Congratulations to the Recipients of the 2018 Awards of Excellence!
Congratulations to the winners of the 2018 Awards of Excellence who will be honored on May 10 during a special ceremony at the P.K. Subban Atrium.
- CN Community Leadership and Volunteer Award of Excellence: Katrin Nakashima
- Gustav Levinschi Nursing Award of Excellence: Anne Choquette
- National Bank Medical Award of Excellence: Dr. Christine Saint-Martin
- Pfizer Research Award of Excellence: Dr. Nancy Braverman
- Provigo Professional Staff Award of Excellence: Lynda Blanchette
- TD Nicolas W. Matossian Junior Community Award of Excellence: Jean-Gilles Gadoury
- TFI International Administrative and Clinical Support Staff Award of Excellence: Ines Gregorovic
- MCHF Teamwork Award of Excellence: The Daily Patient Flow Managers team
Katrin Nakashima, recipient of the CN Community Leadership and Volunteer Award of Excellence
When she joined the MCHF Board in 2001, she was a grateful adoptive mother who wanted to give back. In 2003, Kathy wrote these fateful words. “You never know who will need the help of the Children’s next.” Tragically, just a few years later, her younger son Justin lost his battle against a severely degenerative neurological disease at the age of six.
Kathy’s commitment to the hospital runs deep on several levels. “I have extensive personal experience with practically every hospital department. And I know the expertise they all bring to the table,” says Kathy.
Kathy presently serves on the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors as Vice-Chair and Secretary. She co-Chairs the Investment Committee and sits on the Executive and Governance Committees and Young Leaders’ Circle Advisory Board. She is also a member of the Hospital’s Council for Services to Children and Adolescents (that evaluates priorities, policies and budgets regarding pediatric and adolescent healthcare services) and its Executive Committee. In addition, she acted as Interim President of the MCHF for six months in 2017.
Read the article about Katrin Nakashima in the Chez Nous Magazine.
Anne Choquette, recipient of the Gustav Levinschi Nursing Award of Excellence
Anne Choquette is a clinical nurse specialist in the Hematology- Oncology Division who has 28 years of service at the Children’s.
She is continually looking at new trends in care and bringing expertise to the table to improve the Hospital’s clinical guidelines. With the help of the nursing leadership team, she has mentored dozens of nurses to become highly skilled at their craft; oncology nurses are now amongst the most highly regarded in the hospital thanks to the standards that she and the nursing team established.
Her colleagues call her an “eager-beaver” as she is always looking for ways to improve her skills, and those of her trade. She is driven by a desire to stay ahead of the latest research and translate it into practice, for both the staff and patients. Anne has also published research on improving the back-to-school program for patients who have completed their treatments. Her involvement in the field extends beyond the Children’s as she represents the Hematology-Oncology Division at local and national levels.
Read the article about Anne Choquette in the Chez Nous Magazine.
Dr. Christine Saint-Martin, recipient of the National Bank Medical Award of Excellence
The Children’s is renowned internationally for its neurology department and central to its success is Dr. Saint-Martin’s expertise. Although radiologists are somewhat behind the scenes, her work does not go unnoticed, as acclaimed physicians rely on her excellent work. Her interpretations of scans are known for being informed, thorough, and most importantly accurate. She has trained many residents and her teaching style is highly appreciated. She is also extremely knowledgeable about neurological disease processes and imaging techniques. This knowledge has improved the clinical skills of the neurosurgical staff and is invaluable to residents.
Dr. Saint-Martin is also known to go well beyond her job description, always putting the patient first. She tries to do MRIs without sedation and avoids the harmful radiation of CT scans when possible. She is known for staying up all night researching and she won’t stop until a case is properly diagnosed.
Dr. Saint-Martin is recognized beyond the Children’s doors, as doctors and patients from Quebec City and Sherbrooke depend on her skills.
Read the article about Dr. Christine Saint-Martin in the Chez Nous Magazine.
Dr. Nancy Braverman, recipient of the Pfizer Research Award of Excellence
Dr. Nancy Braverman is a medical geneticist and attending physician at the Children’s, as well as an associate professor in the Human Genetics and Pediatrics departments of McGill University. She was recruited in 2008 and is an outright pioneer in her field: a group of inherited disorders caused by defects in the genes responsible for the proper function of peroxisomes, important components of cells that help to metabolize lipids, or fatty acids.
She uses mouse models to study gene mutations and develop treatments that can help to prevent the degenerative progression of these diseases. She has also developed a patient registry that documents variation in disease outcomes to identify drugs and treatments that achieve the best outcome and quality of life for the patient. In short, she is striving to improve diagnostics, prognostics and treatment for patients across the globe.
As she brings her research from bench to bedside, her advances are having a meaningful impact on the children she treats. In addition to her clinical responsibilities and directing her research team, Dr. Braverman is actively involved with the Research Institute of the MUHC and serves on several internal committees. She also works with researchers across Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Read the article about Dr. Nancy Braverman in the Chez Nous Magazine.
Lynda Blanchette, recipient of the Provigo Professional Staff Award of Excellence
Lynda Blanchette has been part of the MCH team since 1986 and for the past 10 years, she has been a social worker for the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Division. According to her colleagues, “miracle worker” would be a more accurate title. The myriad of social issues that arise when children are diagnosed with a devastating illness is where Lynda really shines.
Lynda meets every new patient diagnosed with cancer and their families. She follows them through every step of their treatment. The key to Lynda’s success is establishing and maintaining a relationship of trust with the patients and families.
Entirely through her own initiative, Lynda developed a program to help children with nausea related to chemotherapy. She also partnered with Child Life Services to run a support group for siblings of cancer patients. Lynda’s holistic approach, dedication, professionalism and integrity are striking.
Read the article about Lynda Blanchette in the Chez Nous Magazine.
Jean-Gilles Gadoury, recipient of the TD Nicolas W. Matossian Junior Community Award of Excellence
“When you’ve had several brushes with death, you realize how important it is to live life to the fullest and to savour every moment of it.” These wise words come from the mouth of a teenager.
At 9 years old, Jean-Gilles had a promising career as an actor ahead of him, until he hit a devastating roadblock: he was diagnosed with myelogenous leukemia. In his first week in the Hematology-Oncology unit, the young boy stayed curled up in his bed, his hands clenched as he trembled. His smile had faded. Then he discovered music therapy, and it was a revelation.
They hadn’t won the battle yet; Jean-Gilles needed a bone-marrow transplant to survive. But their optimism prevailed. While talking with his physician, Dr. David Mitchell, Jean-Gilles decided to record an album and donate the proceeds to the Children’s. Jean-Gilles went through another difficult period when he relapsed. He would need a second stem-cell transplant. His reaction? “We have to go back to the Children’s to get better, Mom.” Two years later, the young fighter remains an ambassador for the Children’s.
Read the article about Jean-Gilles Gadoury in the Chez Nous Magazine.
Ines Gregorovic, recipient of the TFI International Administrative and Clinical Support Staff Award of Excellence
Ines Gregorovic is an administrative procedures specialist who has dedicated 26 years of service to the Children’s. Positive energy explodes out of Ines; no task is ever too challenging and no timeline is ever too short.
On a daily basis, Ines—the “silent superhero” as her colleagues like to call her—facilitates the work of over 200 healthcare professionals in the Allied Health Services, covering the needs of 11 different departments. She manages their budgets with laser precision while coordinating multi-software systems at the same time. She is involved with ensuring special funds are used efficiently, which has a direct impact on patient care. Furthermore, she is a mentor and trainer. She has taught over 300 people during her career and is the queen of demystifying complex processes, ensuring that staff are providing top-quality care to patients and their families.
Read the article about Ines Gregorovic in the Chez Nous Magazine.
The Operating Room Booking (ORB) team, winner of the MCHF Teamwork Award of Excellence
Front row, left to right:
Riccardo De Ioris, Cynthia Boursiquot, Philippe Montesano
Back row from left to right:
Gabrielle Laderoute, Diane Corbeil, Anna Gravino, Michelina Iorio
The ORB team groups together seven professionals who now work in a shared space to book surgeries for urology, plastic surgery, general surgery, gastroenterology, otolaryngology (ENT) and ophthalmology. They also manage all of the data provided to the government.
This coordinated and harmonious group have significantly improved the booking process and hence the general well-being of patients and their families. Their greatest source of pride is reducing the surgical waiting lists of the various departments—some of them have even been cut in half.
There is now a better patient flow, better crosscoverage as they work different hours, and a more streamlined approach to booking beds, equipment and even surgeons.
Read the article about the Operating Room Booking (ORB) team in the Chez Nous Magazine.