Awards & Announcements
Revered for spearheading the creation of BC Women's Hospital - October 2009
Simon Fraser University awarded Dr. Victor Gomel with an honourary Doctor of Science at a convocation ceremony October 8 in Burnaby.
Victor Gomel, professor emeritus and past head of obstetrics and gynecology at UBC, is renowned for his pioneering work in reproductive microsurgery and operative laparoscopy and revered for spearheading the creation of BC Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Gomel was instrumental in creating the BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, the first such tertiary facility in Canada, in 1992. In addition to Vancouver medical students and residents, Gomel trained postdoctoral fellows from all over the world, many of whom hold key positions in Canada and abroad. He has authored numerous scientific articles and book chapters and written and edited several books. Among the many accolades for his pioneering work in gynecologic surgery and reproductive medicine, Gomel was made a Chevalier of the French Légion d’Honneur and a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science.
For more about Dr. Gomel’s achievements see the following link to the SFU website:
http://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/news/story_10070910.shtml
New president for BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre - April 2009
“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jan Christilaw as the President of BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre,” says Lynda Cranston, President and CEO, PHSA. “Dr. Christilaw takes up her new responsibilities immediately. I know that you will join me in congratulating Dr. Christilaw on her position.”
Dr. Christilaw has been Interim President since December 2008, while continuing her roles as Vice President, Medical Affairs, BC Women’s; Senior Medical Director, Provincial Women’s Health Team, BC Women’s; and Co-Leader, Provincial Women’s Health Network.
Dr. Christilaw has over 25 years of experience in women’s health, including seven years of extensive experience at BC Women’s. During her time at BC Women’s, she has worked with a variety of programs, including Aboriginal women’s health, the Oak Tree Clinic for HIV positive women, and all Specialized Women’s Health programs.
Dr. Christilaw graduated from McMaster Medical School in 1981 and completed her residency in Obstetrics-Gynecology at UBC in 1986. Following that, she worked in White Rock as a general Obstetrician-Gynecologist for 20 years and is past President of the Society of Obstetrician-Gynecologists of Canada and is currently a Clinical Professor in the Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology at UBC.
In 1985, Dr. Christilaw was a member of International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War when they received a Nobel Peace Prize. Just another example of how dedicated she is.
With an interest in international women’s health, especially maternal mortality, Dr. Christilaw has been involved in a number of projects overseas, including the partnership between BC Women’s, BC Children’s, UBC and Makerere University in Uganda for services in maternal and child health. She has made a number of trips to Uganda and spoke about her experiences at the recent BC Women’s International Women’s Day celebration. She also volunteers her time with the Canadian Network of International Surgery, providing medical expertise in underdeveloped countries to promote safe motherhood and childbirth.
In 1985, Dr. Christilaw was a member of International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War when they received a Nobel Peace Prize. Just another example of how dedicated she is.
Throughout her career, Dr. Christilaw has had an unwavering commitment to women’s health—BC Women’s is lucky to have her!
BC Women’s Past President Wins National Award - March 2009
BC Women’s congratulates Dr. Elizabeth Whynot, former BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre president, on winning the Kaiser Foundation’s 2009 Excellence in Leadership Award.
The Kaiser Foundation recognizes individuals, communities, and organizations for their work in the areas of mental illness and addictions. These national awards recognize those who have demonstrated significant leadership within their community and have dedicated their time and energy in helping others get well.
“Liz has an outstanding record of service in improving the lives of women and families in B.C.,” says Lynda Cranston, CEO of PHSA. “On behalf of PHSA, I am honoured to congratulate Liz on this well-deserved recognition by this prestigious foundation.”
As a family physician, Liz devoted many years to working with at-risk women and those living with addiction. She is on the Board of Directors of WISH Drop-In Centre Society, and was the medical health officer for Vancouver’s downtown eastside for eight years.
Liz was leader of BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre for eight years. She received her medical degree from Queen’s University and a Masters in Health Science from UBC. Before joining BC Women’s in 1998, she was a physician in a free clinic and in private practice for 12 years.
She was the co-founder of the Sexual Assault Program (now part of BC Women’s) and supported the development and implementation of the Sheway Program for Substance Using Pregnant Women.
As the medical health officer in the downtown eastside, she worked with the community to develop strategies to address the HIV and Hepatitis C outbreaks in that area.
Among her many accomplishments, Liz was responsible for developing a strong Provincial Women’s Health Network to support an effective women’s health strategy provincially, implementing a plan to support maternity and newborn care in B.C., and was the PHSA Executive Sponsor for Aboriginal Health.
Liz will be recognized at the Kaiser Foundation’s annual awards ceremony in Montreal in May. Congratulations, Liz!
BC Women’s Hospital designated World Health Organization/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital
Vancouver, B.C. - BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre today became the largest specialized hospital in Canada to be designated a World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital. This designation recognizes BC Women’s commitment to enabling mothers to breastfeed their newborn babies giving them the best start in life.
Created by the World Health Organization and UNICEF in 1991, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative acknowledges hospitals whose maternity services actively promote breastfeeding of babies by new moms. A rigorous assessment was conducted in July by a team that spent 72 consecutive hours on site, interviewing families and staff, and observing care.
“Congratulations to BC Women’s on receiving this important designation from the World Health Organization and UNICEF,” says Healthy Living and Sport Minister Mary Polak. “Breastfeeding not only provides a strong bond between mother and child but also provides significant long term health benefits for both.”
“We are extremely proud of the efforts of the BC Women’s team in becoming the largest specialized hospital in Canada to be designated as Baby Friendly,” says Wynne Powell, Board Chair, Provincial Health Services Authority. “BC Women’s continues to set the standard for maternity care.”
Research has shown that breastfeeding provides significant health benefits for both babies and their mothers. Newborns are at less risk of gastro-intestinal infections, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, ear infections, allergy related conditions and insulin-dependent diabetes. Women who breastfeed have a lower risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, hip fractures and low bone density as well as type 2 diabetes.
“We take seriously our responsibility to support new mothers in making informed choices about feeding their infants,” says Dr. Elizabeth Whynot, President, BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre. “Whether new moms choose to breast or bottle feed our teams of physicians, midwives, nurses and other health care professionals are there to assist.”
“We were extremely impressed with the innovative programs BC Women’s offers during our assessment,” says Marianne Brophy, Co-Chair, Breastfeeding Committee for Canada. “It was gratifying to see the engagement at all levels of such a large organization and we are convinced that this excellent quality of care will continue long into the future.”
Each year more 7,500 babies are born at BC Women’s with 85 percent of them being breastfed when they leave hospital. Whether breast or bottle fed, BC Women’s is committed to giving newborn babies the best start in life.
Arthur Kroeger College Award for Management
We are thrilled to announce that BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre has won the prestigious Arthur Kroeger College Award for Management.
The Award for Management is one of five annual awards presented annually by the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs at Carleton University. "Not only has BC Women’s been at the forefront of development in women's health, but it has been managed to exacting financial standards at a time when healthcare costs have often been the subject of public criticism," says a news release issued by Carleton.
The release acknowledged the specific contributions of BC Women’s President Dr. Elizabeth Whynot, who has led the organization since 2000. "Dr. Whynot oversaw the creation of the Fir Square Combined Care program for substance-using pregnant women and their infants, a first in North America. She was also instrumental in the establishment of a First Nations Patient Lodge, which provides housing for First Nations women, and children who are unable to be treated in their home communities.
"Her vision led to the development of the Women's Health Research Institute, dedicated to supporting research activities that will improve the health and healthcare of women and their families."
Established in 1999, the Arthur Kroeger College Awards for Public Affairs recognize and commend individuals and organizations who, by their contributions to public life, have made Canadians more informed, their governing institutions more effective, and their country a better place to live. "These awards recognize and celebrate the individuals and organizations who exemplify leadership and dedication to the betterment of public life in Canada," says College Director Dr. Eileen Saunders. "They serve as inspiring examples to us all of what can be accomplished when there is a commitment to excellence, integrity and vision."
For more information, visit: www.carleton.ca/akcollege.
Dr. Ron Abrahams wins Kaiser Foundation award
Harm reduction champion calls for more housing.
By Cheryl Rossi
Staff Writer
Seven mothers involved in a program that helps women with drug addictions have needlessly given their babies up to foster care in the last two weeks, says Dr. Ron Abrahams.
“If there was appropriate, safe, supportive, supervised housing in the community, these babies would not be in foster care,” he said. “What that also means is that these mothers are at risk now of going back onto the street or back into the environment that they were at because they’re separated from the babies, and that’s another additional trauma to them in their lives”.
Abrahams, who on April 24 will receive an award for his longstanding harm reduction work among Downtown Eastside mothers and their children, says the Lower Mainland needs at least 200 supportive, supervised long-term housing spaces for the women he works with, whose lives are complicated by poverty, a lack of social support, drugs and pregnancies. But he knows of only six or seven beds available in Greater Vancouver.
“Over the last five years, we’ve delivered (babies for) 500 women” said Abrahams, who provides pre and post-natal care to women in the Downtown Eastside through Sheway on East Hastings and an outpatient clinic at BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre.
“Probably a third of the babies went into foster care. Of those third, I would say half didn’t have to go into foster care, but they went into foster care because there was no housing for the mother.”
Abrahams has applied the harm reduction model of care to drug using pregnant women in Vancouver since 1983 by working to limit the amount of drugs that mother and baby are exposed to.
Abrahams’s peers nominated him for a 2008 National Award for Excellence in Leadership from the Kaiser Foundation, which is honouring seven Canadians and organizations for their outstanding work in reducing the physical and mental harms associated with drug use and mental health problems.
Sheway provides health and social services to pregnant women and mothers with children under 18 months, who have previous or current drug use problems. Abrahams also operates a private practice.
Sheway is integrated with a program at BC Women’s. He and Sarah Payne, a midwife started the Fir Square Combined Care Unit there 15 years ago. It’s the first program in Canada to care for both drug-using women and drug-exposed newborns in a single unit.
Previously, babies were taken away from their mothers at birth and put into a quiet room with no stimulation. Abrahams said the medical community believed the women were incapable of looking after their children and that the children were unhealthy.
“Any time you take the baby away from its mother and put into a sort of abnormal environment, you’re going to get abnormal behaviour. So it’s a self fulfilling prophecy,” he said.
The babies born at the Fir Square Combined Unit stay in the same room as their moms.
His clients are addicted to heroin, cocaine or crystal meth, and alcohol may be involved in the mix. They usually have no fixed address and many have spent years living on the street. “We make sure that they get first-class prenatal care in the context of third and fourth world social conditions, which is the Downtown Eastside,” Abrahams said.
Staff try to help the women find stable housing and reduce their drug use. The hospital has 12 beds for women who need support and stabilization, before, when or after they have their babies. They can stay for a maximum of four months. Sheway also has 12 units where women can stay up to 18 months after they’ve delivered.
Mothers and babies are kept in the hospital a minimum of seven days after delivery to ensure the babies gain weight and show no signs of withdrawal. New mothers receive parenting advice from nursing staff.
Dr. Sue Harris, head of the department of family practice at BC Women’s, helped nominate Abrahams because she said he’s a “tireless leader” in a tough niche.
The Kaiser Foundation, a national organization based in West Vancouver that’s committed to promoting understanding of addiction and mental health gives each award recipient a $10,000 grant for a charity of their choice.
Abrahams will give the money to the Women’s Health Research Institute at BC Women’s so it can collect more data on the Fir Square program.
Courtesy of the Vancouver Courier – Wednesday 16th April, 2008
Photo Credit: Dan Toulgoet
