A Humbling Experience: Psychiatry chief recognized for contributions to mental health field
Speech-language pathologists from across Horizon recognized for their expertise
Dr. Nachiketa Sinha, Chief of Psychiatry at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital, was recently celebrated by former Health Minister Benoit Bourque in Baie de Bouctouche for his invaluable contributions as a passionate advocate for mental health research, treatment, and awareness within New Brunswick and across Canada. The intimate and private event, attended by Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Federal Minister of Health, former Miramichi MLA Bill Fraser, and Dr. Sanjay Siddhartha, a colleague and executive of the New Brunswick Psychiatric Association (NBPA), also served as an acknowledgment of Dr. Sinha’s term as President of the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA), which came to an end in September. Dr. Sinha has been a practicing consultant psychiatrist in New Brunswick since 2006, and has provided services at his clinic in Moncton since 2016. A fifth generation physician, Dr. Sinha always knew he’d pursue a career in medicine and specialize in psychiatry. “I was always fascinated by psychiatry, but what really drew me to the field was the overwhelming amount of misunderstanding surrounding mental health,” said Dr. Sinha. “I had a real desire to make change.” This desire for change has guided Dr. Sinha’s career, and serves as his inspiration for actively initiating important changes to mental health delivery, such as providing culturally appropriate care to the province’s First Nations communities and playing an integral role in the introduction of Supervised Community Care, an integrated patient- centred and recovery-based approach to treating mental illnesses in New Brunswick. “I strongly believe in access to appropriate mental health care for everyone,” he said. “Every person battling mental health issues has their own unique story and journey and they should all be treated with the same basic dignity and respect.” Dr. Sinha’s commitment to collaborative mental health treatment also extends to his colleagues and profession as a whole thanks to his part in revitalizing the province’s psychiatry association. “Dr. Sinha is steering mental health treatment in the right direction,” says Dr. Siddhartha. “His work has changed the lives of so many people suffering from mental illnesses, and his vision has infused passion into his colleagues and fellow members of the NBPA.” In addition to his one-year term as President of the CPA, Dr. Sinha is a Board member of the New Brunswick Medical Society, a two-term president of the New Brunswick Psychiatry Association, an Associate Professor
Dr. Nachiketa Sinha, centre, accepted his certification of honour from Dr. Sanjay Siddhartha, from left, Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Federal Minister of Health, former New Brunswick Minister of Health Benoit Bourque, and former Miramichi-Bay du Vin MLA Bill Fraser. University, and the author of an internationally recognized self-help book, Empowered and Strong. of Psychiatry with the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie
Moncton endoscopy clinic nurse manager named president of national society
“The only way I could do my job is to know everything about the job,” she said. “I really need to know everything in order to help my staff. In learning and doing, I’m able to stay on top of new trends, equipment, and techniques.” In September, Cathy was named president of CSGNA at the national conference in Quebec City. As president, she leads the national board, a group who set standards and best practices for GI nursing. She acts as the spokesperson for the group and speaks to members across the country. “Being involved on a national level makes me feel confident that our GI unit is being well run,” said Cathy. “We’re following all the standards and I think the unit is absolutely fabulous. Our patients love us, yes they are sedated, but they love the staff.” “I have a bit of a competitive nature,” said Cathy. “I like going to these national events and saying, yes, we do that at Horizon. Some people think the Maritimes are behind the times and outdated, so it’s really nice to be able to compete on a national level.” Cathy has become an expert within Canada, and has been asked to speak nationally about GI, infection control and what nurses need to be successful in endoscopy. As president, Cathy’s goal is to increase certification exam numbers. Nationally, numbers have been low and she hopes to get enough nurses to write the exam to eliminate any chance it could be canceled. She has two years to accomplish her goal. “The GI field is so technical and specific it really comes in handy to have nurses with the knowledge they acquire through certification,” said Cathy. “I never set out to be the President of CSGNA, that was not my intention,” she said. “But I think me being president gives Horizon some well-deserved credibility.” Representing Horizon, New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada on a national level has its perks.
Paula Murray, left, receives her award from Cathy Cormier, Manager of Speech and Hearing at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital.
From left, Darin Quinn, NBASLPA Past President, Sarah Feltmate, Gloria Yachyshen, and Kari Clark, NBASLPA secretary.
11 11
10 10
Three staff members from Horizon Speech and Hearing’s team were recently recognized by their provincial association for the dedication to their profession and clinical excellence. Gloria Yachyshen, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) at Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital (URVH), was presented with the New Brunswick Association of Speech- Language Pathologists and Audiologists (NBASLPA) Margaret Christie Lifetime Achievement Award. The award acknowledges her commitment to the profession, as demonstrated by her clinical expertise, research, representation of the profession in the community, and contribution to public awareness of communication disorders. Gloria’s career took her from the Chaleur General Hospital in Bathurst, to schools and the Carleton Memorial Hospital before she began working at URVH 28 years ago. “From preschool speech and language, to fluency and voice, to adult neurogenic communication and dysphagia, Gloria does it all,” her nomination reads. “In addition to helping countless patients improve their ability to communicate and swallow, Gloria has mentored many students and new clinicians alike, setting an outstanding example and standard of what it means to be an SLP.” Gloria has served on the NBASLPA executive council, and has been recognized for her many contributions to the profession. Sarah Feltmate, a speech-language pathologist at Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, was awarded the Student Supervision Award in Speech-Language
The award is given to an SLP who demonstrates excellence in a specialized area of expertise, has committed to ongoing professional development, shows willingness to mentor colleagues, or exhibits an exceptional ability to apply knowledge and experience to assist clients in reaching their optimum potential. “ ”
Cathy Arnold Cormier, endoscopy clinic nurse manager at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital, didn’t intend to become President of the Canadian Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (CSGNA). In fact, she didn’t even intend to work in management or gastroenterology (GI). But, she’s now been in GI for 13 years and is recognized across Canada as an expert in the field. An adrenaline junkie at heart, Cathy began her nursing career in the emergency department in the late 1980s. She pictured herself working in emergency medicine her entire career, but when she was approached to try a casual position in GI she decided to give it a shot. She quickly realized it was an interesting, up-and- coming area. The future was in endoscopy: through minimally invasive procedures, she could save patients’ lives. After working some casual shifts in GI, the coordinator position became available and Cathy was encouraged to apply for that position by some of her colleagues. “Luckily, as coordinator, I was 50 per cent manager and 50 per cent bedside,” said Cathy. “I learned all the procedures in the clinic. Cathy Arnold Cormier is photographed in the Endoscopy Clinic at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital. She was recently named President of the Canadian Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (CSGNA).
at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital, was awarded the Clinical Excellence Award. The award is given to an SLP who demonstrates excellence in a specialized area of expertise, has committed to ongoing professional development, shows willingness to mentor colleagues, or exhibits an exceptional ability to apply knowledge and experience to assist clients in reaching their optimum potential. Paula specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, working with pediatricians, family physicians, nurses, breastfeeding clinic, other speech-language pathologists and speech- language pathology students. Colleagues describe her as “highly competent, truly invested in our profession, always willing to share her knowledge, and intrinsically motivated to be a better clinician.”
Pathology. The annual award recognizes an SLP who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the supervision of students as shown by their willingness to supervise students on a regular basis, their ability to provide comprehensive clinical experience appropriate to the students’ abilities, and to create an environment that fosters learning, respect and open communication. “Sarah spent immeasurable time demonstrating and teaching me about compassion, advocacy, and the importance of awareness and acceptance of client diversity,” said her student nominator Danielle Scholten. “These skills cannot be taught explicitly in the classroom but are critical to being an effective clinician, and I am so thankful to have learned from such an excellent example.”
Paula Murray, a speech-language pathologist
Made with FlippingBook Annual report