, which was amazing, and a chance to work collaboratively to promote best practice," he says. - VCH: “So what's it like living and working together?” - “The commute is easier," says Sam. “And it's nice to be able to have lunch with Emily from time to time." Their roles don't overlap much during working hours, but that allows each to focus on their own interests. “I think it's great that VCH is large enough that we both can specialize," says Emily. Both have had opportunities to learn and grow through their work with VCH. - While Sam may be the only actual family member Emily has at VGH, her work family is also near and dear to her heart. “You spend so much time with your colleagues that they become like family," she says. “When Sam and I got engaged, I was working in the Psychiatry Department and my work family threw me a bridal shower," Emily recalls. “That was really touching. I still remember how it made me feel. We were all so close. Even though some of us have moved onto other roles, we still keep in touch." - “One of the benefits of VCH is it's a large organization with multiple sites," says Sam. “You can choose a smaller community or to stay in the city. That gives people lots of choices." “VCH is a great organization to work for," agrees Emily. “I'd recommend working here to anyone." - #HappyFamilyDay #FamilyDay #Vancouver #BritishColumbia #Canada
A special thank you to the stellar team of doctors and nurses at the Richmond Hospital’s Birthing Centre. - “Dr. Brenda Wagner delivered our second child, Timothy Isaac Chan, into our awaiting arms during this past season of Advent with professional first-class care. We were very thankful that Richmond Hospital was also able to provide us with an efficient and friendly outpatient blood work lab, a specialized family-friendly short stay pediatric unit and a diligent food/cleaning services staff. We even received a Christmas card on Christmas morning from the volunteers of Richmond Hospital Healthcare Auxiliary. Thank you!” – Abraham and Janice Chan - #RichmondHospital #RH #Richmond #Doctors #Nurses
We’re throwing it back to sunnier, warmer days in Powell River, British Columbia. The city is located on the upper Sunshine Coast, about 145km Northwest of Vancouver. It's accessible by ferry from Vancouver Island, or from Earl's Cove while driving up from Gibsons or Sechelt. Whether you prefer endless kayaking, fishing, and scuba diving in the summer or backcountry adventures, and quaint cabins in the snow in the winter – there are a variety of activities for everyone all year round. - Powell River General Hospital is a 33-bed facility providing services that include surgery, endoscopy, ICU, obstetrics, in-patient psychiatry, oncology, emergency and diagnostic services. Health care career opportunities are available for nursing, allied health, administration & more! - If you’re ready to enjoy a nice change of pace on the Sunshine Coast peninsula, explore career opportunities on our website – link in bio. - #PowellRiver #Sechelt #Gibsons #SunshineCoast #Nursing #AlliedHealth #BeautifulBC #TBT #ThrowbackThursday
Changing career paths can be a difficult decision, but for people like Colleen, she knew she wanted a more meaningful career. After leaving a career in the travel industry, she thought of the most meaningful thing in her life and realized it was the strong relationships she had formed with others. This led her to pursue a career in psychotherapy. Excited to start down this new path, Colleen returned to University and went on to complete a B.A. in Psychology, a Graduate Degree and a Ph.D. - Colleen now works as the Clinical Lead Psychotherapy at Mental Health & Substance Use (MHSU) Outpatient Services. “I applied for this position because it was my dream job, although I had thought that this kind of job would never be available in the province,” says Colleen. “It was always my goal to work in the public system so that I would be able to serve people who could not afford to see a Psychologist privately. In fact, even as a student, I sought out Drs. René Weideman and Ingrid Söchting, both psychologists who worked in Outpatient Services at VCH as clinical supervisors.” - Collen has a passion for group psychotherapy that was fostered by the training she undertook as a Graduate Student, as well as through ongoing continuing education. She is responsible for program development of the Group Psychotherapy Program and for the one-to-one counselling available to clients through the SAFER program (Suicide Attempt Follow-up, Education, and Research). Colleen enjoys continually learning so she can provide up-to-date integrated and comprehensive services. - “I enjoy working with a group of people who are committed to providing the highest possible standard of service in a supportive team environment. I have worked for the best managers I’ve ever worked with in my life since joining Outpatient Services. I feel supported by the whole team at Outpatient Services, both physicians and other clinicians in the high level of service they provide to the people we serve,” says Colleen. - To all our amazing psychologists who are providing exceptional care - Happy Psychology Month!😊 - #PsychologyMonth #Psychology #Psychologist #MentalHealth #Vancouver
“Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours” – Elton John. - Lions Gate Hospital’s updated atrium has become a well-used gathering place for patients and clients, family members, visitors and staff members. The Lions Gate Hospital (LGH) Foundation is launching “Music in the Atrium”, a monthly performance by music therapists, to bring the uplifting and healing power of music to the space, and create a calming and relaxing environment for people using the atrium. - The first performance took place on January 23 and featured Johann McBee playing the handpan. A handpan or “hang” is a convex steel drum played with the hands and tuned with multiple notes. It has the capacity to create many layers of sound and ethereal effects. - Keep an eye out (and ear) for future musical performances at the Lions Gate Hospital atrium! - #MusicTherapy #MusicTherapist #NorthVancouver #LGH
Following a treadmill stress test, Denise was rushed to VGH with fears she was having a heart attack. She was prepped for surgery only to have the surgeon decide an operation wasn't necessary as her arteries were clear. “I was beside myself; I knew this was something physiological rather than anxiety," recalls Denise. “My family physician referred me to Dr. Tara Sedlak (pictured). She gave me a heart MRI, which confirmed I have coronary capillary constriction. If it had gone untreated, I could have had serious heart concerns." - Heart disease is the number one killer of women in Canada. “Most of what we know is based on research in men, but women's hearts are different," says Dr. Sedlak, who heads the Leslie Diamond Women's Heart Health Clinic at VGH. “Our risk factors are different and we present differently. Both men and women commonly feel chest pain; what's often different in women is the radiation pattern of the pain. For instance, women often experience jaw pain or pain through to their backs." Dr. Sedlak notes there are also differences in the causes of women's heart problems and that many tests commonly administered do not detect these. - Denise regularly attends the women's only cardiac exercise program offered at the Leslie Diamond Women's Heart Health Clinic at VGH. “It's a safe place to push myself physically and there's a great community of support," she says. “We also have access to a dietician, educational sessions on heart disease, and other opportunities like meditation and yoga classes." The clinic also conducts important research into heart health. “We're developing techniques to diagnose the unusual disorders found in women," says Dr. Sedlak, “and we're working with women who've been identified as being at risk to prevent them from developing heart disease." - Working with women's heart health specialists from across Canada, Dr. Sedlak helped form the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance in 2018. “We're hosting our inaugural 'Wear Red Canada' Day on February 13; we encourage everyone to wear red and learn more about women's heart health," says Dr. Sedlak. - #Physician #HeartHealth #VGH #Vancouver
The VGH Physician Hall of Honour is the first of its kind in Western Canada. Last week, Vancouver’s Medical, Dental & Allied Staff Association celebrated the second annual class of inductees into the VGH Medical Staff Hall of Honour. Inductees and their families were in attendance and were visibly moved. - “Induction into the Hall of Honour is awarded to so very few physicians, and this year's inductees are such luminaries; I am so very touched by this recognition," says Dr. Linda Warren, wife of the late Dr. Joachim Burhenne. - “Dr. Wada was very happy to have been inducted," says Dr. Brenda Kosaka, who nominated him. “He felt honoured to be in the company of his past colleagues Dr. Donald Paty and Dr. Felix Durity." - “I am very proud," says Ian Robertson, accepting the award on behalf of his father Dr. H. Rocke Robertson. “Dad never sought the limelight, but was always in it anyway, and enjoyed it. He was very aware of the importance of his work, to his patients as well as to the medical systems and community, but he left it to others to talk about it. This sort of concrete recognition of his achievements would have meant a lot to him." - We're proud to recognize the 2019 inductees, for their significant contributions and achievements at VCH. - #MedicalStaff #Physicians #VGH #Vancouver