*Physician recruitment grows at RVAP

News Release
Rouge Valley Health System

June 15, 2009 - The latest physician to join the medical team at Rouge Valley Health System (RVHS) is part of the hospital's ongoing effort to attract more physicians for the Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering (RVAP) campus. Dr. Malek Shawesh, internist and gastroenterologist, joined RVHS this June, and will see patients at the RVAP hospital campus in Ajax.

“We're very pleased that Dr. Shawesh will now be a part of our team of physicians here at RVAP. As the community of west Durham Region continues to expand, we realize that the growth of our medical team here at RVAP is critical for us to continue offering quality patient care. We continue to recruit medical staff to support the much anticipated redevelopment of the Ajax and Pickering hospital campus,” says Sonia Peczeniuk, vice-president, medical affairs and clinical support.

The expansion at RVAP will mean about 140,000 square feet of new and renovated space for services and will address the community's current needs. It will be complete in 2010. There are many valuable additions in the redevelopment.

* The new emergency department is expected to be complete later this year. Currently staff and physicians care for 46,000-plus patients a year in a space that was originally designed for 20,000.

* Coming online this year is a new diagnostic imaging and cardiac diagnostic area, which will be better designed to improve access. New equipment will be installed in this space and cardiac education will be enhanced.

* A new fracture clinic and more is also included in the redevelopment.

Dr. Shawesh, an Ajax resident and married father of two, says he looks forward to treating the health care needs of patients at RVAP. “It was important for me to be in a diverse and growing community such as this, which is what initially attracted me to Rouge Valley. This is a great working environment, and I am excited to be commencing my medical career here,” says Dr. Shawesh.

Dr. Shawesh's background includes a mix of teaching and research experience; a bachelor of medicine and surgery from Al Fateh University in Libya; and a residency and fellowship in internal medicine and gastroenterology from the University of Ottawa. Most recently, Dr. Shawesh saw patients at the Regional Health Sciences Centre in Thunder Bay, Ontario and at Eastern Health, a multi-site hospital system in Newfoundland. He is fluent in English and Arabic.

“I want to be able to contribute to the efforts of the gastroenterology team at RVHS, and contribute to the ongoing development of the gastroenterology services here. I hope to make a difference as an active member of the department of medicine,” says Dr. Shawesh.

RVHS is an excellent acute care community hospital with many programs, including 24/7/365 emergency, cardiac care and mental health. Rouge Valley consists of several health sites, including two community hospital campuses: Rouge Valley Centenary in east Toronto; and Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering in west Durham. Together, a team of physicians (224 general practitioners and 325 specialists), 1,000 nurses and many other professionals care for a broad spectrum of health conditions. Working in consultation and partnership with community members, other hospitals, health care organizations, the Central East Local Health Integration Network and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Rouge Valley continues to improve its programs and cater to the needs of the growing communities of east Toronto, Ajax, Pickering and Whitby.

Contact

David Brazeau

Director

Public Affairs and Community Relations

Rouge Valley Health System

(647) 294-8885

dbrazeau@rougevalley.ca