HQC Board Chair recognized by peers for excellence in medical leadership

Last weekend Dr. Susan Shaw, Chair of Saskatchewan’s Health Quality Council and Chief Medical Officer with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, was awarded the 2019 Excellence in Medical Leadership Award (Chris Carruthers Award) by the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders (CSPL) at their annual conference in Montreal.

Each year, the Society presents the award to a physician who has made an outstanding contribution to the development and mentoring of medical leaders in the field of health services leadership and management. Nominees have demonstrated outstanding abilities in one or more of the following categories: Commitment to enhancing the role of physicians in the management of health care delivery organizations; leadership in a hospital or health region management role; and significant contribution to leadership development within CSPL or any related organization, hospital, or program of local, provincial, or national in scope.

Excerpts from Susan’s letters of recommendation…

• “Susan is a seasoned leader with the patient placed firmly at the centre of every decision. She is committed to continuous improvement, high-quality patient care, and patient safety. She has a gently persuasive but steadfast leadership style that has earned her the respect of her physician colleagues as well as other health care leaders and providers.” (Dr. Kevin Wasko, Physician Executive, Integrated Rural Health, Saskatchewan Health Authority)
• “One of Dr. Shaw’s strengths is her ability to engage others in order to establish meaningful relationships with those with whom she works. She is consistent in her commitment to demonstrate expertise and growth in her leadership role. Dr. Shaw works tirelessly to improve the quality of health care offered to the people of Saskatchewan through engaging, developing, and supporting the physicians who provide treatment.” (Dr. Preston Smith, Dean of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan)
• “I saw firsthand how her leadership skills supported her efforts to knit together productive networks of influencers across a range of health stakeholders, including patients, physicians, Ministry of Health officials, researchers, and others. I don’t think it is an understatement to say that her leadership at HQC strongly advanced a culture of health care improvement throughout Saskatchewan’s health care system.” (Bonnie Brossart, CEO, Saskatchewan Medical Association)