Page 2 of 7: Celebrating National Physician’s Day

May 1 is National Physician’s Day across Canada. We asked physicians across Unity Health about their paths to their careers and what Unity Health means to them. Thank you for continually delivering the best care to all, and you are an incredibly important part of our patients’ and residents’ experiences.

Dr. Joanne Leung Yee, Physician, Psychiatry at St. Michael’s

Why did you become a doctor?

I grew up in a family that placed a lot of value on caring for others and in healthcare.  My parents immigrated from Hong Kong and my mother worked tirelessly as a nurse and my father retrained as a radiation therapist.   They instilled a deep love of caring for one’s neighbor and helping those who needed help.  This became particularly true when I explored a career in mental health where often patients are met with stigma and are quite isolated.

What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?

My favorite part about being a physician at Unity health is the opportunity to work with talented, brilliant, kind, and incredibly funny colleagues! It really feels like working with friends to provide care for those who need support in times of medical crises.  I have work inter- professionally, inter-departmentally, and I can say with complete confidence that it has been a pleasure to work together with everyone to care for your patients.  I particularly enjoy my role teaching resident colleagues and medical students, to teach the values of care, compassion and knowledge to future healthcare providers.

Dr. Shiva Jayaraman, Physician, Department of Surgery at St. Joseph’s

Why did you become a doctor?

My parents moved to Canada in the late 1960s. My brother and I were born later and grew up in the typical immigrant household in Canada. Things were difficult for my parents, but, Canada was a very safe and inclusive place for me to grow up. I was very good at school and outgoing socially. Based on my upbringing, it was important to find a way of helping society but, it was really important for me and my family to have stability and security too. Medicine really appealed to me because it seemed to appeal to all of the objectives I had for myself and my family long-term, as well as allowing me to use my strengths which were hard work, being socially outgoing, and being a good scholar. 

What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?

I really appreciate the supportive culture environment in our HPB team and the collaborative and high-quality partnerships we have with our colleagues in other services like oncology and gastroenterology, and many more. It really allows us to provide world class healthcare for our patients and top-notch educational and research opportunities for our learners.

Dr. Petal Abdool, Physician, Geriatric Psychiatry at Providence

Why did you become a doctor?

 I have always been fascinated with the human body and the concept of helping and healing in medicine. The mind-body interface is one we don’t fully understand but in Geriatric Psychiatry I see patients who have led long, full lives and I learn from them each day. I think the main attraction for me is the stories they tell.

What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?

I cherish many aspects of working here at Unity Health but my favorite part is the collegiality and warmth that I experience the minute I step onto the campus. It is a true privilege to work here.

Dr. Nicole Jones, Physician, Houses of Providence

Why did you become a doctor?

As a child I was so intrigued by the human body – how it works & how to “fix it” when it’s “broken”.  I was extremely fortunate to have a Pediatrician that looked like me! – a Black female – who served as an early role model and inspiration. As I matured, I also gained an deeper understanding for the role doctors play as educators and advocates, and desired to be a practitioner who promotes of health and wellness within their community by prioritizing preventative care and health maintenance.

What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?

I enjoy being a physician at Unity Health Providence because of the multidisciplinary approach to patient-centred care. The team environment is very supportive and provides effective delivery of healthcare to its patients. Furthermore, having grown up in Scarborough, I love the patient demographic we serve, and I appreciate Providence’s commitment to equity and inclusion within in it’s staff, to better reflect our diverse patient population.

Yolanda Kirkham, Physician, Obstetrics at St. Joseph’s

Why did you become a doctor?

I became an OBGYN because I surprised myself by how much I love surgery and being able to care for women across all life stages.

What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?

My favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health is the sense of being at home whether in the OR or Family Birthing Centre. There is such a sense of community, caring, and friendliness at St. Joe’s that I feel from all who work here. 

Dr. Dharini Mahendira, Physician, Rheumatology at St. Michael’s

Why did you become a doctor?

Simply – to help those in need by providing compassionate and meaningful care. I was inspired by the positive impact my father had as a Family Physician. In particular, I wished to direct my passion for women’s health and communities facing barriers towards tangible improvements in health outcomes.

What is your favourite part of being a physician at Unity Health?

My patients and my colleagues! At Unity Health, I have the privilege of working with a talented team to deliver innovative sub-specialized care. As Director of the St. Michael’s Hospital Rheumatic Diseases and Pregnancy Clinic, I collaborate with skilled colleagues to strive for excellence in patient centered care, education and research.  

Dr. Vera Dounaevskaia, Physician, Internal Medicine at St. Michael’s

Why did you become a doctor?

I started thinking about profession in medical field in high school. My strengths were biology, curiosity in physiology, and my family and me thought that being a physician would be a good fit with my academic interests. I became a doctor with a goal to help patients and their families to find answers to explain their symptoms, medical concerns (One of the reasons I am general internist is to solve the puzzle), make diagnosis and help patients, their families to go through the journey of medical care; in best case to provide cure, but in most of the time treat their conditions and support their quality of life, to aid in accepting their medical diagnosis and importance of care. Being a doctor also gives you an opportunity to be a teacher to trainees at all level, patients and their families, administrator within hospitals, advocater in Health Care systema, and a life time learner of medicine as well as learning from other health disciplines. The day of the physician is never the same, it challenges you everyday in your career, and it’s definitely never boring. For all of these reasons, I became a doctor.

What is your favourite part of being a physician at Unity Health?

I started at St. Michael’s Hospital as a first year medical student in 2002, and since then spend every year of my training at SMH. I joined SMH as a staff physician in 2010, and shortly after part of Unity Health. It was always my first choice to be a physician at Unity. It’s second home to me, and at times maybe was first. As a physician at Unity Health, you are part of family, not just within your own division but with all departments from medical to support staff, allied health. We are here to work together to serve out patients and their needs.

Dr. David Mazer, Physician, Anesthesia at St. Michael’s

Why did you become a doctor?

I have always been fascinated by science and the complexity of the human body.  I became a doctor to provide care and support to others in times of need. My favorite subjects in university were physiology and pharmacology which led to my passion for anesthesiology and critical care. I grew up in Saskatchewan during the inception of Medicare. Had it not been for Medicare I don’t think I would have been able to go to medical school since there were family health issues that would have otherwise impoverished my family. I am the first and only physician in my family and it has been a great privilege to be able to have a positive impact on the lives of so many people.

What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?

I may be the only physician who has worked at two different St. Michael’s Hospitals – the first being a small rural hospital in Saskatchewan where I was the only doctor. The best part about my career here has been the people I have worked with – the patients, practice partners, physician colleagues, nurses, other health care providers, research collaborators, research ethics board, support staff, mentors and learners have all made my time here so enjoyable, rewarding and fulfilling. Being part of an academic health network provides a unique opportunity to improve the health of others either directly as a doctor providing patient care and indirectly by contributing to the education of the next generation of health care providers or through the discovery and implementation of new ways to improve care. In my 30+ years here, I have provided care to people over the entire spectrum of human existence – from the joy of the first breath of a newborn baby to the last breath of a patient in the ICU (and countless people in between). I am very grateful for the opportunities that Unity Health and St. Michael’s Hospital have provided to me.

Dr. Jonathan Ailon, Physician, Internal Medicine at St. Michael’s

Why did you become a doctor?

Like most people who went into medicine, I don’t think I had a clear understanding of what it meant to be a doctor when I started med school. I initially had the sense that doctors applied knowledge and skills to stave off illness and to save lives. What I have since learned is that being a physician is really about working as a team, and walking alongside patients and families as they navigate health and illness, providing medicine and support when required, but most providing compassion and humanity.

• What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?

The care providers at Unity Health are truly invested in the wellbeing of patients and their families. We truly celebrate our patients’ successes and grieve their losses. Most of all, we care for people, not diseases. It is a privilege to be part of such a compassionate and talented team.

Dr. Alexandra Bite, Physician, Anesthesia at St. Joseph’s

Why did you become a doctor?

I knew from a young age that I wanted a career in healthcare, but I didn’t know what form that would take. In high school, I had an amazing science teacher with a PhD in biology who inspired me to study health sciences at university.

After university, I worked as a nurse in Toronto, Montreal & Australia before I applied to medical school. Helping patients and families while using the knowledge of physiology, pharmacology and anatomy that I learned in residency and medical school makes my job very rewarding and interesting. Every single day is different!

What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?

The people are the best part about Unity Health! We are lucky to have a smaller hospital where we work closely with amazing nurses, nursing assistants, RTs, anesthesia assistants and physician colleagues across multiple specialties. There is a really great culture of putting patients first which translates to being able to provide exceptional patient care that I am really proud about. It is a great feeling to finish a day in the OR knowing I made an impact in a patient’s life.