Published On: April 29, 2019
May 1 is Doctor’s Day.
May 1st was chosen as Doctors’ Day in Ontario to mark the birthday of Dr. Emily Stowe, Canada’s first female practising physician, and a founder of the women’s movement in Canada.
Doctors at STEGH work hard every day to treat and care for their patients. As leaders in evolving health care, doctors are committed to improving access to care so that the health care system is effective, efficient and sustainable for the future.
Did you know? There are over 200 physicians at STEGH. Want to learn more? Watch our short video in celebration of Doctor’s Day:
Why did YOU become a doctor?
Our physicians share their inspiration…
“My family owned a small auto repair garage. I always loved fixing things and working with my hands. At school, I had a passion for science. A career in general surgery was the ultimate marriage of those two passions.”
Dr. Rob Black, General Surgeon
Regional Academic Director
“I decided to become a doctor during my Grade 10 careers class. I took a quiz and it told me I should go to medical school. It didn’t sound like a bad idea, so here I am today!”
Dr. Chevy Priyadamkol, Clinical Associate (Family Medicine)
“I decided to be a doctor because I was fascinated with the way the human body in general and the brain in particular, worked. I chose psychiatry because it is a specialty with lots of variation, combining biology, psychology and social science.”
Dr. Giuseppe Guaiana, Psychiatrist
Department Chief, Mental Health
“Being a doctor has given me a chance to pursue something intellectually stimulating but at the same time knowing that you are helping people.”
Dr. “Andy” Van Houwelingen, Orthopaedic Surgeon
Department Chief, Surgery
“I was always good with my hands. I was a good student. In high school I believed I could use this to help people. In truth I first wanted to be a reconstructive plastic surgeon. It wasn’t until I was fairly late in medical school that I witnessed a birth and found my true calling.”
Dr. Meagan O’Brien, Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Department Chief, OBGYN
“I was one of those children who wanted to be a doctor since I was six. I so admired my Mom, who was a nurse, for her love of helping others which became my joy for 29 years. Dr. Marks was my family’s very kind & caring family doctor whose love of medicine has made an impact on me to this very day.”
Dr. Derek Vaughan, Family Medicine
“My fire was first lit when I was 4 years old. It was a bitter snowy February in Elliot Lake when a pot of boiling water fell on my arm. Our family doctor was called in to the ER and not only treated me but also performed a skin graft for me. That’s right, my family doctor performed my skin graft in Elliot Lake! Amazing! There would be many other reinforcing events throughout the years but that first experience definitely set me on a course to want to have a career that would allow me to be as impactful on someone’s life as he was on mine.”
Dr. Waleed Chehadi, Internal Medicine
Chief of Staff
“Back when I was in grade 2 or 3, one of the other kids had a seizure on the playground. He ended up being fine, but I didn’t know what to do at the time and I decided then (along with other experiences in my life) that I never wanted to be in a situation where I couldn’t help someone medically again.”
Dr. Phil Andros, ICU Lead
Chief, Department of Internal Medicine