Three JGH employees recognized with Caring Beyond awards
Every day at the JGH, staff goes the extra distance to improve the lives of patients and colleagues. Meet three such employees, who have been recognized with Caring Beyond awards.
Whether they’re collecting funds to help clients, interacting with lonely patients or literally putting out fires in the Emergency Department, these three—a social worker, an administrative agent and a nurse—exemplify the best of us.
The Caring Beyond awards—an initiative of the JGH Humanization of Care Committee—recognize staff members who have gone “above and beyond the call of duty.” Each recipient was nominated by a co-worker, caregiver, patient or family member.
Susan Lavy and Krystle North, the Co-Chairs of the JGH Humanization of Care Committee, say the award helps shine a light on the human side of care at the JGH and contributes to building a culture that celebrates compassion. “They remind all of us why this work matters.”
The co-chairs note that family, coworkers and friends came together to honour someone not just for their professional skills, but for who they are as a person.
Congratulations to the recipients!
Ahmad El Ahmad
On July 8, 2024, Nurse Ahmad El Ahmad was in the ED when the fire alarm went off. His actions are credited with protecting the lives of patients and colleagues, as well as preventing material damage to the hospital.
Mr. El Ahmad, who had been trained in fire protection as a Canadian Army reservist, sprang into service. He grabbed a fire extinguisher and ran toward the blaze inside a patient’s room, dousing the flames despite the thick, billowing smoke pouring toward him.
“Ahmad’s actions went beyond extinguishing the fire. His leadership and composure under pressure were instrumental in guiding his colleagues and ensuring that all patients were safely evacuated,” his nominator said. “His quick decision-making and selflessness not only minimized the damage to the hospital, but also provided reassurance and calm to the staff during a chaotic and frightening situation.”
Thanks to Mr. El Ahmad’s action, there were no injuries and the ED returned to full operations almost immediately.
Robbie Unger
Food insecurity is a reality among some patients at the JGH, and Robbie Unger launched an initiative to address it. A Social Worker for over a decade, Ms. Unger used social media to raise thousands of dollars for food vouchers in support of some of the hospital’s most vulnerable patients.
Social Services at the JGH responds to emergency situations by referring people to food banks and providing food vouchers, but due to increased demand since the COVID-19 pandemic, these emergency funds quickly get depleted.
Ms. Unger responded to the situation with a “beautiful initiative,” said the colleague who nominated her. As Clinical Coordinator of the Oncology team in Social Services (Ms. Unger has since moved to the Intensive Care Unit), she reached out to the wider community through social media, raising more than $3,500 for food vouchers for patients struggling with both physical illness and extreme psychosocial problems. (See her fundraising page).
“Robbie not only recognized a need and a trend among our patients, but did something to take action and address it—over and above the individual patient work we do in Social Services,” her nominator wrote.
Jennifer Macneil
Administrative Agent Jennifer Macneil is described as “the glue of the unit” in Internal Medicine.
Nominated by a physician, Ms. Macneil was praised for her dedication to patient care “from Day One.”
“She actively seeks to find solutions for issues in patients’ care pathways, and gets it done,” the physician wrote. “She interacts with lonely patients and makes them feel welcome.”
“And she goes the extra mile to help nursing and physicians with their daily tasks. Often, things are done even before you ask.”
Ms. Macneil was also commended for her “outstanding” efficiency. “Without her, both the patient and the team’s experience would suffer,” her nominator said. “She truly deserves recognition for her contributions to our unit and our hospital.”
Do you know a JGH staff member who has demonstrated extraordinary acts of kindness and compassion towards patients and their families? Someone who has gone that extra mile? JGH staff members, patients and their relatives, as well as other members of the public, are invited to nominate any JGH staff member who went above and beyond the call of duty. You can find a nomination form on the JGH website.
