The Pediatric Chairs of Canada (PCC) have announced that the McGill team of Drs. Mylene Dandavino, Tanya Di Genova and Robert Sternszus has been recognized with a PCC 2020 COVID Leadership Award. The trio is being recognized for responding in a heroic way to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While COVID-19 represents a huge challenge, we also saw it is an opportunity for clinical operations, patient flow and residency education to work together and reimagine the ways in which we provide services, ensure the education of our learners and care for our staff,” say the three. “Much of what we learned will serve us well long after the height of the pandemic. And best of all, we saw how united and strong our Department is. We feel very fortunate to be part of this larger team and are grateful to be able to accept this award on behalf of the efforts put forward by the entire McGill Pediatrics community.”
Earlier this year, PCC invited their Chairs to nominate individuals or teams within their facility who have gone above and beyond to ensure safe, high-quality, high-value healthcare. The nominations received demonstrated:
- Approach to ensuring patient and staff safety amidst COVID-19
- How patients’ and/or families’ experience was improved as a result of the hero’s commitment
- How other healthcare workers and facility administrators were positively impacted as a result of the individual’s or team’s efforts
The team of Drs. Dandavino, Di Genova and Sternszus were true leaders of the pandemic response at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Collectively, they organized committees to oversee the redeployment of faculty and learners, re-organized units and procedures across the hospital and ensured that residents were able to contribute meaningfully to pandemic care while still having their learning be a priority. “Their commitment, dedication, creativity, flexibility and tireless energy allowed our Department not only to survive but to thrive and innovate, proving that one should never let a good crisis go to waste,” notes Dr. Michael Shevell, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics. “They rose like cream to the top, and with each under 45 provide reassurance regarding the future strength of creative leadership.”
“Healthcare workers and facility leadership are the fiber of the Canadian healthcare system, which has never been more evident than now,” says Dr. Robert Connelly, President of PCC. “The pandemic reminds us all how much we depend on their courage and caring at our most vulnerable moments.”
The trio will receive their award virtually at the PCC Annual Awards Ceremony to be held on Friday, December 11, 2020.
Congratulations Drs. Dandavino, Di Genova and Sternszus!
November 5, 2020