Congratulations to Dr. Howard Ovens, Chief Medical Strategy Officer, Sinai Health System and staff emergency physician, Mount Sinai Hospital for being named one of Canada’s Emergency Physicians of the Year (in the “Ontario urban” category). Awarded by the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) and nominated by colleagues, this award recognizes outstanding contributions to emergency medicine including patient care, community service and hospital or health care administration.
Howard has been in clinical emergency practice since 1982, and served as the Chief of our Department of Emergency Medicine for many years. He has been a leader in administrative and policy issues related to emergency medical services, and served on and led many regional, provincial and national committees. Howard has published and spoken nationally and internationally on many issues including emergency department overcrowding, mandatory reporting of gunshot wounds, the lessons of SARS, and the impact of shift work. In addition to his work at Sinai Health, Howard is the Ontario Expert Lead for Emergency Medicine and holds the rank of Professor at the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Acknowledging the award, Howard said, “thanks for all the good wishes and congratulations – and a big thanks to my colleagues who nominated me for this award. I am proud to be an emergency physician and a member of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians.”
As the national voice of emergency medicine, CAEP provides continuing medical education, advocates on behalf of emergency physicians and their patients, supports research and strengthens the emergency medicine community. In co-operation with other specialties and committees, CAEP also plays a vital role in the development of national standards and clinical guidelines.