Physicians Appreciation Week served up at OTMH by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Friday, May 6, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Recognizing the invaluable role doctors play in its hospitals and the communities they serve, Halton Healthcare celebrated its own doctors at the new Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) with a hot lunch Wednesday (May 4). Physicians were served and given a heartfelt thanks in their lounge as part of Physicians Appreciation Week being celebrated across Halton May 2-6. Dr. Lorne Martin, Halton Healthcare chief of staff, said it's important for Halton Healthcare to take a moment at each of its hospitals to recognize the dedication of its specialists, family physicians and hospitalists who help support and grow the hospitals' capacity. This year, in particular, has been an exciting one for OTMH with its successful move to Third Line and Dundas Street, he noted. Martin, who has been working at OTMH for 32 years, was heavily involved in the early planning stages of the project that began more than a decade ago, through construction and to treating the first Emergency patient on opening day. He said the brand new facility has helped the hospital expand its diagnostics and services. It has additional resources, new talent and skills, and sub-specialities. Martin shared how its cancer clinic at the new hospital provides patient assessment, teaching, counselling, information resources, chemotherapy administration, blood transfusions, procedures and clinical trials for oncology patients. OTMH has also hired about 40 physicians to serve the growing Oakville community, he noted. In Oakville, there are about 280 doctors, he noted, 200 of whom are active medical Dr. Greg Nocent grabs some lasagna during physician appreciation week at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital on Wednesday afternoon in the physicians' lounge. | photo by Nikki Wesley Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_ photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) staff, Martin added. One of the new faces to join the Oakville staff is Dr. Ted Jackson, who officially started his first week at OTMH. A doctor in the Emergency Department at the Georgetown Hospital, he said he took a job at OTMH because he was interested in being a hospitalist -- a doctor who specializes in the care of patients in the hospital setting. "It's been a great experience here so far. The staff is very nice, the facilities are amazing. It's been very positive. I have nothing, but good things to say," said Jackson, who became a family physician last summer and began working in Georgetown in October 2015. He added he's looking forward to working with patients and finding solutions that will make them well enough to return home. "I find that aspect of medicine very interesting," Jackson noted. Dr. Farid Massoud, the hospitalist medical director at OTMH who has been living in Oakville for the last 11 years, said they're doing the best they can to serve the community and keep up with service demands. "We're very fortunate to have this fantastic facility for the hospital, the community, for the patients and for us, but obviously that's a huge challenge for all of us," he said. Massoud, who has been a physician for 30 years, added he appreciates the hospital taking time to show its appreciation for doctors. "It's a nice gesture," he said. Halton Healthcare states physicians play a vital role in the health and well-being of Halton's communities. Officials thanked their doctors for helping Halton Healthcare provide exemplary patient experiences. For more news, visit insidehalton.com/oakville-on Today's School for Tomorrow's World www.GlenburnieSchool.com Glenburnie School OPEN HOUSE Wednesdays 9am Preschool - Grade 8 2035 Upper Middle Rd. East at Ford Drive,Oakville (905) 338-6236 Long Time No See(d) Mother's Day Special Thinking of Retiring... Someday? Let's Talk. Visit our website to sign up for a free consultation. Peter Watson MBA, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, FCSI Jennifer Watson B.A. 220 Randall Street, Downtown Oakville 905-842-2100 peterwatsoninvestments.com $5 OFF Your Next Purchase of $50 or more. We noticed you haven't visited us; come in soon and take advantage of this special offer! *Burlington location only. One discount per purchase. Offer not valid on previous purchases, gift cards, or DSC memberships. Please mention ad to redeem. Expires 05/15/2016 3350 FAIRVIEW STREET, BuRlIngTon 905-634-7700 · EmAIl: wbu1@bellnet.ca We bring people & nature together