The Jewish General Hospital: A picture of health

Instituting new roles
at the LDI
Cells aren’t all that are multiplying at the Lady Davis Institute for
Medical Research: multiple roles have been “cultivated” as part of a
restructuring plan. Four positions have been created to share responsibilities
that were previously handled solely by the Director of Research.
The new associate directorships cover Faculty Development and Training,
Infrastructure, Clinical Research and Research Space.
The development of a leadership team for the LDI will greatly
strengthen the Institute and provide informed insight and in-depth interaction
with the program heads and LDI researchers. This will enable
the Director of Research to provide overall direction and interact more
intensively with McGill University, its affiliated institutions and other
research organizations in Quebec and around the world.
“We’ve grown as a result of our success,” says LDI Interim Director
Dr. Stéphane Richard in explaining the extra research activities at the
JGH and LDI. “The strength of the LDI is its people. We have great scientists
and clinicians who collaborate on medically-oriented research
in a hospital-driven research environment.”
With leading, new and expanding centres and labs at the JGH and
LDI, such as the Segal Cancer Centre and the HIV/AIDS Bio-containment
Laboratory, “we have been attracting internationally renowned
scientists,” says Dr. Richard. “We are also looking to recruit more highcalibre
researchers to work alongside our own staff in cancer, cardiovascular
disease, aging, epidemiology and psycho-social issues. We
may even expand into other areas.” u
Among those present for the commemorative cutting of the JGH anniversary cake at the Faye
Fox Education Day were Executive Director Dr. Hartley Stern (holding knife) and Director of
Nursing Lynne McVey.
Conference advises nurses
how to “be well to treat well”
While healing at the JGH is focused
on patients, the well-being
of healthcare professionals is also of
concern. That’s why the 27th Annual
Faye Fox Education Day, organized by
the JGH Department of Nurses, chose
to highlight Healing at Work: The Well
Nurse Initiative on May 1.
“Nurses at the bedside understand
what constitutes a healthy workplace,
because they know they have to be at
their best to do the best for patients,”
says Valerie Frunchak, Nursing Director
of Maternal-Child Health and
Co-Chair of the event with Lynne
McVey, Director of Nursing. “They
take great pride in their healthcare environment
and try to remove as many
obstacles as possible. Nurses take a
leadership role in fostering more open
and respectful channels of communication
with colleagues and patients.
On a technical level, they determine
whether proper equipment is being
used to treat patients and whether it
is functioning properly.”
Faye Fox Day attracts nursing students
from CEGEPs and universities,
as well as nurses from other hospitals.
The day is named for a nurse
who joined the JGH on its opening
in 1934 and ultimately set up and ran
the JGH central supply room until her
retirement as Supervisor of that area
in 1974. Ms. Fox was also an anti-infection
specialist who helped develop
standards for sterilization.
As part of the year-long commemoration
of the JGH’s 75th anniversary,
Ms. McVey invited the conference
speakers, JGH nursing alumni and
committee members to help cut a celebratory
cake. Keynote speakers included
Dr. Judith Shamian, President
and CEO of the Victorian Order of
Nurses and a former JGH nurse who
presided over the hospital’s 50th anniversary
celebrations in 1984. “We’re
delighted to welcome Judith back,”
Ms. Frunchak said. “She has always
had a creative, innovative and unconventional
approach to nursing and
has been an excellent role model.”
At the conference, Dr. Irmajean
Banjok, Director of the International
Affairs and the Best Practice Guidelines
Program, and life coach Stephanie
Staples explored ways to create a
healthy, safe workplace environment
inspired by initiatives in healthcare
institutions across Canada. They also
explained how nurses can stay in
good physical condition for their own
benefit and that of their patients. u
PULSE • SUMMER 2009 9