The Canadian Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (CASPR) held its Annual Awards ceremony during their 11th Annual Conference. “The winners are an excellent representation of the kind of innovation and diverse work being done in the physician recruitment industry”, stated Ms. Sheila MacLean, CASPR 2014/15 Chair.
Ms. Ginette Vezina, Director, Medical and Academic Affairs with Health Sciences North, in Northern Ontario, was the recipient of the 2015/16 CASPR Leadership Award. The CASPR Leadership Award recognizes a CASPR member who has demonstrated a superior commitment and passion for physician attraction, recruitment, and retention. Ms. Vezina has been a member of CASPR since its inception in 2003.
“Ginette brings a wealth of knowledge, commitment and forward thinking and action to the physician recruitment and retention profession. Through her own experience in leading physician attraction, recruitment and retention in the Sudbury area she has developed a wealth of knowledge she actively shares with her colleagues from across the country. Ginette has also provided significant leadership in the development of CASPR as a professional association” said Mr. Wayne Heide, Administrative Director of the Manitoba Office of Rural and Northern Health.
“In early 2000, as a community-based physician recruiter in Sudbury Ontario in the height of provincial and national physician shortages Ginette was instrumental in organizing the community and hospital to recruit much needed medical professionals. As the Northern Ontario School of Medicine became established, and Sudbury Regional Hospital provided core rotations to medical learners, Ginette made an important contribution to developing the infrastructure to support teaching in Sudbury.” said Jay Orchard, Manager Recruitment and Retention Programs, HealthForceOntario.
Ms. Margaret Kennedy, Senior Consultant, Physician Services Team with Health Match BC, was the recipient of the 2015/16 CASPR Lifetime Achievement Award. The CASPR Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a CASPR member who has demonstrated significant leadership within the association and the physician recruitment industry. Ms. Kennedy has significantly contributed to the development, evolution, and growth of the association. Without the leadership and support of Ms. Kennedy, CASPR would not exist as it does today.
“[Ms. Kennedy] has given selflessly of her time and expertise for over a decade, not only to CASPR members but also to her BC colleagues as they tackled their new recruitment roles, and got to know the issues and challenges in their respective area of the province. Her creativity and leadership as a long-standing BC recruitment specialist has taken her to international destinations to represent her province and its health care needs. BC is well represented, and CASPR is very fortunate to count Marg Kennedy among its leaders. Her great sense of humour, her love of music and of people, and her overall commitment to CASPR’s goals, make her the ideal candidate for the 2015 CASPR Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Ms. Ginette Vezina (Director, Medical and Academic Affairs, Health Sciences North). “Under the Chairmanship of Wayne Heide, we had the good fortune of being part of the Executive at a time when CASPR’s membership was also growing, and the Association was solidifying its advocacy role. Marg played a key role in defining CASPR’s first Constitution and By-Laws, which led to CASPR’s incorporation.”
The awards were presented at the 11th CASPR Annual Conference held in Niagara Falls, Ontario which attracted over 100 physician recruiters from across the country.
About CASPR:
The Canadian Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (CASPR) is a professional organization from across Canada whose members’ primary role is to recruit physicians for their communities, local hospitals and other healthcare organizations. Membership is open to non-profit Physician Recruiters employed or retained by hospitals, hospital corporations, clinics, health care regions or authorities, public sector, government agencies or communities to recruit and retain physicians for that entity. CASPR’s membership has been increasing with each passing year and currently has approximately 180 recruiters. CASPR offers a means for Canadian Physician Recruiters from coast to coast to share best practices, techniques and tools for physician recruitment and retention.
Media Contacts:
David Kay
Communications Chair, CASPR