New Physicians Join the Cornwall Hospital Surgical Team
2022-08-29
Cornwall
Community Hospital (CCH) is excited to announce the recruitment of three new
physicians who have joined the hospital’s surgical team this month.
The new
physicians are: Dr. John Godbout, Anesthesiologist; Dr. Ahmed Asholi,
Ophthalmologist; and, Dr. Sarah Schmid, General Surgeon.
“As communities
across Ontario continue to struggle with physician shortages, we are excited to
welcome Dr. Godbout, Dr. Asholi and Dr. Schmid to our Operating Room, where
they will work with our committed team towards restoring and enhancing access
to surgical care,” says Jeanette Despatie, CCH President and Chief Executive
Officer.
As an
anesthesiologist, Dr. John Godbout specializes in developing anesthetic plans
and the administration of anesthetics so that patients don’t feel pain when
they are undergoing surgery.
Dr. Sarah
Schmid performs a broad range of general surgery including endoscopy, minimally
invasive surgery and management of colorectal/anorectal concerns. She had been
providing temporary coverage at CCH since last year before joining the team
full-time.
Dr. Ahmed
Asholi is an ophthalmologist specializing in cataract surgery alongside Dr.
Tarek Youssef, but also treats diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, and different
retina diseases.
Together they
bring more than 25 years of experience and formal education and training. Each
physician has relocated closer to the area or is in the process of relocating
to practise at CCH, having been partly drawn to the hospital’s modern facility
and the benefits of practising in a smaller community.
“I look forward
to joining the community and working together with the excellent CCH team to
provide the best care possible,” says Dr. Schmid.
Dr. Godbout
adds that he “puts a lot of effort into ensuring that my patients are safe,
comfortable and well cared for. I hope to bring as much positivity as possible
to the hospital and community.”
According to
Dr. Asholi, he is “looking forward to treating my new patients at CCH and
working alongside the staff and physicians,” adding he “also believes the move
to the area will be positive for me and my family.”
CCH hopes to
welcome more physicians in the near future as the hospital continues its
recruitment efforts to meet the needs of the community and help lead innovative
healthcare delivery in Eastern Ontario.
CCH is home to
six state-of-the-art surgical suites which were constructed during the
hospital’s capital redevelopment project in 2014. Despite the challenges
presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, CCH safely performed nearly 5,000 urgent
and non-urgent surgical procedures in 2021-2022, and expects that number will
be higher next year.
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