- November 13, 2014
- Posted by: Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation
- Category: Media Releases
The Dr. Don Patterson Student Learning Centre is set to open in 2015
CHATHAM, ON (Thursday, November 13, 2014): Over the past year, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation (CKHA) has been working with CKHA, Dr. Don Patterson and his family and loved ones on the development of the Dr. Don Patterson Student Learning Centre, set to open in mid 2015. This centre will be housed at CKHA’s Chatham Campus and will provide a space dedicated solely to CKHA Students – a place where students, residents and their mentors can gather, learn and network. At this time, a dedicated space like this does not exist at CKHA.
About Dr. Don Patterson
Dr. Donald “Don” Patterson was born in London, Ontario, the youngest of four children, and graduated from Western University in London’s Faculty of Medicine in 1954.
He interned at Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, from 1954 to1955 and trained in General Surgery at Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital from 1955 to 1959. He opened a practice in General Surgery in Chatham in 1959 and served as Chief of Surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital for 25 years. Dr. Patterson also served as the Team Doctor for the Chatham Jr. Maroons for 25 years, from 1970 to 1995.
Dr. Patterson met his wife, Denise “Denny” Renier, while doing his training at Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital (she was doing her R.N. training at the same time). They married in July 1958 and together had five children – Mary Jane, Scott, David, Michael and Timothy.
In 1999, Dr. Patterson retired from his General Surgery practice, but continued to work at a clinic until 2010.
*Source: ckphysiciantribute.ca
Legacy of Giving
Since 1991, Dr. Don Patterson has been integral to the success of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation’s fundraising efforts. In addition to his outstanding work as a Surgeon in our community for more than 50 years, he has generously and selflessly donated his time and talents to the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation Board of Directors (1991 to today); the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation’s Board of Directors (2002-2008), and the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation’s Annual Doctor Appreciation Day and Annual Pro/Am Golf Tournament Steering Committees (2005 to today).
Last year, Dr. Patterson was a recipient of a Chatham-Kent Senior Achievement Award and was awarded the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation’s first Outstanding Volunteer Award, among many other personal and professional achievements.
“Dr. Patterson is a wonderful friend, volunteer and advocate for our community,” says Michele Grzebien-Huckson, Executive Director, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation. “Through his support and generosity, he has made a positive, significant and lasting impact on local healthcare – and for that, and so much more, we are very grateful.”
Dr. Don Patterson Student Learning Centre
Situated in the lower level of CKHA’s Chatham Campus, the Dr. Don Patterson Student Learning Centre will be accessible by all residents/medical students and allied health professional students during their placement at CKHA.
Featuring meeting/training/team rooms; locker and shower access; call rooms and a lounge, among other amenities, the Dr. Don Patterson Student Learning Centre will provide a unique opportunity for the students and residents to network with one another and learn as a group.
With an aging workforce, there will be continual turnover of professional staff at CKHA. By establishing the Dr. Don Patterson Student Learning Centre, CKHA is creating an environment where students are integrated into the organization in the hopes that they will consider becoming a permanent part of CKHA post-studies.
“CKHA hosts hundreds of students annually including medical residents,” says Colin Patey, President & CEO, CKHA. “A dedicated learning space reflects how open and receptive we are to creating a comfortable and meaningful experience for students throughout their time with us. This learning centre will also help with the recruitment of professional staff, support for interdisciplinary care teams as well as group learning and collaboration.”
Thank You
Without the very generous support of Dr. Don and Mrs. Denny Patterson and the Patterson Family as well as their close friends and loved ones, the development of the Dr. Don Patterson Student Learning Centre would not be possible. Generous contributions to this project have also been received from Keith and Karn Graham, Freedom 55 Financial and the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry – Western University. Thank you for your outstanding support!
About CKHA’s Medical Student Program
Here are a few interesting points about CKHA’s Medical Student Program:
- CKHA has a very successful partnership with the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University
- CKHA has approximately 100 medical students and residents who do rotations at CKHA annually, including Family Medicine, Surgery, OB/GYN, Psychiatry, Orthopaedics, Palliative Care, Oncology, Anaesthesia, Emergency Medicine, Hospitalist and Internal Medicine
- We have over 50 Preceptors at CKHA – these are Physicians who teach our medical students and residents. All of our preceptors are appointed by Schulich and our Physicians are very dedicated to the teaching program
- Our Physicians commit to almost 1,500 combined hours to teaching medical students and residents
- CKHA has a growing and robust Family Medicine Residency Program led by Dr. Susan Munro from the Thamesview Family Health Team
- Four Residents have graduated from the program at CKHA, three have stayed in the community to practice
- The Family Medicine Residency Program has grown from two Residents per year to three per year
- Approximately 180 nursing students from St. Clair College are at CKHA for their placements annually
- A total of 20 allied health professional students including Lab Techs, Pharmacy Techs, Diagnostic Imaging (X-Ray, CT and MRI) and OT/PT’s (occupational health/physiotherapy) come to CKHA for their placements annually
About the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation was established in 1998 to enhance the quality of healthcare available to the citizens of Chatham-Kent by raising funds and providing other resources to support CKHA. It accomplishes this through annual campaigns, capital and endowment campaigns, memorial giving, special events and planned giving. To date, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation has raised over $37 million.
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For more information, please contact:
Michele Grzebien-Huckson, Executive Director
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation
mgrzebien-huckson@ckha.on.ca / 519.436.2538
Colin Patey, President & CEO
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
cpatey@ckha.on.ca / 519.352.6400
Dr. Don Patterson