* New psychiatrists join RVAP

Rouge Valley Health System

News Release

“We are pleased with the additions of Dr. Drandic and Dr. Omoruyi to our mental health team here at Rouge Valley. As we continue to develop our outpatient mental health services for our patients in the west Durham region, we know that they will both become much valued members of our medical team here,” says Dr. Steven Fishman, chief of psychiatry, RVHS.

- Dr. Marijana Drandic

Dr. Marijana Drandic's interest in mental health as a profession began when she volunteered at a Toronto-area mental health facility in grade 12. The experience filled her with fascination in a field she felt combined sciences and humanities in a unique way.

“That's when I realized that this was the path that I wanted to take in my life,” says Dr. Drandic, who recently joined RVHS, and will be seeing patients at the Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering (RVAP) outpatient mental health clinics, in west Durham.

“I felt that this would be an ideal opportunity for me, because of the expanded outpatient mental health services found here,” says Dr. Drandic, who is originally from Croatia.

Dr. Drandic says that many of her female patients find comfort in seeing a female psychiatrist. She adds that many of her patients speak Croatian, Serbian and Bosnian, which she speaks fluently.

Dr. Drandic earned her Bachelor in Science from the University of Toronto, specializing in toxicology. She earned her medical degree at the University of Western Ontario (UWO). She also completed her residency in psychiatry at UWO, working at a number of community mental health facilities under the London Health Sciences Centre. Her husband is a radiologist at a local community hospital in east Toronto.

- Dr. Nosa Omoruyi

Before becoming a psychiatrist, Dr. Nosa Omoruyi was a family physician with his own practice in Nigeria. After practicing there for nine years, Dr. Omoruyi felt that it was time for a change, and began his training in psychiatry.

“I always had an interest in psychiatry, especially child psychiatry. I enjoy the fact that I am able to direct the care that I'm giving to patients, based on their needs. I am excited to be a part of the physician team here at Rouge Valley,” he says.

Dr. Omoruyi earned his medical degree from the University of Benin School of Medicine in Nigeria. He completed his training and residency in family practice at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. His background includes a variety of residencies and fellowships - starting from his residencies in family practices, which included paediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, internal medicine and surgery.  He then further specialized his practice by focusing on psychiatry through a residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine / North General Hospital in New York and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Montefiore Medical Centre/Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Bronx Children's Psychiatric Centre in New York.

- Mental Health Services at Rouge Valley Health System

The Mental Health program at Rouge Valley offers a complete range of services to meet the unique needs of those experiencing mental health problems.

Clients can be referred to one of our psychiatrists by their family physician or through the emergency department. Together the psychiatrist, clients and perhaps a family member or significant other (with client permission) will discuss the resources available and choose the most helpful and least intrusive option for care. Services are available at both hospital campuses of the Rouge Valley Health System.

In addition to its hospital services, RVHS also offers community mental health sites, including:

o          25 Neilson and Gatesview House - permanent supportive housing for the seriously men¬tally ill, who would often otherwise be homeless;

o          Pathways - a long-term day program to adult outpatients with serious mental illness;

o          Shoniker Clinic - an outpatient mental health treatment centre for children up to the age of 18 living in the Scarborough, Pickering and Ajax communities;

o          Assertive Community Act team (ACT) - provides direct treatment, rehabilitation and support services to adults with severe and persistent mental illness.

Rouge Valley Health System (RVHS) - The best at what we do.-

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