May 1 is Doctors’ Day
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, recognizing the incredible work of physicians, and physicians-in-training at Sunnybrook and across the country, is especially important. May 1, 1831 was the birthday of Dr. Emily Stowe, so this day pays tribute to her legacy as the first female to practice medicine in Canada.
In honour of the day, several Sunnybrook doctors share what motivated them to choose medicine, and some of the most inspirational moments on the job.
Dr. Jeannie Callum, Director of Transfusion Medicine and Tissue Banks, Staff Hematologist
Undoubtedly, it was the underlying pathophysiology of disease and the science of medicine that attracted me to this career.
One day I’ll never forget involved a very young woman with severe anemia and antibodies against all donor blood. We were able to find compatible blood donors in Osaka, Japan and Helsinki, Finland, and received the blood in less than 48 hours! We sent the donors Canadian winter scarfs with the Canadian flag as a small gesture of our thanks.
Dr. Vincent Lin, Otolaryngologist, Head and Neck Surgeon
This is probably going to sound very cliché, but I got into medicine because I wanted to help people. Specifically as a surgeon, I wanted to be able to use my hands to make a meaningful positive impact on the lives of my patients, most of whom have profound hearing loss. I grew up in a household with a huge emphasis on music, and I took piano lessons all the way until university. From that experience, I recognized firsthand the importance of being able to hear well. It’s key not only for communication, but to also enjoy listening to music and the range of positive emotions that can bring to you.
As for inspirational moments, it's just the simple things. I like bumping into my patients at the hospital or in public and having have a nice conversation with them, and seeing how we were able to help them enhance their life. I like having that type of personal relationship with my patients. Knowing they trust me to help them with a little part of their lives is very rewarding.
Dr. Sharon Domb, Managing Partner, Sunnybrook Family Practice Partners and Physician IT Lead, Family Practice Division
There were many facets of medicine that were attractive to me, but I would say that the most important was the ability to connect with people and the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on their lives. After 25 years in practice, one of the most enjoyable parts of family medicine for me is the longitudinal relationships I have built over time. I have some families in which four generations are my patients. Delivering babies, and watching them grow up into adults has been extremely rewarding.
Undoubtedly for me, delivering babies is still a highlight. Being able to participate in such a life-changing event in peoples’ lives is truly an honour, and something I feel lucky to be involved in. I still deliver most of my own patients, and love having that continuity of care that enables me to go into the delivery knowing the person and the family I’m working with. There are numerous deliveries that stand out to me, including delivering the first child of a couple after years of recurrent miscarriages, as well as delivering healthy baby number seven for a couple.
Dr. Neil Shear, Head of Dermatology
I was surprised when I entered medical school that half of my class had at least one parent who was a physician. I never thought of it being genetic or something like that. No one in my family was an MD and neither of my parents finished high school. Yet, I had a dream of being at the edge of making the world better (sounds cheesy on reflection), especially the potential interaction of technology and medical care and science. And that is what motivated and pushed me to pursue engineering and medicine.
Looking back, there are so many inspirational and fulfilling moments that I’ve experienced! Teaching and mentoring are a constant joy. I've had 42 dermatologists who have come to train with me and they have inspired and taught me. I'm still in touch with many and they are stars!
Dr. Noor Ladhani, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist
I became an obstetrician because it’s simply the best field in medicine.
We have the privilege of helping women and families through a life stage and milestone, and work to keep them healthy and happy through these important times.
When I chose the specialty, I was inspired by the strength of our patient population. We all know that mothers will go through anything for the good of their children. From sacrificing normal luxuries during pregnancy, making really difficult decisions for their families if there is a complication, and overcoming the physical feat of birth, women do so much during pregnancy and beyond.
I feel privileged to play a small role in helping make this experience as easy possible, and am thrilled that I can do this in both the clinical and research settings.
