May 3, 2005
Contact:
NancyLawrence
Communications Consultant, LHSC
519-685-8500, ext. 77642
Contact:
Alison Liversage
Western's Schulich School of Medicine
519-661-2111 ext 81136
Respected paediatric orthopedic specialist named a recipient of Canada's Top 40 Under 40
LONDON, Ontario - Children's Hospital of Western Ontario at London Health Sciences Centre and The University of Western Ontario's Schulich School of Medicine are pleased to announce Dr. Kellie Leitch, Chief/Chair of the Division of Paediatric Surgery, has been named a recipient of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 TM.
Canada's Top 40 Under 40 TM is a prestigious national award program, which annually honours 40 Canadians in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors under the age of 40. The program was founded and is managed by The Caldwell Partners and is now in its 10th year.
Dr. Leitch and her peers were selected from more than 1,400 nominees by an independent Advisory Board, comprised of business leaders from across Canada. Honourees were chosen on five key criteria including: vision and leadership; innovation and achievement; impact; community involvement and contribution; and strategy for growth.
"Since joining our staff in 2002, Dr. Leitch has left her mark both as a respected surgeon and as a manager," says Tony Dagnone, LHSC President and CEO.
"In my role at the hospital, I know the desperate need that our treasured healthcare system has for innovative, intelligent young healthcare administrators and policymakers. Dr. Leitch has shown vision, leadership, and most importantly - a willingness to stick with a good idea. We are very fortunate to have Dr. Leitch on our staff."
"Not only is Dr. Leitch a gifted surgeon, but also an inspiring educator and researcher whose leadership is shaping the future of healthcare," says Dr. Jim Silcox, Vice-Dean of Education at Western's Schulich School of Medicine. "We are thrilled that her contributions are being recognized by this tremendous honour. Congratulations."
Dr. Leitch is the only cross-appointed professor in both a medical and business school at a Canadian University. In her dual role, she is working to establish a conjoint program for postgraduate medical trainees to concurrently obtain a public health sector MBA, the first of its kind in Canada. She is also the youngest Division Chair of a surgical specialty in the history of the university and hospital and the youngest Division of Paediatric Surgery Chair at an academic health sciences centre in Canada.
Dr. Leitch received her Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Toronto in 1994 and an MBA from Dalhousie University in 1998. She received her fellowship in Paediatric Orthopaedics from the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, University of Southern California and returned to Canada in 2002 after being successfully recruited by CHWO and Western. Dr. Leitch is an assistant professor at Western's Schulich School of Medicine and Ivey School of Business and a practicing paediatric orthopaedic specialist at CHWO. She is also a recipient of one of the Medical School's 2005 Schulich Excellence in Education Awards.
