Council award
fact that there exists a lot of comorbidity; these patients
often present with other mental and physical health
issues at the same time, such as mood disorders and
substance abuse.
And there is still a lot of stigma around mental health
issues and eating disorders in particular. In popular culture it is glamourized or sensationalized, and then there
are the conflicting messages about body image, healthy
eating and dieting.
I have seen some amazing stories of recovery, while
others struggle intensely for decades. For those in recovery from an eating disorder, similar to other mental
health issues, it never completely goes away, but it can
move away from being the focus of their entire life.
You used your Daniel Glazier grant to create a
group therapy program for adolescent girls with
substance abuse issues. Why?
My husband is the head of the guidance department
in our local high school and he would often talk of the
young people he saw with mood disorders and drug or
alcohol abuse issues. After some discussion, we wanted
to see if we could help identify the triggers that could
potentially cause substance abuse or mental health
episodes. The girls participated in a 10-week group
therapy program. At the end of the program, students
with ongoing issues were referred to the school nurse
or to local substance abuse treatment and mental
health resources.
Tell us about your work at McMaster University’s
medical school.
I’ve been teaching at McMaster for many years now,
and in addition to teaching the required medical
knowledge, I want to show the students that I like
what I do as a doctor. I want to convey that while
there is a lot of hard work ahead of them and challenges within the health-care system, it is still possible
to do meaningful work and enjoy it at the same time.
I am also the Director of Student Affairs for the
Niagara campus. I am responsible for all the nonacademic parts of medical students’ lives. That means
I am their advocate, champion and defender – I do
what I can to ensure they are healthy, happy individuals while learning to be good doctors.
18
You have won much praise for creating the
Pipeline Project. Tell us about this project.
The idea grew out of a recognition that students from
Niagara were under-represented in the Niagara campus
of McMaster’s medical school. Knowing that doctors
are more likely to practise in the communities they are
from, we wanted to plant the seed of a medical career in
our local students at an early age.
So, we developed this program in which 1st and 2nd
year medical students visit schools throughout the
region, giving presentations they created on all kinds
of medical topics. As part of the program, the school
kids also participate in hands-on workshops on the
medical campus where they put on gowns and gloves to
do mock procedures, such as taking blood pressure or
using syringes to inject oranges.
What role does community service play in your
life?
My parents raised me and my siblings to believe in the
importance of community service. Giving back to our
community was expected of us. So, as a family we were
always involved in local activities and volunteer organizations. Being a family physician and taking an active part
in the life of my community is simply an extension of the
traditions handed down by my parents – a tradition that
I hope I am now passing on to my own children.
What makes you happy in your personal life?
My family is at the core of who I am. My son Benjamin
is 11, and my daughter Hannah is 13 and although work
has often kept me at the office late, I take much pleasure
in the fact that my kids are proud of me and what I do.
They have grown into understanding, empathetic people.
My husband, Barclay Walker, has also been very supportive of me. As well as heading up the guidance counselling
department at the local high school, he coaches basketball. Our whole family embraces community involvement – it’s who we are.
MD
About the Council Award
The College is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Council
Award. Further details can be found on page 16 and on the College’s website www.cpso.on.ca.
Dialogue Issue 2, 2016
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2016-06-16 12:26 PM