Bringing Community Service to the Frontlines – QCH employee Brian Smith awarded OMA Community Service Award
Brian at LTC on-site testing
Brian Smith has held many titles in his career – paramedic, RT, surveyor, coach director – and now adds Ontario Medical Association (OMA) award winner to the list.
In recognition of his work, Brian has been awarded the 2021 Ontario Medical Association (OMA) Community Service Award, which recognizes significant contributions to the health and welfare of a local community.
Brian Smith began his career as a City of Ottawa paramedic in 1999. Continuing his education, he became a respiratory therapist and now serves as the Clinical Director of acute care programs, ambulatory care, emergency services and rehabilitation programs at the Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH), a position he has held for the last 11 years.
Outside of work, Brian is a dedicated volunteer, acting as a Lead Surveyor with Accreditation Canada which helps inspire people to make positive change in health and social services. He also volunteers his time to organizations such as Crohn’s and Colitis, Kanata Boys and Girls Hockey Associations, Kanata Baseball Association and Organ and Tissue Donation.
“Since starting his career as a paramedic and now during the pandemic, Brian has shown a consistent dedication to serving our community. He’s enhanced the patient care as our community-based hospital rapidly grows with its’ population.”
Brian (Left) at Canadian Tire Centre pop-up testing drive-thru
In the last 14 months of the pandemic, Brian has brought his community service to the front lines. He’s played a pivotal role by coordinating initiatives such as the West COVID-19 Care and Testing Centre, long-term care COVID testing, and the Canadian Tire Centre pop-up testing drive-thru, which saw 2,750 patients tested in two days by a team of frontline workers he assembled.
He was nominated by colleagues, Dr. Christine Tai, Dr. Greg Rose, Dr. Joseph Pollard and Dr. Tonja Stothart, all QCH physicians who have had a front-row seat to his impact on the community.
“Since starting his career as a paramedic and now during the pandemic, Brian has shown a consistent dedication to serving our community. He’s enhanced the patient care as our community-based hospital rapidly grows with its’ population,” says Dr. Pollard, COVID-19 Care and Testing Centre, Moodie Site Physician Lead and QCH Emergency Department physician.
Recently, Brian has been redeployed as an RT to help combat the third wave of the pandemic. Another example of how Brian gives himself to his QCH team and community when needed most.
Congratulations Brian on your much-deserved award!
