Two people with a connection to Health Sciences North are among this year’s winners of a Human Touch Award from Cancer Care Ontario.
Cancer Care Ontario co-ordinates cancer treatment and screening in Ontario, as well as kidney care, including dialysis. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Human Touch Awards.
The Human Touch Awards honour health care workers and volunteers who demonstrate extraordinary care and compassion for patients receiving cancer care or kidney care.
Tony Conti is a registered nurse at the HSN nephrology program’s satellite location in Timiskaming Shores. He was chosen for providing exceptional service to his patients.
In particular, Conti took the lead in co-ordinating both cancer and dialysis treatments for a local patient, allowing the patient to spend less time travelling to cancer and kidney care treatments, and more time at home with his family over the holiday season.
Also receiving a Cancer Care Ontario Human Touch Award this year, in the volunteer category, is Paula Pigeon of Sault Ste. Marie. Pigeon is a patient and family advisor with the Algoma District Cancer Program, based at Sault Area Hospital, and a partner in cancer care with the North East Cancer Centre (NECC) at Health Sciences North.
She also served on the North East Cancer Centre’s Patient and Family Advisory Council.
A breast cancer survivor, Pigeon helps other patients navigate the cancer care system. She created a hair-loss journey photobook and a patient-journey video to help other cancer patients in their cancer care experience.
“Congratulations to Tony and Paula for winning Human Touch Awards this year,” said Mark Hartman, Health Sciences North's vice-president of cancer and clinical support, in a press release. “The strength of cancer and kidney care in northeastern Ontario is based on the compassion, dedication, and initiative of people like Tony and Paula. They make the difference for our patients.”
