Dear colleagues,
Spring has finally arrived and we have much to celebrate at UHN. On May 1st, we had a wonderful chance to celebrate 50 years of excellence in clinical care and research for cancer patients. I had a personal opportunity to reminisce with old and new friends at the celebration marking the 50th anniversary of Princess Margaret Hospital. I started working at PMH in 1981 when I first did research with Dr. Peter Ottensmeyer. I've worked there as a surgeon since 1986.
John MacNaughton, Chair of our Board Quality Committee gave a moving talk on the emotion of being a cancer patient at the hospital. I think his words touched all of us who work or have worked at PMH - remembering patients treated successfully - but also remembering patients who we were not able to help survive their disease. The celebration, to me, brought out the best of what we do at UHN - our science, our commitment to best practices and most important our focus on caring.
We've also had the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of our scientists. Dr. Frances Shepherd was recently awarded one of the Premier's Summit Awards. The Summit Awards are given to Ontario's best scientists. Only six awards have been given out over two years and UHN has won four of them. Graciously, Frances accepted her award on behalf of the entire Lung Cancer Trials Group, which emphasized the importance of team work in research that changes the way we practice.
And finally, Dr Peter St George-Hyslop (one of our prior Summit Award winners), received a prestigious Killam Award for excellence in the arts, applied or basic science.
Spring is here and it's terrific to feel the renewal of nature all around us. It's also terrific to be reminded that we are working in an exceptional place with outstanding people!
Bob
