Transitions & Thank Yous
Thank You
Claire Bombardier
Dr. Claire Bombardier, Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto, will step down as Division Director of Rheumatology on June 30, 2016. Her 13 ½ year term has been marked by accomplishments locally, nationally and internationally, which have enriched our division.
Dr. Bombardier’s tenure has been marked by significant divisional growth. She has been pivotal in the recruitment of 22 junior, mid-career, and senior clinicians and researchers. Her personal involvement with new staff throughout the recruitment process, and her continuing mentorship is noteworthy. She understands the importance of helping each recruit and every trainee to achieve their maximum. She galvanizes by example, and with her thoughtful feedback. She cares about each, and she celebrates their successes.
Throughout her directorship,
Dr. Bombardier’s commitment to research is reflected in a number of initiatives that have raised the profile of the University of Toronto rheumatology division, recognized world-wide for its science. In 2007 she secured funding for The Pfizer Rheumatology Chair, to support staff and trainees in the collaborative development of innovative research projects in the area of rheumatic disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. In 2008 she established The Ontario Best Practices Research Initiative (OBRI), developed to improve the treatment and outcomes of Ontarians living with rheumatoid arthritis. This data base is the focus of a number of our division member’s research. She brings together our PGY-4 and PGY-5 residents, fellows and young investigators for lively monthly research rounds which she formalized during her tenure. She has championed an outstanding clinical epidemiology curriculum in our residency training program. Her enthusiasm, her intellect and her generosity of time are limitless. Her energy, sense of humour and joie de vivre are legendary.
We celebrate Dr. Bombardier’s important accomplishments as Rheumatology Division Director. On behalf of our colleagues, we thank her. We are fortunate that she will remain an active and integral member of our division, as she continues her clinical, research and mentorship activities.
Dr. Greg Choy, Division Director, Sunnybrook Hospital
Dr. Dana Jerome, Division Director, Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Louise Perlin, Division Director, St. Michael’s Hospital
Dr. Jorge Sanchez- Guerrero, Division Director University Health Network and Mt. Sinai Hospital
Stephen Hwang
Heather McDonald-Blumer
Heather is an outstanding leader; she is patient, thoughtful, hardworking, and optimistic. Her collaborative leadership style encourages faculty and residents to have an active voice in the program. She repeatedly demonstrates a willingness to listen to opposing views with an open and non-prejudiced mind. Over the past seven years, Heather has made some difficult decisions, yet all of them have been made fairly and transparently in the best interests of the residents and the program.
In a large program it can sometimes be easier to just maintain status quo, but this has never been Heather’s approach. Heather is the kind of Program Director who encourages new initiatives and innovations and is always striving to take an already outstanding program to the next level. She has reformed the admissions process, creating rigorous standards and procedures for the fair evaluation of all applicants, and supported the revitalization of the IM PGY-4 program. Heather encourages the residents to have a voice in their own education; in 2011 when the Internal Medicine residents advocated for a formal Academic Half Day, Heather not only supported this initiative but implemented a highly successful curriculum that focused on the unique learning requirements of each PGY level. The Academic Half Day has served as a platform for teaching and learning across medical expert and other CanMEDS domains and has been extremely positive for resident morale. Heather has also supported and encouraged each of the sites in developing and implementing innovative rotations such the Short Stay Unit at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and the new Ambulatory & Emergency Admit rotations that will be implemented this July at Mount Sinai Hospital, St. Michael’s Hospitals and University Health Network.
In addition to the above, Heather is also a tremendous mentor. Over the course of her term she has mentored many faculty members who have taken on new leadership roles; this includes five new Site Directors, Education Leads for the Academic Half Day and Faculty Lead for the PGY4 Program. Heather is always accessible (she has not gone a day without answering email in seven years), honest in her feedback, and supportive, taking a personal interest in her mentees’ success.
During her tenure as PD, Heather has been a tireless advocate for trainees, a leader of change and innovation for the program, and a trusted mentor for staff and residents alike. While we are excited for Heather to begin her next chapter as the Department Division Director for Rheumatology, she will be greatly missed as Internal Medicine Program Director.
Drs. Wayne Gold (Site Director, TGH), Jakov Moric (Site Director, WCH), Andrea Page (Site Director, MSH), Lisa Richardson (Site Director, TWH), Lynfa Stroud (Site Director, SHSC), Natalie Wong (Site Director, SMH) and Meyer Balter (former Site Director, MSH), Rob Sargeant (former Site Director, SMH) and Steve Shadowitz (former Site Director, SHSC)
Personal Messages from Current Site Directors for Internal Medicine:
It has been an absolute pleasure collaborating with Heather to make the Internal Medicine Program at the University of Toronto the best that it can be. She is a consultative and collaborative leader. She demonstrates extreme fairness in decision-making, showing respect for others’ opinions. Over the course of her tenure, there have been significant changes to the program to enhance the resident experience. I look forward to our ongoing collaborations.
- Wayne L. Gold, Site Director – University Health Network - Toronto General Hospital
Heather McDonald-Blumer was instrumental in teaching me how to be a better leader. I truly believe she has all the important qualities to make an amazing leader. All her decisions were measured and well thought out. She always kept an even keel in making decisions. She did a great job as program director and I owe a lot to her for mentoring me through this past year.
- Jakov Moric, Site Director – Women’s College Hospital
Heather is an excellent example of an authentic leader. Her vision, work ethic, and genuine respect for the trainees and the program alike are reflected in her approach to issues, whether major or minor, anticipated or unexpected. I have seen Heather deftly balance the need for fair and equitable processes with attention to the personal impact on the individuals involved. She is consultative and truly interested in hearing from others, but also forthright and honest about the sometimes challenging realities. As a result, Heather has transformed the Internal Medicine training program at U of T, and it has been both a pleasure and a privilege to work with her.
- Andrea Page, Site Director – Mount Sinai Hospital
Heather has been a truly outstanding leader for the program. Her leadership style is marked by her clarity and directness. But rather than push forward with her own vision, she articulates an idea and then listens and carefully considers the perspectives of stakeholders, including those of faculty, departmental, university and national leaders, education scientists and trainees. She is a brilliant bricoleur who weaves all of these ideas into our Internal Medicine training program. I think that it is her skill in this area, in addition to her ability to actually implement the ideas that has allowed the program to excel despite the complex clinical and educational environments of 2016. Thank you, Heather!
- Lisa Richardson, Site Director – University Health Network – Toronto Western Hospital
Heather was a fantastic program director to work with and I learned an immense amount from her. I really valued her openness to innovation and her desire to take an evidence-based informed approach to developing best practices. Heather consistently encouraged individuals to take a scholarly approach to innovations and entrusted them to run with their ideas. She was a great supporter and facilitator of faculty’s creative professional activities and research, while being mindful of protecting the residents from excessive asks on their time. I owe much of my success in education research thus far in my career to her support and facilitation of my work. Heather will continue to be one of my closest mentors for years to come.
- Lynfa Stroud, Site Director – Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
In the brief period that I have had the pleasure of working with Heather, I have been impressed with her ability to anticipate and subsequently navigate significant changes made to the program. Heather makes decisions only after carefully considering the most reasonable and fair approach, keeping an open mind at all times. Heather is collaborative in her leadership style and her inclusiveness of the site directors in decisions has fostered a healthy team environment. At the core of her decision making, Heather has always maintained the educational and wellness needs of her trainees as her foremost priority. Heather has had a tremendous impact on many individuals in her role as Program Director for the Department of Medicine and her legacy will persist for years to come.
- Natalie Wong, Site Director – St. Michael’s Hospital
Joel Yaphe
Three years ago, Joel stepped up to the plate to take over as PD of the program when the previous PD left the role. He successfully brought the program through external review with full accreditation. He has made major curriculum changes and has been able to balance the priorities of the program and the division. Joel has been a strong advocate for the residents and has their admiration for being so approachable, accessible, transparent and equitable in his decision-making. To quote one resident, "He is always available, always fair, and always has the best interests of the the resident group as his number one priority." Another resident comments on how "his sincere interactions, warmth and positive attitude has truly gained the respect of the residents and his colleagues."
Joel has been admired for his leadership, humility and insightfulness. He always asks the tough questions to stimulate discussion and challenge the status quo. He is recognized for being both a master clinician and expert teacher and is considered a mentor and friend by the residents and many of his colleagues. He continuously seeks feedback from the trainees, his peers and the leadership team in Emergency Medicine to help resolve tough issues in a collaborative and timely manner. The Emergency Medicine program and division is better today because of what Joel has been able to accomplish.
Joel will certainly be missed by the trainees and division executive. He is stepping down as his intention from the beginning was to be in the position for only two to three years, but true to form, he has volunteered to work closely with the incoming PD over the next year to make the transition as smooth as possible. We now welcome Dr. Nazanin Meshkat as the new PD in Emergency Medicine. She will have big shoes to fill!
