SickKids Foundation congratulates Dr. Desmond Bohn, past chief, Critical Care Medicine and SickKids staff member for more than 35 years on his Children’s Miracle Achievement Award from Children’s Miracle Network. The Award was presented at the annual Children’s Miracle Network Celebration gala in Orlando this past weekend in front of an audience of patient ambassadors and their families from 170 member children’s hospitals across North America, their hospital associates and Children’s Miracle Network sponsors. Dr. Bohn is the first SickKids staff and the first doctor in Canada honoured with the prestigious award.
Examples of Dr. Bohn’s exemplary work include establishing the Critical Care Program at SickKids, training more than 300 international trainees and leading and innovating medical techniques in mechanical ventilation, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, drowning and extracorporeal life support systems including ECMO and dialysis.
“On behalf of SickKids, I am delighted Dr. Desmond Bohn, one of our most distinguished and accomplished leaders, was celebrated for his achievements in paediatric critical care medicine and honoured for his dedication to his field by our colleagues at Children’s Miracle Network,” said Ted Garrard, President and CEO, SickKids Foundation.
The Award honours the contribution of individuals like Dr. Bohn who have dedicated themselves to saving and improving the lives of children and inspiring everyone around them by their selfless commitment to children through paediatric research, compassionate care and volunteerism.
SickKids is one of 170 member children’s hospitals within Children’s Miracle Network across North America and has been part of Children’s Miracle Network since 1984. As of 2010, Children’s Miracle Network has raised more than $49 million for SickKids Foundation through its national and local sponsors and programs.
On October 18, our very own patient ambassador Helena, 6, launched Pizza Pizza’s Slices for Smiles Campaign for Children’s Miracle Network by donning a cap and apron and getting her hands dirty in a downtown Toronto Pizza Pizza kitchen. Helena, who was diagnosed with leukemia two-and-a-half years ago, rolled up her sleeves to learn how to make the signature “Smile” Pizza with Pizza Pizza’s Director of Training, Ben Campoli, and Toronto FC player Richard Eckersley.
From October 17 to 30 in celebration of National Pizza Month, Pizza Pizza is putting its fundraising efforts into overdrive as the Slices for Smiles Foundation marks its fifth anniversary. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of $4.99 12" medium pepperoni pizzas and $2 "Smile" pizzas will go toward Children's Miracle Network member children's hospitals in Canada. Proceeds from GTA and Northern Ontario sales benefit SickKids.
Looks like Helena has a great future as a creative chef!
John Francis became the Chair of the Board of Directors at SickKids Foundation this past June. He is the founder and Managing Director of Fraser Kearney Capital Corp. and most recently was President and CEO of Trader Media Corporation, Ontario’s largest publisher of classified advertising magazines and websites.
Here, he talks about his connection to the Hospital and his vision for the Foundation over the next years.
What was your motivation to first get involved with SickKids when you joined the Board eight years ago? I wanted to get involved in an organization I thought could have an impact on the people around me – my immediate and extended family, my friends as well as the employees at my company, Trader Media Corporation. I was also keen to begin a relationship that would allow my family to give back to an important institution in our community.
What is your number one priority as you take over as Chair? My number one priority is the successful financing and completion of The Research & Learning Tower. This means connecting with our volunteers and with all the past, present and future supporters to get the story out about why this is such a transformational project for SickKids. Second, I hope to be able to continue growing the grants we are able to make to fund research and bring in new capital to the Hospital.
What did you learn about the organization when you were interim CEO? What I learned and loved was that every person who works and volunteers at the Foundation and the Hospital wears it proudly on their sleeve. I experienced, and continue to see, the immense passion for SickKids that everyone throughout the Foundation and the Hospital carries with them day-to-day. This is unlike anything you see in any other type of organization and it is truly inspiring.
Where does your passion for SickKids come from? My passion comes from my belief that every child deserves a real chance to make a great life for themselves and it starts with a healthy beginning. I don’t believe any child should be denied the opportunity to fully experience being a kid due to health challenges. I believe the work we do at SickKids can really have an impact on the lives of so many kids now and in the future.
What do you think are the big challenges the Hospital and the Foundation face in the next three years? Other than what I’ve already stated about the importance of funding, building and launching the Tower, I think the biggest challenges will continue to be the demand for care, services and research funds while we fundraise in an economic environment that is not growing like it has in the past.
What do you tell your friends about SickKids? I tell them that it’s a place that attracts and challenges the very best in paediatric care and research. I also tell them how inspiring it is for me to meet the health-care professionals and scientists who have devoted their lives to the well-being of kids. It is quite humbling when I compare their contribution to what many of us do in our business lives.
How did you spend the summer? I spent the summer at the cottage with my wife and three children, along with my nieces and nephews and my extended family.
What do you want donors to know about you? I consider it a very special privilege and very exciting to be a part of a great institution like SickKids. I get to see, first hand, how SickKids turns donations into research and better care that has an impact here and around the world.
If you could describe SickKids in one word, what would it be? DRIVEN.