Meet Roy: Making an Impact with a SMILE
Roy’s father would often tell him that SickKids was the best children’s hospital in the world and that, if he ever got a job offer to work there, he should take it. So when Roy received that offer from SickKids after graduating from technical college, he took his father’s advice and said yes. And 26 years later, he is still glad he did.Growing up, Roy always knew he wanted to work with kids. Having a passion for science and technology, he thought his career would be that of a school teacher.
Today, Roy is a teacher, but in a different setting. As a Clinical Manager and Senior Technologist in Neurophysiology at SickKids, Roy has become a teacher to a variety of medical professionals and students. He performs Neurophysiology tests in the form of EEGs, EP’s, MEGs, ICU monitoring, epilepsy monitoring and epilepsy surgery monitoring. Science and technology are an integral part of his role, but instead of teaching them as classroom subjects, he is using them to help impact the lives of the people he most wanted to work with – kids.
In his role, Roy works with a team of people that are making a difference for children. “I love that I get to be part of a team that is contributing to a quality of life being changed,” said Roy. “For example, through the Epilepsy Surgery Program at SickKids, we are giving children diagnosed with epilepsy an opportunity to have a life without seizures.”
It is the impact of his work with kids living with epilepsy which spurred a family to acknowledge him through the SMILE program, which provides SickKids families and staff with the opportunity to recognize and thank staff members through a donation to SickKids. The staff member receives a SMILE pin along with a personalized note as to why they were honoured.
“It is really nice to be recognized for making a difference,” said Roy. “What made it even more fulfilling is that the family also recognized other members on the team. It was so nice that the family acknowledged everyone involved in the patient’s care.”
"It is really nice to be recognized for making a difference"
One of the most rewarding parts of Roy’s job is that he gets to be a part of a patient’s health journey. Often when a patient is referred to neurophysiology for tests, he will work with the patients for long periods of time. Not only does this give him the chance to get to know the kids, but it also allows him the opportunity to create a friendship with many of the patients and their families.
“I’m a kid at heart,” said Roy. “Often when the kids talk to me about some of their passions, whether it be sports or Lego, I can relate. I really enjoy being able to talk with the kids and to be able to put them at ease during a moment that might feel a little scary or uncomfortable for them.”
Not only does Roy work with neurophysiology, but he also enjoys making the students in the epilepsy classroom happy at SickKids.
“When you work at SickKids, you need to have a joy for interacting with kids and have the ability to connect with kids,” said Roy. “I wake up every day wanting to come to work because I know I am not only making a difference for a child and their family, but I’m hopefully going to be able to put a smile on their face as well.”
If you have encountered a staff member at SickKids, like Roy, who you would like to recognize and thank for the comfort, positivity and brightness they have brought to your day, consider honouring them with a SMILE. A donation through the SMILE program supports the highest priority needs of the hospital as well as the Staff Continuing Professional Development Fund, which provides full and part-time staff at SickKids with opportunities to advance skills, reach new milestones in their careers and increase their knowledge and expertise. SMILEs make a difference, so please consider giving one today.
