Go to Sitemap
Exemplary SickKids staff, volunteers honoured with 2023 President’s Award!
Summary:
Celebrating individuals and teams for outstanding service to SickKids and the community.
The President’s Award was established to recognize the extraordinary individuals and teams who exemplify SickKids’ values and whose efforts positively impact our organization and community.
Six of the categories are based on SickKids’ strategic directions, and the seventh is called “Commitment to compassion”. Presented annually, award recipients are nominated by peers, and nominations are chosen by a selection committee appointed by the president.
Congratulations to the 2023 award recipients!
Caleb Tait
Child Life Specialist, Perioperative Care Unit
Ensure quality and accountability in everything we do
Caleb comes to work in Child Life at SickKids with one fundamental principle guiding him: that every patient and family deserves a positive experience when coming for surgery, without judgment and with absolute equity.
He helps patients, families and also staff understand that what they’re feeling is OK and creates a trusting bond that makes everyone feel safe. He focuses on the strengths of others, empowering them to overcome challenging situations. He is often seen accompanying an anxious patient into the Operating Room or to a procedure. He is the standard for excellence, empathy, grace and collegiality.
Dr. Jim Whitlock
Head of Haematology/Oncology
Individualize child and youth health care
Dr. Jim Whitlock’s contributions and accomplishments in his formal roles are tremendous but this award acknowledges his tireless efforts to ensure that every child with cancer in Canada can access life-saving innovative therapies and clinical trials – regardless of where they live, their family financial situation, and other socio-economic factors.
Jim often spends hours with the care team, patient and family to ensure the best possible care is provided, motivating his team through his willingness to do whatever is required to deliver exceptional care, even if it isn’t part of his role. He inspires greatness in those around him to achieve one goal: healthier children.
ABILITY Program
Commitment to compassion
The impact of the ABILITY Program team has been nothing short of extraordinary. The program was launched at SickKids in 2020 to address urgent gaps in the care of children and youth with autism and/or developmental disabilities.
As the prevalence of these conditions increased, and as community-based supports for these children and families eroded during the pandemic, more and more children were presenting in crisis to SickKids.
This vital team provides consultative support and behavioural/developmental expertise to teams in our Emergency Department, Peri-operative Services, and inpatient and outpatient areas to help reduce the stressors patients and families may face in the hospital environment to enable safe, equitable and timely care.
There is no level of distress that cannot be managed by this skillful, compassionate team. Their impact is nothing short of transformative.
ABILITY Program members
Jessica Esufali
Senior Clinical Manager, 7BCD Paediatric Medicine, Respiratory Medicine & Infectious Disease
Dr. Michelle Shouldice
Head General Paediatrics, Paediatric Medicine
Latiffe Adair
Program Coordinator, Paediatric Medicine - Consultation Clinic
Julie Gardner
Registered Nurse, Paediatric Medicine - Consultation Clinic
Dr. Nirit Bernhard
Staff Physician, Paediatric Medicine
Lisa La Rosa-Lledo
Patient Flow Coordinator, Paediatric Medicine - Consultation Clinic
Nicole Staples Dorey
Case Manager, ABILITY Program
Dr. Joelene Huber
Staff Physician, Paediatric Medicine
Chantal St Jules
Registered Nurse, ABILITY Program
Vanessa Visconti
Development Service Worker, ABILITY Program
Dr. Jacqueline Weiss
Staff Physician, Psychiatry
Nicole Crawford
Development Service Worker, ABILITY Program
Kelsey Ferguson
Board Certified Behavioural Analyst, ABILITY Program
Dr. Dana Frisch
Staff Physician, Paediatric Medicine
Dr. Rachel Markin
Staff Physician, Paediatric Medicine
Dr. Miriam Maarse
Staff Physician, Paediatric Medicine
Dr. Alvin Loh
Staff Physician, Paediatric Medicine
Claire ONeill
Development Service Worker, ABILITY Program
Arezu Alami
Behavioural Analyst, Paediatric Medicine - Consultation Clinic
Andrea Seater
Developmental Consultant, Paediatric Medicine - Consultation Clinic
Human Resources – Retro Pay
Unleash the talent of our people
In light of SickKids’ strong desire to competitively compensate its staff – coupled with the ending of the Bill 124 moderation period and the court ruling deeming Bill 124 unconstitutional – the decision was made to provide a retroactive lump sum payment to eligible current and former staff.
Once commitments were made to staff, the Retro Pay Team, led by Human Resources and supported by members of our Finance, Information Services, and Communications & Public Affairs teams, was under enormous pressure to develop eligibility guidelines, carry out complex calculations, process payroll payments, communicate with clarity and transparency, and respond to questions from staff and former staff – often with great empathy and compassion.
Human Resources – Retro Pay members
Mimi Lacej
Senior Manager, Compensation - HR
Houry Topjian
Program Manager, Compensation - HR
Zuzanna Celkowska
Senior Compensation Specialist, Compensation - HR
Demetri Gianopoulos
Senior Compensation Specialist, Compensation - HR
Paula Ground
Manager, HR Support Services
Samantha Ferri
Human Resources Coordinator, HR Support Services
Michelle MacKenzie
Senior Manager, HRMS
Karen McGregor
Director, HR Systems & Transform, HR Admin & Management
Deby Kwan
Senior HRMS Specialist, HRMS
Linda Wan
Senior HRMS Specialist, HRMS
Marisa Leggieri
Senior Manager, Payroll & HR Admin, Human Resources Payroll
Amandeep Grewal
Payroll Specialist, Human Resources Payroll
Anna Wysocka
Payroll Systems Administrator, Human Resources Payroll
Sandra Paiva
Senior Manager, HR Ops & Labour Relations, Human Resources Operations
Sasha Similas
Program Manager, Organizational Development
Jane Jin
Senior Financial Analyst, Finance Planning & Analysis
John Pires
Manager, Communications, Communications & Public Affairs
Pallavi Narayan
Senior Technical Specialist, Information Services
Volunteer Resources & Family Centre Team
Unleash the talent of our people
Through their efforts, the Volunteer Resources and Family Centre Team is showing that SickKids is an environment where people of all abilities can excel and contribute in meaningful ways. The work the team is doing is a model for supporting growth in volunteer and employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They have created an environment that embraces the differences and uniqueness of individuals.
Each week, Seth, a former SickKids patient, arrives smiling and ready to help and his love for libraries and books is unrivaled. Seth and fellow volunteer Aleena are responsible for restocking soap and supplies in the family laundry room, sharpening pencils and checking markers in the Family Centre, restocking welcome guides on inpatient units, and so much more. Aleena, with guidance from Dianna and Christina of the Family Centre, are truly unleashing the talent of our people and Seth truly demonstrates talent unleashed!
Volunteer Resources & Family Centre Team members
Dianna Sherlock
Family Centre Coordinator, Family Centre
Christina Enav
Children's Librarian, Family Centre
Seth Ioannou
Volunteer, Volunteer Resources
Aleena Khan
Volunteer, Volunteer Resources